Need some advice... Tank not doing well.

[ScubaSteve]

Depending on how bad it is, I personally would rip it down and rebuild. Sometimes the uphill battle to get back to the former glory is actually just a losing battle. Pull it all out into rubbermaids, pitch the substrate, scrub down the tank, rinse. Repeat. While all of your rock is in the tubs you can scrub the s*** out of them an demolish as much algae as possible without worrying about it spreading in your tank. Rinse Bam! Half the battle is done right there.

Put it all back together and get back on the track of good husbandry. Sometimes the reset button is the best option.

[Oxymoron]

Part of me was worried about hearing that while another part is relieved.
With recent changes to my job, I will be around town and be able to maintain the tank on my own as intended.

I have a dream of upgrading to a 6 foot shallow tank and have already started entertaining the idea.

But If I can save this setup and possibly trade it or sell it I would rather go that route then tear it down?

[Oxymoron]

Im waiting on a test kit to arrive from a friend and am continuing to scrub tonight.
I do admit I have made some huge progress in teh overall look of the tank but it still does not look good. I am fairly certain it is not at risk of further livestock loss atm though.
Just is overwhelmed with algae.

[ScubaSteve]

Originally Posted by Oxymoron

Part of me was worried about hearing that while another part is relieved.
With recent changes to my job, I will be around town and be able to maintain the tank on my own as intended.

I have a dream of upgrading to a 6 foot shallow tank and have already started entertaining the idea.

But If I can save this setup and possibly trade it or sell it I would rather go that route then tear it down?

Think of it more as a re-scape than a complete rebuild. No need to completely rip apart the system. Just clean the problem areas and put it back together. This will save the system!

[Myka]

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]

[Oxymoron]

Former glory



Really bummed about the whole thing.

Everything was going so well before I left.

[The Grizz]

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]

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]

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.