HELP! Tank-sitting disaster

Michellexx

New member
Hi all

I'm taking care of my husband's tank while he is out of the country for the next 5 weeks, and I've got a disaster in the making. Anyway, he's largely out of cell/internet range so I can't get in touch with him to ask advice. We took off this past Friday morning to deliver him to the airport and spend the weekend with the grandparents. When I arrived home three days later, I checked the tank to top the water off and noticed that the filter pump had been inadvertently left unplugged while we were away. (I think that my husband was adjusting something right as we were leaving because he left his watch on top of the cabinet and forgot to plug the filter back in.) The water was very cloudy and the fish was dead. I plugged the filter back in and cleaned out the dead fish (there was just one) I'm not too concerned about the fish because it's primarily a tank for corals, but I AM afraid that there is going to be some serious damage to the rest of the tank. The corals and seaweed don't look all that happy, and I don't know what to do.


By the way, DH posts here occasionally, but I've got no clue what his screen name might be. I'm afraid to do too much, but I'd really hate to see the whole tank die off. Do I just let the filter run and hope it gets better? Do I make a water change? (Not that I even know how!) Should I continue to feed the tank as per my instructions? (minus the fish food, of course)


ETA: It's a 12 gallon tank, and he left some salt water with a heater all mixed up and waiting for me in case I needed to do a water change while he was away.
Thanks!!
 
Welcome to Reef Central! Sry it's under these circumstances!

How much new water did hubby mix up for ya, 5g?

I would remove maybe 3g of tank water and replace with your new mix water.

Be sure when you remove the water, that you turn the heater off ahead of time, if it will not remain submerged while removing water, as well as turn any pumps off.

Keep us posted.
 
If it were me the first thing i would do would be to add a bag of carbon to the back filtration area to absorb any excess stuff that built up while the return pump was off.

Second I would do a water change as jacwil suggested.
 
update

update

Hi all

I added carbon and changed about 20% of the water. Things are looking a little better. Fingers crossed!
 
Good for you! I'll cross my fingers too. So far, you've done everything right. Your hubby owes you a nice dinner.
 
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