Saving an ignored tank..My project

[petemattersen]

So about 2 months ago i was given a 75 gallon fowlr tank. It had a tomato clown,sailfin tang,and another tang that i really haven't been able to id(due to my ignorance). I asked if the tank had been poorly maintained and was full of sick fish and was assured that wasn't the case. When it was delivered i could not believe what this tank looked like. Algae city and obviously the glass had not been cleaned...ever. I had NO knowledge of anything aquarium at the time.
My buddy set up the tank tossed the fish in and wished me luck for the most part. I put everything away that he gave me, including all the empty packets of super ick cure. So i immediately googled ick and learned what i was up against. I also learned later that the water had not been changed in 2 years,only topped off. So here's some pics after getting rid of the bio ball filter and building a fuge. I also added t5 lighting,hydor powerheads, acua c urchin pro skimmer, and started an rodi setup and dosing. I am slowly getting the nitrates down and the water in check. I am currently halfway through a two month fallow period and treating the fish for ich in quarantine. Here is some before and after shots of the tank so far, still a long way to go.

 

[flying_dutchman]

The tank is looking a lot better already
The tang is most likely a blue tang (Acanthurus coeruleus)

 

[Boyman]

ack!

Good job on reviving the tank. Did the fish make it?

 

[petemattersen]

The fish are in quarantine and doing well, eating healthy and anxious to get back in the big tank. Params are getting better by the week.

 

[Gatorzone19]

That appears to be an Atlantic Blue Tang and it looks to be in the stages of turning all blue. Great Job on reviving the tank and doing the research to revive it! I like the aquascape.

 

[schnitm]

Looking good!

Feel like I've been down a similar road the past few months. We aquired a 90 form a friend who got us inot the hobby. She'd realy let it go and I didn't know how badly until we moved it in.

If I knew what I knew today I might have backed out when she said, "I've just never been able to grow coral in this tank. Soft, hard, doesn't matter...it all fades away." Now I know why it faded...Nitrates and phosphates through the roof!

Now that things are stable some pleasant surprises have arrived. A rock that I thougt sterile seems to be growing a pink montepora. Another has a cluster of what I'm guessing are acros (again pink, she liked that). Had the acro rock "upside down." Noticed something growing on the bottom about a month ago, flipped it and they're starting to take form.

Keep at it, there's nothing like a challenge!

 

[lordofthereef]

Before shots really just look like dirty water to me or tinted water which can be fixed by some carbon running.

 

[petemattersen]

Carbon was one of the first things i did, polished the water up nicely and lost its yellow haze.Along with frequent water changes. In the before pic, what looks like sand is actually detrius.

Before shots really just look like dirty water to me or tinted water which can be fixed by some carbon running.

 

[goochesfish]

How do you know the super ick cure wasn't used in the tank already? Is that stuff reef safe or will you keep it fish only?

 

[petemattersen]

I asked and he said he had used it around a year ago in the tank. I have already added a few corals and they seem to be doing well so far. The zoas are taking off. I don't think it will be an issue with it being used that long ago in the tank. I have heard stories of it leaching but we will just have to see.

How do you know the super ick cure wasn't used in the tank already? Is that stuff reef safe or will you keep it fish only?

 

[Andrew17030]

Good work, these fish may have never had it this good in captivity. Im sure that you already know that if there is no coraline on the rocks there is a chance that something not reef safe has been introduced to the rock. However, poor lighitng and parameters could also contrivute to this. Good luck and good work!

 

[petemattersen]

Im getting some pink and purple on the rocks, i have been dosing tropic marin calcium for a few weeks now and am seeing it take off.

Good work, these fish may have never had it this good in captivity. Im sure that you already know that if there is no coraline on the rocks there is a chance that something not reef safe has been introduced to the rock. However, poor lighitng and parameters could also contrivute to this. Good luck and good work!

 

[petemattersen]

Been a few months and the tank is getting alot better. I finally have my calcium dosing down to a science and coraline is taking off on my overflow box. I recently changed out the crushed coral bed that the tank came with to a finer reef sand. Got my ato in the mail today and will be messing with hooking that up tomorrow. As far as livestock goes,I picked up a new brain coral a week ago, and am really enjoying watching it. Here's some pics. Thanks to the guys i got some of the frags from.

 

[Eel-byte]

Very nice. Great jog bringing the tank back to life.

 

[lordofthereef]

To be honest I have seen MUCH worse that what you have there on your before shots. I was expecting to see nothing but green with your description of the tank! In any case the tank has come a long way/ Good job. Looking forward to future pics.

 

[reef_lover24881]

OMG! Looking real good! Keep up the hard work.

 

[petemattersen]

well here is the tank around a year later or so, I have added a soon to be mangrove swap(as soon as they come in). Just been weekly maintaining and dosing at a very strict schedule. Everything is doing fairly well aside from a small hair algae issue i had been having. Heres a few update pics!