Tank Rehab

I just picked up this 14 gallon Biocube and it needs some TLC. This is a bare bottom tank with a couple BTA's, couple Maroon Clowns, cleaner shrimp, small CUC and some soft corals and a monti. Previous owner custom built a rubble rock wall on the back of the tank. Main issue is major hair algae on return pump, bubble algae around back wall and main rock, red slim and some type of algae with air bubbles on the montipora. I did a 50% water change this weekend but want to do a 100% water change and add live sand. Is adding LS ok for established tank? Should I treat for red slime before or after WC? Any other suggestions to get this healthy and looking better, please chime in...

 

well, since you have those nusiances, ill bet there are high phosphates and nitrates. the initial water change will help. you can treat for the slime but arradicating it with Chemiclean may result in a bloom of something else unless you are able to strip the phoshates from the water. If it were me, I would start with phosphate removal now, then treat for the red slime. watch teh bubble algae closely.

 

I have dealt with bubble algae before. You won't like my advice. Nuke whatever has bubble algae on it. It is the worst. I am reusing my rock from my first tank which the bubble algae took over and my plan is, if i see one bubble that rock is coming out of the tank.

 

I thought this was about going to rehab for my reef addiction

 

Congrats on the new tank

I wouldn't recommend the 100% water change

why do you want to add sand ?

 

Yeah, nitrates and phosphates were high. Cant get to water change until this weekend. I'll do roughly a 70%-80% change. Decided NOT to go with sand, will just stick with bare bottom. Thinking about sticking some Chaeto in one of the back chambers but need to figure out how to get light there. I have a small 5-10 gallon tank sitting around. Maybe I should look into rigging a fuge?