Need some advice... Tank not doing well.

Myka · #1 04-13-2011, 02:04 AM

Got pics? Scale of the problem would be good to see. I understand exactly where you're coming from as I was in the same situation this winter, but I left my tank to a professional maintenance company. My tank is also in what I consider poor shape, but it sounds much, much milder than your issues. My first plan of attack while doing a 15% waterchange was to use a turkey baster to blast any detritus off the rocks and use gravel vacuum to clean the sand. I have a shallow sandbed...you can't just vacuum a deep sandbed out of nowhere like that. A couple days later I replaced the carbon with fresh stuff. A couple days after that I replaced the GFO with fresh stuff. A few days after that the tank was ready for its weekly 10% waterchange where I thoroughly cleaned the sand and rocks again. My tank perked up in a couple weeks.

Oxymoron · #2 04-13-2011, 02:31 AM

Oxymoron · #3 04-13-2011, 02:37 AM

Former glory

Really bummed about the whole thing.

Everything was going so well before I left.

The Grizz · #4 04-13-2011, 02:41 AM

For sure get carbon going and if possible some RowaPhos ( I have some you could have cheap as well as a TLF 150 if needed) to help eliminate any phos, a lawnmower blenny would help with the hair algea as well ( i know of a nice healthy one for sale I could have here Saturday if interested). You might also need to change out your light bulbs.

Just putting it out there PM me if need be.

Oxymoron · #5 04-13-2011, 02:44 AM

Sounds good, I will get the carbon and rowaphos going asap.

The blenny would probably be a great idea

Ill send you a pm griz.

I have read in other situations where covering the tank with garbage bags and leaving it without light for a week will help with certain algae problems?

Is that at all relevant here?

The Grizz · #6 04-13-2011, 02:52 AM

It would not hurt, if I had a UV still I would have lent it to you as it sure helped me when I first started my tanks.

bryceschutte · #7 04-13-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxymoron

I have read in other situations where covering the tank with garbage bags and leaving it without light for a week will help with certain algae problems?

Is that at all relevant here?

I did this for cyano. Worked great! Only 3 days though .

ALang · #8 04-13-2011, 03:00 PM

I have had that kind of HA, just not quite that severe.
I am very close to no HA now.
What I did/ used, were: GFO, RO water for top-off and changes, water parameters watched and dosed closely to optimal ranges, about 10 MEXICAN Turbo snails/130 gal (don't get any other kind, they don't work for HA), and a seahare.

Then practice patience. One day you will look at your tank and goes, wow, there is the end in sight! I now have sold all of my Mex snails, except for three. And the tank still looks great.
HTH. Lenny.

Oxymoron · #9 04-13-2011, 03:16 PM

Thanks for the encouragement, I will keep plugging away at it today.

I have not seen any of my clean up crew around and fear they may have been a casualty as well.

Today I will scrub as much of the rocks as possible then begin another 45 gal water change.

After which I will bring carbon and Rowaphos online.

Hopefully things will turn the corner and start going in the other direction sooner rather than later.

cathyg_99 · #10 04-13-2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxymoron

Thanks for the encouragement, I will keep plugging away at it today.

I have not seen any of my clean up crew around and fear they may have been a casualty as well.

Today I will scrub as much of the rocks as possible then begin another 45 gal water change.

After which I will bring carbon and Rowaphos online.

Hopefully things will turn the corner and start going in the other direction sooner rather than later.

toothburshes and also a baby bottle cleaner will work... i used the bottle cleaner to get between the rocks... also good luck