Trying to help save a struggling tank.Suggestions?

+1 that makes 4 cents

 

I agree with keeping the salinity at 1.020. Would soft corals be able to thrive at this level?
I went to the store yesterday and did a 20% water change. The tank has been overtaken be red slime and green hair algae so I removed what I could. I'm thinking about picking up some phosban, and maybe chemipure to add to the filter chamber.

Although I feel like the tank hasn't improved yet, the people working at the store have been very grateful. In fact, as I was leaving the store yesterday, the manager handed me a bag with a really nice bottle of wine as a thank you. It's always nice when good deeds get noticed.

Tomorrow I am going to do another water change.

 

there are still many good people in this world

I'm not sure about the salinity and soft corals...hopefully others will chime in

 

A tank that small will be extremely succeptible to a shift in parameters. You said there was a lot of algea and cyano you are going to remove. How much LR and sand? I have a huge worry that a large disturbance in the sand bed could release a catastrophic amount of nutrients. Siphon out that cyano slow and easy. Try not to disturb the sand bed too much initially. Take it slow. ..025 is ideal, but 023 for softies should be fine, but if they are living at .020 then there is no hurry. Because anything works until it doesn't. And you have stepped it right before "doesn't".

The fact that this tank is still alive, and you are going to keep it this way, is awesome.

 

Update: I did another water change yesterday, siphoned out algae without touching the sanded. I added Chemipure in the back chamber. Discovered that the Yellow Clown Goby that I thought was dead, is still alive but has turned white in color. The fish is eating, so that is positive. pH is at 8.0 and salinity is now at 1.018.

The store management has decided that they are not really interested in maintaining the tank. One of the managers there really wants to start a tank and wants these fish, with my guidance. I think he should start from scratch instead of trying to correct all of the issues going on. It is challenging enough for me to deal with, too much for someone new to the hobby.

I am going to take the fish and hold them for him while gets a new tank cycled. I will be housing them in two of my QT's. Besides lower the salinity to 1.019, is there anything else I should do?

 

I respectfully disagree, see this as an exceptional learning situation (without putting the animals lives and importance in second stance)....

Chances are if you start from new

1) interest may be lost during the cycle
2) $$$$$
3) new tank= less stable conditions

Again my 2 cents

 

I thought it sounded like a logical idea until I read Swiss' post which makes some good points. I'll look back to see how big the tank is but maybe you could transfer some of the livestock, live rock, and water to your QT while someone cleans up the rock (algae and such) in small sections at a time?

ok, back lol - looked it up and it's a 29....I'm thinking there can't be too much rock to do what I posted? I would definitely suggest starting with a new sand bed for sure.

 

I really appreciate your thoughts on this. I read your post and thought about what will be best for the fish and would give a new aquarist the best chance at success. So, I think that I am going to have the store keep the tank for at least one more week. During this time I will continue to slowly stabilize conditions. The tank itself belongs to someone else so the guy that I'm helping can't have it. I am going to sell him my biocube 29 and help him set it up properly. Then we will transfer live rocks, water and fish and add new sand. Sound reasonable?

 

that's why I could never own a fish/aquarium maintenance business - I'd readily accept good wine as my payment way too often

Seriously though - it's awesome you have taken this on.

As far as the tank, I think going with the new tank and new sand, but with the old live rock is a good idea. The algae can be cleaned from the rock manually and/or through a good cleanup crew. it will also help drastically shorten the cycle of the new tank.

 

I think your idea sounds perfect!