Need some advice... Tank not doing well. - Page 2

Oxymoron · #1 04-13-2011, 02:37 AM

Former glory

Really bummed about the whole thing.

Everything was going so well before I left.

The Grizz · #2 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 · #3 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 · #4 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 · #5 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 · #6 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.

Wayne · #7 04-13-2011, 11:27 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 wouldn't do that in this case, with that much algea all dying at once all the absorbed nutrients will be released back into your system...

Best bet is to do as suggested, remove and scrub rocks with a brush, mexican turbo snails, lawnmower blenny, tangs if your system is large enough. Regular water changes, gfo and things should clear up in a few weeks.

Oh one more thing. Fire the guy who was doing the maintence

ScubaSteve · #8 04-13-2011, 11:37 PM

Alrighty, if you're up for the fight then give'r hell! You will need to be patient and give the system time to recover. First things first, manually remove as much algae as possible and make sure that the system is stable (ie. no paramter fluctuations). Get a seahare and a clean up crew in there to start doing some damage to the general funkyness.

Next, you gotta starve out the algae and cyano. If you are feeling brave, I'd recommend VSV dosing with MB7 and skim the hell out of the tank. Take it easy if you go this route. 20% water change every week. Pull out all the guns!