HELP...abandoned predator tank, need help saving them.

[killab7.bh]

Neighbor abandoned tank containing an eel, lionfish, starfish & 3 to 4 other plus rocks & coral. Was guided to transfer the fish out from tank into tote containers cleaned with vinegar and water & place original pumps into totes. After putting some water from the tank in the totes to acclimate the fish, I drained 90% of water from tank leaving gravel & shells in tank. My question is should I completely empty & clean the tank before beginning the process of returning them to the tank or just fill it with water in its current condition in which algae is present?
Thank you.

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[TheCamaroShow]

pictures

 

[nereefpat]

So you are essentially doing a 90% water change, just treat it as that.

If the tank has been empty for any period of time, you will probably experience some sort of die-off and/or nitrogen cycle. Watch ammonia levels like a hawk, and do water changes and use Prime as needed.

I (captain hindsight) would have just left the fish in tank and done the large water change.

 

[killab7.bh]

Thanks for the insight I would have left them in the tank but they were abandoned and the power was being shut off so I had no choice but to move them out I didn't want to see them die. from all the research I've done this isn't really a process you should be doing overnight but I had no choice and had to move them however they seem to be doing okay in their temporary set up I've made from totes.

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[nereefpat]

Ah. I see.

I would fill the tank now, acclimate the fish to it, add fish, and watch ammonia.

 

[killab7.bh]

I'm very green and new to this when you say watch the ammonia how would I do that do I need to buy some kind of test

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[nereefpat]

Yes, there are ammonia test kits. There are also ammonia alert badges, but some folks don't seem to trust them.

 

[Akram]

Agreed with nereefpat

 

[killab7.bh]

Can someone tell me what the function of this apparatus is as I said before I'm green and learning also I'm trying to figure out if this tank has a heater what that would look like I don't believe it does unless that's what this is there's two of those in the tank I want to put my fish back in but i don't want to shock them

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[killab7.bh]

The neighbor that had abandoned these fish didn't take care of them it looks like at all I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing I'm using what components he had there I haven't bought any kind of Motors or accessories other than a Master test kit

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[Foundry]

The item in your photo is a 'power head' and is a simple prop based pump used to add circulation to the water. Circulation is needed to ensure water movement and surface agitation to elicit 'gas exchange' between the water and the atmosphere.

Fancy way of saying its a pump which moves the water about, point it towards the surface of the tank to agitate the surface layer to add oxygen to the water.

 

[killab7.bh]

Thank you I'm still trying to figure out if the water is too cold for my fish I took over an abandoned tank I've got it set up in my house I'm trying to get the levels in the water correct but the components that were with the abandoned tank don't seem to have a heater and I know for a fact that they've been that way for at least 3 months because he didn't do anything to it I'm a little hesitant to put the fish in because I don't want to shock them

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[Foundry]

Is there a heater in your holding tank?

What is your typical room temp? Heaters can be picked up on the cheaper end, even used if absolutely needed. Used heaters are typically avoided as a damaged or run away heater can 'boil' the fish.

Reach out to your local fish store for support, they'll be more then happy to help out and sell some goods.

 

[killab7.bh]

I normally keep my house at about 72. some of the research and reading that I've done other people that live in the Southeast region say a heater isn't always necessary. there is an aquarium store not too far from me so I will definitely do that

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[killab7.bh]

I don't believe there is a heater in the holding tank I'm not sure what would I be looking for?

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[killab7.bh]

These are the only peices of equipment I have currently I'm hoping they'll be okay to get me through the next couple of pay days until I can afford to invest a little more into them like I said they were abandoned by a guy that didn't take care of them and they were surviving so I'm just wondering if I'm worrying a little too much about it

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[Crooked Reef]

Where are you located? You may have a local reef club that can assist you with the tank. Also, if money is tight hit Walmart in the pet section for an aquarium thermometer.

So, right off the bat the lights probably won’t support most corals. Are they led or do they take bulbs?

The filter on the back isn’t really made for saltwater and he likely just used to because it would filter out food particles from the messy eating the predators do. Most of your filter is biological and done by the bacteria inside of the rocks. Though it will be almost impossible to have a standard clean up crew depending on the fish. Is there anything inside the filter? Also it will provide surface agitation for gas exchange so I would point the pumps towards the rockwork to get some flow in there.

If you can take measurements of the tank and take pictures of all of the livestock, we can identify it for you and tell you the water volume.

 

[killab7.bh]

Thanks everybody that gave me good insight all my fish seem to be doing pretty good other than my starfish which I'm not sure I think it died I'm a little sad about that but I guess that's part of it after building a stand for my tank I'm pretty happy with my results

Thanks

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[Crooked Reef]

Looks like you have a Volutan or Russell’s lionfish. It’s hard to tell because it has serious stress coloration going on at the moment. The dioxins shaped fish in the first pic is a Huma Picasso triggerfish. I can’t make out any other fish in the tank. Starfish usually disentegrate pretty quickly when dead. I can see it on the right draped on the rock so it may be in shock or dying, but if it’s not falling apart you may have a chance.

How are you measuring salinity? What is your salinity? What are you feeding? Are there more fish I missed?

 

[killab7.bh]

The only other one is a pinfish I don't know how to measure the salinity is there a meter or test and how would I combat that?

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