Help nutrient staved tank

[bigbearcrain]

Hello
I have just been asked to take over care for 480 gal reef tank. Tank is 1 to 2 years old. Goby has caused the rock to fall and covered most of the rock.
The live rock has been starved of any nutrients and has been basically just looked like base rock. I reciently started adding some Iodine and have seen a little coraline starting to surface. On wensday I will be removing all rock and fish. I will be putting platforms in and replacing Rock and fish on friday.
My question would be is there a way to soak the rock in a higher dose of Iodine and other minerals to help the revive the rock over the period of the 2 days it will be out of the tank and in drums of the salt water its coming out of? Of course that solution would not be placed in the tank as i will be doing a 25% water change. This tank was without a change for over 6 months.
If so please advise with ratio, any advise will be throughly thought threw before proceeding.

Thanks Tom "bigbear"

 

[PogoMonogo]

i would just leave it be.

 

[Mr James]

Re: Help nutrient staved tank

by bigbearcrain
I have just been asked to take over care for 480 gal reef tank.

Are you ready for this task?? Are you experienced, is what I would like to know. Unless you are prepared, you will have a ton of questions. What is your budget??

by bigbearcrain
My question would be is there a way to ... revive the rock over the period of the 2 days it will be out of the tank and in drums of the salt water its coming out of?

This is what I am most concerned with. If you are experienced in maintaining reef tanks as a business, or even as a hobby, then you would know there isn't a 2 day band aid. I would repopulate the tank and basically start over. Build the structure like you say, put a good skimmer on it, lights, the whole nine yards. I'd remove 20% - 40% of the existing live rock and add new live rock - the good stuff. Put the old in the sump. Let it cycle and start again.

 

[Cultivatedcoral]

Hi bigbear,

Iodine is not going to "revive" your live rock or grow coraline. If you mean reviving the live rock because it does not have any coraline algae, just do weekly water changes at the proper salinity with a good salt brand.

If you just want coraline algae to return to the rock, make sure your calcium is 400-450 and Magnesium is over 1300.

Get some test kits and test your calcium, alkalinity, pH, Nitrate levels and Magnesium levels. No need to remove all the fish and rock unless it would be easier for you to rearrange the rock.

What kind of light bulbs are you using and how long have they been running? Over a year? If so, they will need replacing depending on what kind of bulbs.

Any questions, just let me know.

Nick DeBellis
www.cultivatedcoral.com
Cultivated Coral Inc.

 

[AquamanE]

Good advise Mr. James. Taking care of a 480 is a big task. Live rock or lack of "live" sounds like only the beginning of concerns. Lots of work to come bigbear sounds like fun.

 

[bigbearcrain]

Hello
The tank dimensions 4' x 4' x 5' center colum were overflow and excetera are. Light is 4 250 watt halites. Octupuss skimmer designed for 800 gallon tank. crappy sump/refisum setup. RO inline to keep topped off.
My experience with reef systems is shakey at time but do spend lots of time reading. First tank over 20 years ago for about 5 years moved back east and within the last 2 years have begun reef tanks all over.
Time is of the essance as this is a Church Aquarium. The funds are limited at this time so im looking at probly 200 a month with water changes filters, food exc...
Again i will say this tank was neglected...I understand no quick fixes. Also in the process of setting up and 150 gallon fish only system at the church.
i will take pics of tank tonight and attempt to post pics.

Thanks bigbear

 

[rbursek]

Those lights should be 400watt MH for that deep of a tank.

 

[bigbearcrain]

I have posted the pics of the Church's tank. Please have look. These are my test results from tonight using hagen master test kit.
Amonia .1 mg/l
Nitrate 7 mg/l
Phosphate 2 mg/l
pH 8.5
Nitrite .1 mg/l
kH 200 mg/l
Iron 0
Calcium i quit testing when it was over 1300 or i have a bad set of test. Ran this test twice
Thanks bigbear

 

[AquamanE]

KH and CA sound way off like kit is not good. Are you sure of this or are you sure test kit is not old, bad etc... not familiar with hagen test kits. API makes a reasonably priced/accurate kit.

$200 a month, sounds like you guys are going to have to be very patient before that tank looks decent. Thats more of a budget for a 90-120 gal tank at best if we are going to alot for livestock.

 

[TKByrnes]

that kit has to be bad. I have heard when you get much over 500 you tank will cloud.

 

[Mr James]

by bigbearcrain
The tank dimensions 4' x 4' x 5' center colum were overflow and excetera are. Light is 4 250 watt halites. Octupuss skimmer designed for 800 gallon tank. crappy sump/refisum setup. RO inline to keep topped off.
My experience with reef systems is shakey at time but do spend lots of time reading.... Time is of the essance as this is a Church Aquarium. The funds are limited at this time so im looking at probly 200 a month with water changes filters, food exc...

I understand totally as I too have set up a church tank. I understand small budgets. Regardless, take your time. Rushing will only cause problems. I'd be more than happy to help as much as I can, regardless of this post or in PM's. Ask for my opinion any time. Also, please PM me with the church name and website!!

BTW, the dims you gave came out to 600 gallons. Again, with those measurements, I wouldn't make this a reef.

From your gallery, things look good. If it were me,I guess I would start with getting the water quality up to par. Test!! Elos makes good test kits. What are your parameters?? Nitrates, Ammonia, Phosphates, Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium. Drip Kalk!! Start dripping it!! Can't say that enough!! Make sure RO membranes are good, what is your TDS level?? Should be no more than 25ppm. May want to consider running DI!! If you plan to do a reef, I would consider that necessary. Let's start here.

Last question, which should be the first. What are the plans for this tank?? What is the direction. If it is indeed 4' - 5' tall, not too much artificial light is going to penetrate the bottom. Reef, FOWLR, softies, etc..., regardless, realize the equipment you have to work with may determine the tanks future.

The tank I helped set up could not have been erected it it wasn't for the generous donations of fellow reef keepers. One guy in particular gave his entire system to populate the tank. Seek out local reef clubs and see if folks want to donate. See if there are any local public aquariums that would want to donate as well. I certainly will!!

Good job Bear, keep up the good work.

EDIT: Forgot to add my pics of the 240g system in Fort Wayne, IN... Located in the children's addition.

 

[bigbearcrain]

Thanks For everones Imput.
Tank dimensions were estimated. actual size is 48" x 49" x 46" with a 1 foot colum going up center. with 50 gal sump/refusium
Since i started testing and trying to get things up to par over the last month water quality has improved greatly.
Lighting is (4) 250 MHL and (8) 39 watt compacts

More about tank: (((The reef was already setup))) There are a few softies very few now. seems like the only thing that has survived is the Mushrooms & a Galaxy. There are 13 rather large tangs, 1 fox face, 1 racoon butterfly (coming out soon), a goby that has reacked havock on the tank some added after the rock was in place, Lawnmower blennie and a few damsels. About 30 small hermits reciently added. 10 or so Snails.

The Tank is setup with RO/DI and membranes were replaced 3 weeks ago. The Calcium was tested again this evening with my home test still over 1000 mg/l. kH registered 190 mg/l that was the only real variation in the two test.

I dont not have Kalk drippping as present. But will as a soon as i can get it.

How in the world can i get the Calcium level down?

By the way anyone care to donate?

Thanks bigbear

 

[bigbearcrain]

BTW the Fish we currently have in this tank will the stay the same except getting ride of the goby and adding a few chromis. The other tank im setting up for the church will be a fish only tank. 125 gal 4' long.

Thanks Again bigbear