Saltz
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
My tank has been neglected for the past few months and I really need to get things going again because it has gone too far. It is a 20g tank. Here is the description:
The glass around my tank is covered with some pretty hard algae growth, with thick hair algae in the back. The front glass has bubbles on it and purple (due to calcium?) and green (algae) all over it. My sand bed has decreased by about 1" and is about 1 cm above the black trim around the tank. My water line is 2" from the black trim at the top. The salinity is between 1.024 and 1.025. My mechanical filter is sucking in very little water (I believe the suction thingy is clogged with hair algae) and my skimmer (CPR Bak-Pak 2) is in almost the same condition. The filter cartridge on the mechanical filter hasn't been replaced in 4 months. Fortunately, I have had no fish losses. My sand bed is covered with a dark purplish black colored sludge/slime that keeps regrowing after removal. I tried (3 wks ago) to clean up the hair algae from the live rock, which was completely out of control and was successful in removing about 65% from the tank overall. Visibility into the tank is low. I have about 25-27lbs of LR in there and initially I had 20lbs of LS when I first set the tank up 10 months ago.
The tank is stocked as follows:
- 2 False Perc Clowns
- 1 (skunk) Cleaner Shrimp
- 1 MD Fox Face (temporary, he's only in there for short term housing)
- 4 Small Hermit Crabs
- 1 RBTA (about 3-4" across)
- 1 Coral, I'm assuming its a Green Metallic Brain from my research. It expands in the light and retracts when the water changes or the lights go out. It's about 4" wide when the lights are off and grows to about 8-9" when the lights are on. I could be wrong about the identification.
- 1 Coral, I have no idea what it is. it is red on the edges which are about 1-1.5" wide and has a 1-1.5" wide center which is grayish in color. When it's feeding time or the water changes or at night, it opens up and short tenticles come out. I have not IDed this so any help would be appreciated, for both corals.
Also, both corals as well as everything I have are quite hardy and have "forgiven" my mistakes in the past.
I have had my water tested 2-3 times during this duration and there has been no problem with the parameters.
Please, do not rebuke me on the condition of the tank. I know that these are unacceptable conditions but it was not up to me. The tank was in very good condition up until a few months ago. I would appreciate it if people focus on helping me get the tank back up on its feet rather than just rebuking me for neglecting it. I had some personal responsibilities that were of much more importance during this period and unfortunately, the tank fell in disrepair.
My plan for the tank is:
1) Get the Foxface out ASAP (might not occur before the other steps but it will be an "ongoing effort")
2) Do many water changes, 1 each day or so of about 2-3 gallons for approx. a week, after which I will continue with regular maintanence schedule
3) Remove, clean, and replace into the tank all equipment and make sure they are working properly.
4) Buy 10lbs of dry sand to add to the sand bed.
5) Clean glass to the best of my ability (really need help with this one)
6) Buy 15 hermit crabs and 10 snails to help control algae growth.
This is what I think I should do (not necessarily in order) but I'm sure I'm missing a lot more. I really need some help controlling the algae (especially hair) in the tank and finding a way to get the glass 100% clean. The sand bed is also a major issue that needs to be addressed.
All help will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Saltz
The glass around my tank is covered with some pretty hard algae growth, with thick hair algae in the back. The front glass has bubbles on it and purple (due to calcium?) and green (algae) all over it. My sand bed has decreased by about 1" and is about 1 cm above the black trim around the tank. My water line is 2" from the black trim at the top. The salinity is between 1.024 and 1.025. My mechanical filter is sucking in very little water (I believe the suction thingy is clogged with hair algae) and my skimmer (CPR Bak-Pak 2) is in almost the same condition. The filter cartridge on the mechanical filter hasn't been replaced in 4 months. Fortunately, I have had no fish losses. My sand bed is covered with a dark purplish black colored sludge/slime that keeps regrowing after removal. I tried (3 wks ago) to clean up the hair algae from the live rock, which was completely out of control and was successful in removing about 65% from the tank overall. Visibility into the tank is low. I have about 25-27lbs of LR in there and initially I had 20lbs of LS when I first set the tank up 10 months ago.
The tank is stocked as follows:
- 2 False Perc Clowns
- 1 (skunk) Cleaner Shrimp
- 1 MD Fox Face (temporary, he's only in there for short term housing)
- 4 Small Hermit Crabs
- 1 RBTA (about 3-4" across)
- 1 Coral, I'm assuming its a Green Metallic Brain from my research. It expands in the light and retracts when the water changes or the lights go out. It's about 4" wide when the lights are off and grows to about 8-9" when the lights are on. I could be wrong about the identification.
- 1 Coral, I have no idea what it is. it is red on the edges which are about 1-1.5" wide and has a 1-1.5" wide center which is grayish in color. When it's feeding time or the water changes or at night, it opens up and short tenticles come out. I have not IDed this so any help would be appreciated, for both corals.
Also, both corals as well as everything I have are quite hardy and have "forgiven" my mistakes in the past.
I have had my water tested 2-3 times during this duration and there has been no problem with the parameters.
Please, do not rebuke me on the condition of the tank. I know that these are unacceptable conditions but it was not up to me. The tank was in very good condition up until a few months ago. I would appreciate it if people focus on helping me get the tank back up on its feet rather than just rebuking me for neglecting it. I had some personal responsibilities that were of much more importance during this period and unfortunately, the tank fell in disrepair.
My plan for the tank is:
1) Get the Foxface out ASAP (might not occur before the other steps but it will be an "ongoing effort")
2) Do many water changes, 1 each day or so of about 2-3 gallons for approx. a week, after which I will continue with regular maintanence schedule
3) Remove, clean, and replace into the tank all equipment and make sure they are working properly.
4) Buy 10lbs of dry sand to add to the sand bed.
5) Clean glass to the best of my ability (really need help with this one)
6) Buy 15 hermit crabs and 10 snails to help control algae growth.
This is what I think I should do (not necessarily in order) but I'm sure I'm missing a lot more. I really need some help controlling the algae (especially hair) in the tank and finding a way to get the glass 100% clean. The sand bed is also a major issue that needs to be addressed.
All help will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Saltz
