Need advice ASAP!!

Babygecko1233 · Mar 23, 2017

Okay guys so I moved to Indiana recently..And just acquired a job at the local pet store for the salt water department... In the past I have maintanced tanks for a living in FL. This is different. Their tanks are littered with aptasia and diatoms and the species are all mixed together terribly!! The only thing doing amazing is the Harley Quinn shrimp because the astrea starfish are out of control.. the coral frags they have...Are covered in thick brown algae. But are still alive.. I've never dealt with tanks so close and "connected" any one with experience!!?? I'm nervous as hell.. I guarantee I'll have to do some major water changes and death removal...How can one get rid of sooooo many aptasia in soooo many tanks...I think the last guy thought they would make profit off of them or something cuz they are almost "displayed" in a way...The fresh water tanks are beautiful...They need me and I would love to help...But where would I start!!!??

Greybeard · Mar 23, 2017

Babygecko1233 said:
Okay guys so I moved to Indiana recently..And just acquired a job at the local pet store for the salt water department <SNIP> They need me and I would love to help...But where would I start!!!??

I can't tell, did you take the position without looking the tanks over, or are you still considering it? Unless I really needed the job, I'd probably walk away. The ONLY way I'd accept such a position is if they understood, up front, that I was going to be making some MAJOR and IMMEDIATE changes to the system. I'd be apt to remove all healthy looking animals to a separate system, DUMP all of the aptasia covered rocks, and pretty much START OVER. Clean rock, clean substrate, new water, restart the cycle, and build from a solid base. If that is unacceptable, well, I wouldn't do it. The chances of success would be too low, and overseeing a mess like you describe is not something I'd be willing to do.

ahiggins · Mar 23, 2017

Greybeard said:
I can't tell, did you take the position without looking the tanks over, or are you still considering it? Unless I really needed the job, I'd probably walk away. The ONLY way I'd accept such a position is if they understood, up front, that I was going to be making some MAJOR and IMMEDIATE changes to the system. I'd be apt to remove all healthy looking animals to a separate system, DUMP all of the aptasia covered rocks, and pretty much START OVER. Clean rock, clean substrate, new water, restart the cycle, and build from a solid base. If that is unacceptable, well, I wouldn't do it. The chances of success would be too low, and overseeing a mess like you describe is not something I'd be willing to do.

While I agree that would be perfect case scenario....a business would never agree to this. Too much money to be lost during all that down time.
Get some peppermint shrimp, literally a few for each tank. I wouldnt worry about using aiptasia-x or something that can alter the parameters if used too much (like kalk paste).
Ive never seen pet store filtration....what do they have?

40B Knasty · Mar 23, 2017

Order a copperband butterfly for aiptasia, conches for diatoms, and sea hare for bad algae(green hair algae especially) if the water is still good enough to put livestock into the tank. That will be your buffer crew and it will take 2weeks in each tank. Work on nutrients control. Magfloat and Razor for the glass. It's work man. Not come in, collect a paycheck, and go home. They hired you for your previous skills and expect that you help them get a float again. Best part is. You can't be any worse than what they have done. Which sounds pretty much like nothing. So no need to be nervous :)

McMullen · Mar 23, 2017

No way I would get a copperband. I would go for a couple file fish though.

This sounds like a fun challenge. Think how rewarding it will be!

Greybeard · Mar 23, 2017

ahiggins said:
a business would never agree to this. Too much money to be lost during all that down time.

You're probably right. As I said, I'd probably walk...

In this hobby, stores acquire a reputation among those in the surrounding community very quickly. Screw one well respected member of the local reefing club in a transaction, you might as well quit selling corals altogether. Get a reputation for poorly maintained aquariums, sick animals, aptasia, flatworms... your reputation suffers dramatically. In my opinion, closing down the marine systems for a month, with an expected Grand Re-Opening, well publicized with the local club(s), photos of the rebuild somewhere like, say here, doing it right, and making sure people know about it, would be WELL worth the short term losses.

Peppermint shrimp, copperband butterfly fish (add berghia nudibranch to the list). are excellent at controlling aptasia. If your home reef was infested with them, sure, that's what I'd recommend too. If it were flatworms, perhaps a yellow corris wrasse. In a store? Nope. Someone buys a frag with some tiny remnants of aptasia or a flatworm or two hiding on it, takes it home, and a month later, they've got an outbreak. They come here, or to a local reef forum, and your reputation takes a pounding.

40B Knasty · Mar 23, 2017

McMullen said:
No way I would get a copperband. I would go for a couple file fish though.

This sounds like a fun challenge. Think how rewarding it will be!

Curious as to why no copperband? I can see the suggested tank size being an issue, but that is more for a suggested size for a permanent home with plenty of aiptasia to eat.
File fish is another good fish, but the tank he said had corals and they are known to nip at them and also suggested to be around no small inverts. He said there was Harley Quinn Shrimp. There max size is the same of a sexy shrimp at 1 1/2" and that would be consider the small invert.
Personally if that was me. Nuke it all and start all over for bacteria. I have done that and no aiptasia for me anymore.

McMullen · Mar 23, 2017

Copperbands can be very finicky eaters. If it didn't start eating upon arrival it seems unlikely the store is setup to feed live food.

Andrewalex11 · Mar 23, 2017

Sacrifice the corals and release the nudi's to eat all the aiptasia !!!

