What do you think?

[Lizzy & Me]

Evening all:

I just found to be what I believe is a really nice reef set up but it was neglected and that is why it is being sold. 90 gallon glass tank with 20 gal sump Remors C skimmer. Tunze turbelle system with photo cells, tunze ATO, 2 x 250W MH and 2 VHO actinics, dual doser, calc reactor and phos ban system, red sea ozone, tons of misc, 120 lbs live rock 2 clams and 3 fish are still alive but......

the tank is covered in a light brown slime algae, most of the corals have died. The price is right and the tank has never been medicated. I searched for an aiptasia outbreak but found only 2.

My question is what are the potential disasters that are waiting for me if I jump into this that I am too new to see? Salvagable, or dismantle and start over?

Addicted and having a hard time saying no to most everything I think I want for a reef.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[turnburn]

Man, it's a shame someone would let a beautiful setup go to pots like that!

 

[trido]

How much do they want for it?

 

[spaulr]

That looks like a lot of work to salvage. Personally, if its a good deal for all the equipment I'd go for it. That stuff is $$$. If you have a tank already I'd move whatever is still alive and salvagable (the clam) into that tank and break most of this one down.

If you really felt like doing it though...LOTS of snails, hermits, and crabs - a better skimmer, LOTS of water changes and elbow grease would bring it back to glory. Obviously you have to restock it with your own favorites!

 

[spaulr]

I looked at the picture again. Whoa. Personally, if the deal is right I'd get it only for the equipment. Sell of the remaining critters to a LFS and start over.

 

[Lizzy & Me]

The deal is certainly right. I am just trying to see if there is something I haven't considered. I have not delt with brown slime algae yet. He did a 20% water change in an effort to preserve what life he could and I can't move it for 7 days yet. I have another fish only tank that I don't feel is pure enough yet for reef inhabitants.

Should I toss all of the sand and try to scrub the LR clean? I have run into the "old sand" nitrate issue already with my fish only but I am now down to 15ppm.

 

[Snowboarda42]

i'd say break it down and start over on it. The live rock you could scrub, maybe recure it. As for the sand, I would start over with fresh. That way you could get in there and really clean everything out. I'd set up a small quarantine tank to hold your fish for a few days if there are some you decide you want to keep.

 

[Anonymous]

Are any of the clams still alive?

I think it should be fine to start off. For the sand and rock, you may need to watch out for absorbed nutrient. But from the look of the tank, it should be fine (not loaded with nitrate). Just make sure you set the tank up with sand and rock and make sure there is no algae issue or other toxin before putting anything valueable in there again.

 

[Lizzy & Me]

The clams are alive as well as some of the other rock inhabitants! Basically the bright white spots you see on the rock. So, if I have this straight.....toss the sand replace with fresh.

1) Do you guys prefer bare bottom or 4-5" or deep plenum?

Quarntine the fish, salavage what life is on the rock and then scrub and recure the rock.

2) how do you gingerly pry off the life left on the LR and do I attach it to LR from a different tank?

and lastly...
3) how can I determine if I do have an absorbed nutrient issue?

I believe I went through this (absorbed nutrients) with my used 300 (sand bed) that I have been westling to bringing the nitrates down. I am finally below 10 and still working on it.

Thanks again for help in the buying decision.

Jack