What’s the first step in recovery?

What’s the first step in recovery?
About a year ago I had a thieving 20 gallon reef tank in my home, it was one of the best tanks I have ever owned. But then I went into my reef keeping hiatus. I did NOTHING with the tank for about 8 months, and I mean nothing. No wc no dosing no skimming, it literally was a puddle with 2 damsels in it. Now that I’m coming back to the hobby I want to fix the tank up. I got a job at my lfs, so i have money coming but I have non right now as I just bought my wrangler (any jeep fans out their). So I’m trying to send my tank into a major overhaul without spending a few thousand dollars. But it would be easier for me to tell you what isn’t wrong with the tank then what is. Some of the larger problems are the algae’s (turf algae, cyno, gha, and diatoms). But wait that’s not all, there’s also no cleanup crew and I have an old POS metal halide that’s rusted and held together by zip ties and has bulbs that are about 2 years old. I have no test kits on hand, my rodi broke and is gone (it was a cheep ebay one). I’m also very ashamed to say, but I got a little porcupine puffer.

This tank is in scrambles all that is left is the new puffer that everyone in my family loves and the 2 damsels i had before.
the tank is 2 years old but the last 8 months have been full of neglect. What do you guys think is the first step in getting this tank back on its feet. One thing I am tempted to do, considering tomorrow is black Friday is go to petco and buy some t5-ho bulbs. I have this old fixture from my first tank but the bulbs have well over 2 years of use on them. I am really worried that my halide will start a fire, again it’s only held together by zip ties.
Any options will be happy accepted, please just don’t tell me how I shouldn’t be working or at my lfs or own a tank in geranial. I’m not a typical teenager and don’t judge me as one. My tank has just hit its low and I feel horrible about it.

 

Please ignore spelling and grammer i posted this before proof reading, but im doing it now

 

I don't know a ton about tanks but it sounds like you first need to return that puffer before you kill it and focus on cleaning up the tank first. It sounds like you need to start from the beginning again. Clean the tank, get a CUC, and don't have fish suffer. I'm a newbie myself and that's exactly what I'd do. I'm sure you like the puffer but first off it needs a MUCH larger tank and you're not ready to care for it since you clearly can't care for the tank as it was. I'm guessing you saw the puffer at the store and decided you just had to have it and you'd fix your tank once it was in there. Instead fix the tank first and then get a different fish that would do well in a 20 gallon tank. Your puffer needs much much much more.

 

I know the puffer needs more space, and no I did not get sucked in at my lfs. One of my friends bought it as a birthday gift, he had no idea what’s involved. And I’m keeping him because he is going into my 90 I’m setting up. This guy is only about an inch and a half long and is fine as he is going to be moved up. I know even 90 is too small, but he’ll be fine for a while. My family is too in love for me to get rid of him. The fish aren’t “suffering” the tanks been cycled for over 2 years so no ammonia of nitrite. The only thing extremely bad about the tank is visually. I’m keeping this tank and not starting over because I want to see if I can overcome this. This will be the biggest problem I will have ever faced in any of my tanks. If the fish have any chance of being hurt ill restart the tank.

 

The only chance of danger to the livestock would be the halide falling in the tank. That can’t happen anymore as I replaced it will the t-5 fixture I have, the one with the 2 year+ old bulbs.

As much as it may seem I don’t care for the tank. I don’t know what I would do without it. I put crazy hours on it before I left the hobby. I’m sticking with this tank throw thick and thin. I know its cheesy but its true.

 

Let me give you some other wisdom from someone who was a teenager once, and owned a Jeep once (as documented by my screen name). Jeep's are money pits, more so than any fish tank you've ever owned. You're 16 and have limited income but probably little expendatures (ie rent, insurance, student loans). You need to focus on one project at a time. Right now you have a 20 gallon tank you're trying to rehab, you're building a 90 gallon tank, and you bought a Jeep which no doubt you want to lift and do all sorts of silly things. Pick one and focus on it. If you try to do it all you won't get anything done. On top of that you're still young so you'll go spend money on girls, gadgets, and goofing off which you should.

How do you plan on fixing up the 20 gallon on a budget if you're also building a 90 gallon?

 

The 90 gallon is about 5-6 months away, and my parents will be the ones who own the tank, ill just work on it. They know I have the knowledge to keep sps, but I just don’t have the money. And also I’m done with the jeep, I have already lifted put some nice Mickey Thompsons on it and its beautiful, but now all I want to a beautiful tank again. But because of all the jeep work I did I don’t have money. But now with my job I have a source of income again and it will all go towards the tank. And you really think that a 16 year old that has had multiple reef tanks can get a girl? lol

 

I loved your last line in your last post.....I think if anyone has been in this hobby long enough, we've all had periods of time when our tanks have gone through neglect because of various reasons....I would drain the tank, save any rock, keep about half of your water and go to work on cleaning it up. If you have sand, most people recommend getting rid of it and at then starting with fresh (keep a little to seed the new sand).....you can scrub your rock and in the old saltwater that you're getting rid of. Mix up some new saltwater and once your tank is clean, add it back with new that has been mixed with RO water. Coralline (recently) did a great post on here on what she did when she tore down her tank - follow that advice. Get your new lights because it does sound like your halide may be a fire hazard. Damsels are pretty hardy - they probably will survive all of this - not sure about the puffer. Once, you're cleaned up, then you'll need to wait out a period of time before adding anyting so you know it's stabilized. Welome back to good husbandry and start out slow is my advice.

 

Oldfishkeeper is right, you want to remove rock, scrub it down. If sand, I'd take it out and replace it. It is prolly full of phosphates and nasties that will make your journey take longer to stable out. If glass tank get a razor blade and start cleaning the glass. This is the first step so you can see in your tank. You gotta replace your bulbs because they will start creating GHA, get the water changes going. That's about it. There is no magic cure, it's going to take weeks to restabelize. It's shouldn't take to long to tear down and redo, since its a smaller tank.

 

Thanks for the info, I think I will end up taking that route. Do you have a link to Coralline’s post? I would be greatly appreciated if you do. And I’m willing to take the time for this take, I’m in it for the long haul. Also I’m thinking of soaking all of my equipment in vinegar just to clear up and pumps and algae inside the filtration.