It sounds like you've got a good plan of action. Hopefully your schedule will allow you to stick to it and get the tank back on track.
Thanks for the reply Marc and doomicon. You are right about the summer months. It is hard to focus on an indoor project when it is warm outside. I am going to order some new test kits on-line. The fish stores are far away around here. I may have to go over an hour to find one that actually tests water. I am just going to get the basics replaced for now. I generally get Salifert so I am going to get Alk, Calcium, Magnesium, P04, and Nitrate (although with a dip strip the trates are off the charts). I replaced my Chemipure (after 6 months) and I can already see a difference in the coral extension and water clarity. Unfortunately I can't store enough water to do a 50% water change. I am limited to 40 gallons at a time. I just did one on Sunday and I should have another 40 gal ready tomorrow. I could have done it faster...I actually intended to, but...well I didn't. I used to do 40 Gallons once a week for the first 3 years like clockwork when my tank was doing well even with a large fish load. I am supposed to get a new 60 gallon holding tank from my friend SaraB, but I haven't yet. I have always run some trates though even before I got that many fish. I have a few slabs of volcanic rock in the tank that I have always been suspicious of so I might remove those this weekend. They have been there since the begining but... I really don't want to add the cleaning crew till get the trates down a little. The crabs usually wouldn't mind much, but the snails can be more sensitive. I may vaccuum the heck out of the sand that I can get too when I change the water. Lisa
Sunfish, I'm in a similar situation. Subscribing and tracking your progress! WOW, that is alot of fish!
You have a lot of big fish that put out a significant amount of waste, and they are the kind that need to be fed often since they are grazers in nature. So water parameters are going to be pretty rough, especially with lack of maintenance. Typically, when the weather gets cold people tend to focus on their tanks because they can't get out. The beautiful summer months their tanks run on auto-pilot. Ask any fish store when their business is best and when it is at its worst, and you'll see the parallel. Why not take a water sample to your local store and have them test everything since your kits are expired? Get an idea of what you need to work on. That denitrifying reactor is a godsend for your system. With that fish load, you need something that will keep those nitrates down so your corals can thrive. For now, do some 50% water changes. Each one you do will cut the nitrate in half, so if you do three in one week, that will be a big step in the right direction. The reactor will take a while to mature, then it can start helping your reef. I like ordering my livestock from KeysCritters.com, but you can order clean up crews from other companies as well. Time to add a bunch at once, after a few huge water changes. Let's see some of those pretty pictures.
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