ReefQueen · Mar 23, 2017

Congrats on the new job! I think you need to take it slow, work on one system at a time. Maybe move all the really bad rocks to one system and introduce some peppermint shrimp or berghia nudis to take care of the aiptasia, work on sorting the fish, and start a good water change schedule. It won't happen overnight, but unless you plan on making this a temporary job, the you will have lots of time to get those tanks in order:)

Babygecko1233 · Mar 23, 2017

I will take pictures of the tanks and post them. They are a mess..The water seems some what okay...But I'm almost positive all the filtration runs into one...Hints why he said start all over..They are the only LPS with saltwater fish...In this corn filled state... Indeed it will be a hassle and time consuming...But I figured if I took it one thing at a time and one tank fully done at a time then that would be some what sufficient. I don't mind the challenge at all...As I miss the sea...And this now is the closest I'll come for a while. I tend to make these tank amazing again!! I've seen them run at their highest potential in the past (the stores where I get all my reptiles ext).. but who ever does it now...Is careless or has no idea what's going on...I just want to make sure the fish and nems and corals and others are "happy" and customers dont go home with infestations or dying new additions. I'm hopeful...And I don't think I could do anymore damage...Then what's already been done... I want to start a thread... Before and after :) just know I'll be on here often with many many many questions...So I was thinking...If the pH is to high.. I prefer the no chemical route. Which involves micro algae!! How much would u recommend ? I'm almost positive the filtration is through all tanks...Which in my opinion is dumb...Cuz what if there's a bad sickness...It goes to all through the water...I'm going to put in a request to redo everything..But I have a feeling I'm going to have to prove myself worthy first... What should my first steps be?

Peter Blue Reef · Mar 23, 2017

You moved to Indiana from......never mind....Any ways I agree with RQ, congrats on your new job! I would explain to the owner or management that total tank tear down is the best solution. That's what I would do. If livestock needs to go then so be it.

ReefNo0ob · Mar 23, 2017

Babygecko1233 said:
Okay guys so I moved to Indiana recently..And just acquired a job at the local pet store for the salt water department... In the past I have maintanced tanks for a living in FL. This is different. Their tanks are littered with aptasia and diatoms and the species are all mixed together terribly!! The only thing doing amazing is the Harley Quinn shrimp because the astrea starfish are out of control.. the coral frags they have...Are covered in thick brown algae. But are still alive.. I've never dealt with tanks so close and "connected" any one with experience!!?? I'm nervous as hell.. I guarantee I'll have to do some major water changes and death removal...How can one get rid of sooooo many aptasia in soooo many tanks...I think the last guy thought they would make profit off of them or something cuz they are almost "displayed" in a way...The fresh water tanks are beautiful...They need me and I would love to help...But where would I start!!!??

Buy some aptasia-x go to town on the aptasia. Dip all the corals in peroxode tank water solution 2x a weel and see if that helps on killing off the algae growth on the frags?

Maritimer · Mar 23, 2017

Babygecko1233 said:
...Are covered in thick brown algae. But are still alive..

Does the algae look like a bad diatom infestation, or dinoflagellates?

If diatoms ... are they using RO/DI or tapwater?!

If you decide to use chemical attacks to take on the Aiptasia, do it gradually - don't crank up the alk too high or risk ammonia from rotting anemones!

Just a few random thoughts off the top of my brain. Good luck!!

~Bruce

ahiggins · Mar 24, 2017

Greybeard said:
You're probably right. As I said, I'd probably walk...

In this hobby, stores acquire a reputation among those in the surrounding community very quickly. Screw one well respected member of the local reefing club in a transaction, you might as well quit selling corals altogether. Get a reputation for poorly maintained aquariums, sick animals, aptasia, flatworms... your reputation suffers dramatically. In my opinion, closing down the marine systems for a month, with an expected Grand Re-Opening, well publicized with the local club(s), photos of the rebuild somewhere like, say here, doing it right, and making sure people know about it, would be WELL worth the short term losses.

Peppermint shrimp, copperband butterfly fish (add berghia nudibranch to the list). are excellent at controlling aptasia. If your home reef was infested with them, sure, that's what I'd recommend too. If it were flatworms, perhaps a yellow corris wrasse. In a store? Nope. Someone buys a frag with some tiny remnants of aptasia or a flatworm or two hiding on it, takes it home, and a month later, they've got an outbreak. They come here, or to a local reef forum, and your reputation takes a pounding.

totally agree with every point made!
I just know how *most* chains operate and I didnt want OP to get his hopes up....

Zack K · Mar 24, 2017

Sounds like you took a job at petco. If so....WHY!

Babygecko1233 · Mar 24, 2017

Deff not petco!! I would never!! Haha it's called uncle bills. What should I do for the frag tank? And it's deff a really bad diatom settlement.....On all the zoa's. They are Hardy if cuz even with the thick stuff they still open and their colors shine through...They even have LPS and sps in the same tanks and one or the other aren't doing well.. I'll have to explain with great ordeal of how both need seperate water requirements and lighting...But we will see if they listen...I'm deff gonna tough it out.. I care for this truly

Andrewalex11 · Mar 24, 2017

If I were you I'd test the water they are using even if it's from RO/DI units they have, just to be sure that initially the water isn't full of extra nutrients. Are the tanks rich in Phosphates or what? Definitely tell us what the lighting situation is too what's being used and what's the lighting cycle for the day look like?