HELP...Weirdness in tank....

[tomstanks]

I recently took over the care of a SW,FO tank that was in HORRIBLE shape. The tank had odd particles of dust bunny like stuff on the bottom. I have taken about a gallon of "gunk" out. The tank keeps getting it back....any idea what this is or how to get rid of it? This client is uptight about it understandabl, but I am at my wits end trying to figure out what the heck it is and trying to get it out of the water. I recently added a two new filters and two power heads to provide current....the tank looks better but.......this is crazy. I about have them talked into getting a protien skimmer....that should help, but what is this stuff....

 

[Evanish]

Try doing a water change. I had the same thing but my kole tangs eat it. What do your water levels read?

 

[Navarre]

No Skimmer?

This will help remove a few nutrients but wont stop detrius from accumulating in the dead spots in the tank.

What cleanup crew do you have? If you have none then may i ask why? As its a fish only system has the tank ever been dosed with copper?

 

[tomstanks]

OK, here is the deal....

I took this tank over from another service that left it in dismal shape. There is a limited amount of stuff I can buy for the tank. It is in a Nursing Home with budget constraints. It has NO cleanup crew. I plan on trying to coax them into it....this is a calssic case of someone doing saltwater without doing it correctly. When I took it over it had an undergavel filter that had no working airstones. Two cheapo hang on filters of which only one worked. I have no idea if it has ever been dosed in any way. You should have seen the thing before I took it over....(I care for several tanks salt and fresh) All of my other tanks are beautiful. I have simply never seen so much "gunk" aka detrius...I have done water changes until I am blue in the face. I have even manually removed the stuff with a net. It is simply amazing at the amount. I am trying to educate them...they want more fish....I keep telling them "not until we get this mess fixed"....water readings seem ok. They were over feeding big time...they have only two damsels left....truly tragic tank.....I am trying to save it. I just hope they will be willing to flop out the cash needed for the fixes.

Have any of you ever used...a product called...Marine clean or Liquid Gravel Vac....I wonder if this might help...even a little....I have nevr let any of my tanks get into this sort of mess.....any ideas are welcome.

 

[tomstanks]

One other thing.....I note that clean up crews vary....what is the best species varieties in your opinion?

 

[Navarre]

Ok well first of all i would test for copper to make sure that inverts can be added.

If the readings are ok then look into adding cleanup crew (budget permitting). Red leg hermits are a good choice for detrius removal. Another very good workhorse is the cerith snail, these burrow through the sand and remove detrius. Perhaps a sandsifter starfish as these are very good too (though perhaps the ceriths are cheaper on outlay).

 

[tomstanks]

Will do so....now a good source for inverts?

reeftopia.com

How about others?

 

[tomstanks]

BTW....thanks for all the help and advice....

 

[Raki]

Just a thought but since this is a nursing home how about asking the LFSs in the area if they would be willing to donate something to the cause a few hermits or turbos wouldn't break the bank and they even may be able to write them off.
I sure the nursing home could print up some kind of request form on a letterhead to prove that your legit.
Also how about placing a "donations" box by the tank with a list of what is needed to "fix the mess" and approximate cost.