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Morlaz 
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 Topic: Help!! deep cleaning needed?
Posted: July 15 2012 at 8:14pm |
I have recently inherited my dads 65 gallon Red Sea Max, he just stopped taking care of it so i decided to take some action, i have TONS of knowledge and experience, i just wanted to know if anyone has any tips i can use to try and Resurrect this tank.
So here is the problem, The first thing i decided to kill was the Aptasia, so i tried aptasia-X and all that fun stuff, but it was too overrun, so i got a kliens butterfly fish, which did the job very well, the only problem know is that i cant get him out.
Next Problem, For some reason my dad never ran the protein skimmer, i can kind of understand know, it puts of a lot of bubbles, any quick fixes for that?
Next Problem is red slime/ Cyano Bacteria, i'm going to purchase some chemicals for that tomorrow, but any tips? also some bad diatoms on sand?
Next problem, Zooanthids won't open :( tried FW dip to moving the coral, no luck.
I have had my water all tested and nothing was wrong but the Phosphates, what works best for you guys? i have heard Phos. gaurd is good? opinions?
Other than that everything is going good and looking a lot better :) All my fish are doing great!
(Six Line Wrasse) (Male and Female Squam. Anthias) (black ORA oce. Clown) (kliens Butterfly fish) (Bar Goby) (Bullseye Pistol Shrimp)
**The butterfly fish is not eating my coral, just taking up room :) **
Corals: Green Star Polyp, Dendrophyllia ( Large sun polyps) Candy Cane Zoo's Birdsnest.
** Rose Anne.**
65 Red Sea Max
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: July 15 2012 at 8:40pm |
If you are leaving it in place I'd vaccuum the gravel and do a huge water change. If you are moving the tank, I'd replace the sand.
Adam
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Molli
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Posted: July 15 2012 at 8:41pm |
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The first members of my cleanup crew were hermit crabs. I got them about 3 weeks after my aquarium was installed (I used cured live rock). I had a minor breakout of diatoms and the hermit crabs went after it immediately. Within two days all of it was gone. I don't have enough experience to respond to any more of your questions. But you didn't mention a cleanup crew in your list of tank inhabitants.
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Morlaz
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Posted: July 15 2012 at 8:43pm |
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Thanks Adam :) it's staying, im only 16, haha but don't get me wrong i know more about aquariums than any kid my age should know :) thanks ill be working tomorrow and i'll grab some RO water and do a massive change w/ gravel vac.
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Morlaz
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Posted: July 15 2012 at 8:45pm |
Thanks, i will be picking up some red leg hermits after i do a water change, if my water tests out right
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CrimsRayne
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Posted: July 15 2012 at 9:50pm |
 Morlaz wrote:
Thanks Adam :) it's staying, im only 16, haha but don't get me wrong i know more about aquariums than any kid my age should know :) thanks ill be working tomorrow and i'll grab some RO water and do a massive change w/ gravel vac. |
Obviously do the vac before you do the water change. If it were me and if possible I'd take out 50% of the water to keep. Do the vac. Ditch the dirty old water still in the tank and refill with the old clean water and new water. (Since you are in Sandy you may even be able to get some help with it if you need some. Just post and I'm sure someone would be able to help. I don't live too far either so I could help if you wanted. Get your parents permission first. I don't want to get in trouble.  ) Oh and as for the skimmer... there should be a way to raise and lower the bubbles. Usually a knob of some sort, but can be the clean water return pipe too. (if there is one) I am unfamiliar with the Red Sea Max type but there are several other members that own them. AnnA is one and she is also a teen reef keeper. A quick google search brought up this page that has a bunch of FAQs (I scrolled to the skimmer section for you). Also I'd wait on buying chemicals to get rid of the red slime as you should be able to suck up most of it while cleaning the sand. As for the zoanthids there are many reasons they may not be opening, but I'd see how they do after the water change as all the junk in the water is probably a main factor. And lastly, I'd see how the phosphates are after the water change and if they aren't very high I'd invest in a clean up crew asap.
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"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer
"The Puffer Girl"
Zoo freak :)
West Jordan
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Dion Richins
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Posted: July 15 2012 at 10:48pm |
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I will suggest a more radical approach. Your phosphates are likely due to too much build up in the sand as Adam has suggested. If it was my tank and was going to get it going I would take all the rock and coral out. Put it in a rubber maid with water of course.
The stir the sand up really good and drain the water. This will remove a good chunk of the waste that is in the sand. This is what is leaching out the phosphates and other crap that is causing your corals issues. Ive had this problem in my ray tank and in my 125 after about 8 years. I believe it is a factor in "Old Tank" syndrome.
Refill the tank and re set your rock and coral.
For the most part you are changing about 90% of the water and removing a high percentage of the waste.
Your tank will respond awesomely.
As a side note you will be able to get the unwanted fish out.
I have done this on my 180,125 and the 38 in my office. When I moved my 200 I did a very similar cleaning and love the way they respond.
I would be happy to give you a couple bags of salt to do the cleaning if it helps.
Edited by Dion Richins - July 15 2012 at 10:49pm
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Morlaz
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Posted: July 16 2012 at 8:15am |
Thanks for all the tips, :) don't worry crimes i work at the aquarium so i don't need to much help, just looking to see what works best for other people .
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Morlaz
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Posted: July 17 2012 at 2:14pm |
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Thanks everyone!!! i did everything and the tank looks really good right now, best i have seen it in a while, really lacking coral though, im taking a sample in to The Aquarium petstore to get it tested for Cal. Mag. Alk. aswell as Iodine and copper !!! thanks again all!
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Molli
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Posted: July 17 2012 at 2:37pm |
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Hey once your levels are stable and after I learn how to frag I'd be glad to give you a couple of frags. I have mostly softies -- any particular kind of coral that you like?
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Morlaz
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 3:31pm |
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i like mushrooms and zoo's, but unfortunately with me working at the aquarium pet store, i signed a no competition act thingy, so i can only purchase corals for there :) sorry.
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Dion Richins
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 4:50pm |
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WOW!! that would be the first time Ive heard of a store keeping their employees from buying from somewhere else!!
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Molli
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 5:35pm |
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Just to be clear, I was offering to give you some frags .. you mentioned your tank is really lacking corals. I'll just keep my mouth shut about the non-binding effect of an employer requiring that their employees only purchase items from them. LOL
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Morlaz
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 11:53pm |
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HAHAHAH i just Really enjoy my Job, Brad is just such a nice guy. I don't want to lose my job over something dumb like that.
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Morlaz
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 11:54pm |
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Ill Post Some Pictures real soon :) it's really made quiet a comeback!
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Dion Richins
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Posted: July 21 2012 at 11:40am |
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I'm pretty sure Brads policy's you cant sell corals out of your home and compete against him. Having a policy forbidding you from purchasing or receiving something for free is both unenforceable and I'm pretty sure sue-able if you were fired over it.
Double check with him. I'm pretty sure you just misunderstood.
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