Trying to help save a struggling tank.Suggestions?

I work for a wine distributor, promoting products in retail stores. I was in one of my stores this morning and discovered that several employees were concerned about the condition of their 29g. Biocube. The tank was maintained at one point by an employee who hasn't worked there for 2 months. There have always been issues with cyano and hair algae. This morning I observed that the fish were breathing heavily (Clown, Flame Hawk and Watchman Goby). I went home and got my test kits. Results were:

Temp: Unknown (no thermometer on the tank, but I will be putting one in tomorrow)
Salinity: 1.016
pH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 30
KH: 6

The corrective measures that I took were to buffer the pH up to 7.8 and to turn the heater down slightly since the temp felt at least 80 degrees. Tomorrow I will do a 20% water change and increase the Salinity to 1.018. I will continue to slowly raise the salinity to 1.023. Does this sound appropriate? Suggestions?

 

it sounds appropriate to me. A nice thing for you to do. only other suggestion I could give would be to get some sort of surface agitation going - is there a powerhead?

 

+1 on this. What is the filter/skimmer situation?

 

Any coral? If so, be careful with the buffer, it could cause a rise in alkalynity. I would also bring it up to 1.026 if there are coral. That seems to be best for my SPS tank, anyways.

 

These all should be raised slowly like it seems was your plan.

 

I concure.

 

Did the other employees know not to top off with trap water? Seems that could of been a easily made mistake. if they didn't use prime or anything to get the chlorine out that could be an issue too.

 

Great feedback from everyone, thank you! I'll stick a power-head in when I go today-great idea. The filtration is stock and I'm sure needs to be replaced. I'll assess that today as well. The staff has been topping off with distiller water, I'll take in a jug of RODi water.

 

The values arent caastrophic.....yet... Are there any sps in the tank? (doubt in any good condition if there are) definitely stick a thermometer in there but more importantly (imo) is to provide a good water surface movement for gas exchange.

 

If there are no sps and the fish have grown accustomed to 1.016 i wouldn't rise it more than 1.020.

My 2 cents