Finally back and need some help

savetheocean · Sep 8, 2018

Hey, just got back to my reef tank after 3 months, definitely should have gotten a professional to watch over my tank..

All my fish survived and are actually looking great but many of my corals are gone. I also didn't have that many to begin with in the first place. I have two leather corals and some polyps left. None of them are looking that great (especially the toadstool).

The toadstool has never been fully extended and is always shedding. Ive been cleaning a ton and rearranged the rocks and I still only see little buds popping out.

CC13 · Sep 8, 2018

savetheocean said:
Hey, just got back to my reef tank after 3 months, definitely should have gotten a professional to watch over my tank..

All my fish survived and are actually looking great but many of my corals are gone. I also didn't have that many to begin with in the first place. I have two leather corals and some polyps left. None of them are looking that great (especially the toadstool).

The toadstool has never been fully extended and is always shedding. Ive been cleaning a ton and rearranged the rocks and I still only see little buds popping out.

Sorry what exactly if your question? How to revive the tank?

I would start with a massive water change over the course of a week. I would try and change out 100% of the water if possible over 5-7 days for starters.

Reefpuck · Sep 8, 2018

Sorry to hear. Best to start doing water changes. Also should be helpful if you posted your water parameters so we can help you better.

savetheocean · Sep 8, 2018

Reefpuck said:
Sorry to hear. Best to start doing water changes. Also should be helpful if you posted your water parameters so we can help you better.

Will do

savetheocean · Sep 8, 2018

CC13 said:
Sorry what exactly if your question? How to revive the tank?

I would start with a massive water change over the course of a week. I would try and change out 100% of the water if possible over 5-7 days for starters.

I may have made a big mistake.. I had a thin layer of sand that was totally ruined while I was gone and I thought it would be a good idea to remove it. But to get all of it I moved some rocks into the sump but, what I didn't realize was that the water level in the sump dropped a lot uncovering about half of the rocks for hours. This was about two days ago. Just tested ammonia, as suspected it was between 0 and .25

Im going to do many water changes and feed less, I also have an order from algae barn coming soon.

CC13 · Sep 8, 2018

savetheocean said:
I may have made a big mistake.. I had a thin layer of sand that was totally ruined while I was gone and I thought it would be a good idea to remove it. But to get all of it I moved some rocks into the sump but, what I didn't realize was that the water level in the sump dropped a lot uncovering about half of the rocks for hours. This was about two days ago. Just tested ammonia, as suspected it was between 0 and .25

Im going to do many water changes and feed less, I also have an order from algae barn coming soon.

I mean there was some die-off I am sure, but honestly most things in our reef tank are pretty resilient.

I would start with a series of water changes for sure. Test your parameters daily and monitor.

Is your sandbed covered with algae? Maybe post some pictures of your tank?

savetheocean · Sep 8, 2018

CC13 said:
I mean there was some die-off I am sure, but honestly most things in our reef tank are pretty resilient.

I would start with a series of water changes for sure. Test your parameters daily and monitor.

Is your sandbed covered with algae? Maybe post some pictures of your tank?

Most of the things in the display tank are new - everything else is in the sump. I thought if I still had a some pieces of cycled rock in the sump, this wouldn't happen.

Also in the middle of a water change

CC13 · Sep 8, 2018

savetheocean said:
Most of the things in the display tank are new - everything else is in the sump. I thought if I still had a some pieces of cycled rock in the sump, this wouldn't happen.

Also in the middle of a water change

That tank looks amazing for 3 months of no real maintenance to be honest. I was expecting way worse.

I would just stick to water changes for this week and see what happens. As long as your corals aren't dead, they should slowly come back. I wouldn't change anything right now, the stability is most likely what has the corals still alive.

savetheocean · Sep 8, 2018

CC13 said:
That tank looks amazing for 3 months of no real maintenance to be honest. I was expecting way worse.

I would just stick to water changes for this week and see what happens. As long as your corals aren't dead, they should slowly come back. I wouldn't change anything right now, the stability is most likely what has the corals still alive.

It looks amazing cause I cleaned it and thats new sand lol. You should have seen it when I came back