OMG What Have I Gotten Into?

[ReefJunkie]

I just took on a job looking after an 80 gallon system at a resort...what a nightmare!!!
I show up to see the tank and its under the front desk and full of hair algae, 6 small damsels, an adult Foxface, a large Puffer, 2 Clowns, and a mystery fish I didn't see. The maintenance guy (Tom) has been taking care of the tank for the last year since the aquarium guy moved away...uh oh. So I get talking to Tom and inform him the hair algae is not beneficial (so he thought).
I ask Tom when he did a water change last...Um never well at least not in the last year that he's been taking care of it!! At this point its not looking too good, ok maybe it'll get better. We go downstairs to look at the sump, into a small store room full of wine, after moving all the boxes he opens a 2' x 2' door thats about 4 feet off the floor and climbs in... . Inside the "hole" is dirt and rock floor and about 4 feeet of head room sloped up (just wait till you see the pics) with 2 sumps 1 tank and 1 container of some sort both with skimmers poking out of them, both skimmers not working . So dare I do water tests on this system? Results PH-7.7 Salt-1.026 Ammonia-0 Nitrites-0 Nitrates-PINK above 50ppm KH-60 or 1.2meq
O Gawd I'm gonna need some help with this one! Just going back out there now and I'll be back with all the Pics soon!

[Jenndarlin]

wow...can't wait to see the pics & hear more.....

[albert_dao]

Brutal much?

[michika]

Ouch! That is scary on so many levels.

[Aquattro]

So, this room is full of wine you say......

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by ReefJunkie

Results PH-7.7 Salt-1.026 Ammonia-0 Nitrites-0 Nitrates-PINK above 50ppm KH-60 or 1.2meq

Not too bad at all for a fish only tank all things considered. Fix the skimmers and do a couple of water changes.

[marie]

Yep first thing i would do is get at least 50g of new water made up and get the skimmers working.

Then grab a bottle of wine, put a cushion on the floor and watch the skimmers pull out a bunch of nasty goo

[Matt]

Originally Posted by ReefJunkie

... a small store room full of wine...
O Gawd I'm gonna need some help with this one!

Um... I'm useful in certain regards...

[prodogg02]

suprised anything is still alive,and i get worried if i dont to a weekly water change,

[danny zubot]

I agree with a couple of good sized water changes after getting the skimmers working again. Might do well to take out the rock and give it a good scrub to remove the hair algae.

If you are like me this challenge will be fun.