I fell off the wagon and need advice!

[Neptune 555]

Not a proud moment... I stopped maintaining my 180 gallon reef over 14 months ago... (insert many excuses here.... started with Covid) So not one water change in 14 months but I have cleaned glass and the skimmer. My cleaner shrimp, fire shrimp, and sand sifting star have not been affected so I think I can still fix this. I think of my shrimp as the canary in the coal mine b/c they are the most sensitivey. I have not lost a fish due to this lapse in maintanance - my blue spotted puffer passed but he was always a challenge. Many corals were lost... BUT my BTA's have overun the tank.

OK so here is my question... How do I start to get my tank on track again? My nitrate is so high I can't even read it - blood red. I have not suplemented anything.
* Water changes? I can do 30 gallons at a time? Do I do 6 water changes in a row as close together as possible?
* Do I vacuum the sand 25% each water change
* I need to wetvac the sump

SUGGESTIONS as I start this daunting task.

Thanks
Neptune

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I would start by doing water changes and sand vacuuming until at least 100% of the water has been changed, to get nitrates down. This can be done by doing 30 gallon water changes every other day or so for a couple of weeks.

 

[Bucs20fan]

I agree with the above. In all honesty Youve done well for 14 months with no maintenance, ive seen alot worse with 1 month no maintenance.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Your tank looks great! The explosion of BTAs make it look very Seussian. If I stopped maintenance for five minutes on any of my tanks, the GHA and aiptasia would conspire to eat all of my equipment and hold my fish hostage in terrifying prisons of murderous overgrowths.

I'd go with smaller, regular water changes, as it seems that your tank has achieved some type of equilibrium.

 

[Neptune 555]

I would start by doing water changes and sand vacuuming until at least 100% of the water has been changed, to get nitrates down. This can be done by doing 30 gallon water changes every other day or so for a couple of weeks.

I wonder if that will even reduce nitrates b/c so much is locked in the sand? I will track the clean up and calcium and nitrates.

 

[MoshJosh]

Honestly, looks pretty darn good still, especially when you consider the no maintenance thing!

 

[Neptune 555]

Your tank looks great! The explosion of BTAs make it look very Seussian. If I stopped maintenance for five minutes on any of my tanks, the GHA and aiptasia would conspire to eat all of my equipment and hold my fish hostage in terrifying prisons of murderous overgrowths.

I'd go with smaller, regular water changes, as it seems that your tank has achieved some type of equilibrium.

agree... I can't believe it is not worse? Makes me think of Paul B - we do too much to our tanks now... He asserted he could keep any fish and coral on his lower maintanence schedule and feeding live food. (I also feed live food based on his blog)

 

[Jimmyneptune]

Not a proud moment... I stopped maintaining my 180 gallon reef over 14 months ago... (insert many excuses here.... started with Covid) So not one water change in 14 months but I have cleaned glass and the skimmer. My cleaner shrimp, fire shrimp, and sand sifting star have not been affected so I think I can still fix this. I think of my shrimp as the canary in the coal mine b/c they are the most sensitivey. I have not lost a fish due to this lapse in maintanance - my blue spotted puffer passed but he was always a challenge. Many corals were lost... BUT my BTA's have overun the tank.

OK so here is my question... How do I start to get my tank on track again? My nitrate is so high I can't even read it - blood red. I have not suplemented anything.
* Water changes? I can do 30 gallons at a time? Do I do 6 water changes in a row as close together as possible?
* Do I vacuum the sand 25% each water change
* I need to wetvac the sump

SUGGESTIONS as I start this daunting task.

Thanks
Neptune

What corals died?
What do you want in the aquarium that can't survive the current way you have the aquarium?
what are your numbers for the tank Po4 and No3?
What are your goals for the aquarium?
Do you have a refugium?
Your tank looks good; what are you trying to fix?

If you are happy with the way it is keep it the way it is. You could do a water change, but it doesn't even look necessary.

 

[nereefpat]

Tank looks a heck of a lot cleaner than mine. I wouldn't go crazy. If it were me, I'd just start doing weekly 20 gallon water changes for a while. Nitrates don't get locked up in sand and rock, so that isn't a concern. Phosphates can, so if those are super high you may want to replace some sand or use some GFO. Or do nothing, as the tank looks fine apart from BTA takeover.

 

[Dburr1014]

Oh man, those bta on the glass are ready picking to sell.
Use the money for whatever you think you need, salt, power heads, ect.
Tank looks pretty good.
Nitrates will come down, they aren't locked up like phosphates are. Just vacuum the sand.
BTW, where are your po4?

 

[Neptune 555]

obviously I am not great at water changes... anyone have long term success with the program where you don't do water changes and you send your water in to be tested? thinking I should investigate that path...

 

[Dburr1014]

obviously I am not great at water changes... anyone have long term success with the program where you don't do water changes and you send your water in to be tested? thinking I should investigate that path...

Well, water changes will be needed if your no3 is truly that high. It's the easiest way to get it down and will put everything else in line.