Troubleshooting Red Sea setup

[CD_Scapes]

I need help with this tank, it’s my family friends that they have had for 4 years. Used to a lot more corals and fish but most of the fish died off over two years ago minus a damsel and clown. I’ve also noticed a decline in hermits and snails. Asteria stars, limpets, and copepods all are still around in numbers. There is also a large population of vermetid snails and bubble algae. Only surviving coral that seem to be struggling if I’m being honest are some frogspawn, mushrooms, Palythoa grandis, and bubble tip nems. Going to test water chem soon but curious if anyone would know based on these pics if there’s any red flags on why the tank has fallen into a hole. Recently a couple bags of new sand was added to boost bacteria and sand depth as well as a starry blenny was added and is doing great.

 

[1112-425XL]

Any chance you have white light pics?
I'm guessing it's water chemistry. Tank parameters will be extremely helpful.

 

[Cscultho]

I had similar issues with my reef tank. I did an ICP and identified the trace elements I was lacking. I started using the Redsea 4-part and this system worked magic for my system.

 

[VintageReefer]

It appears to be severely underlit
And I’m sure some parameters are less than ideal

I’d start there. Full barrage of water parameter tests. And par map of the tank

Looks like it has half the light fixtures it should have (unless there are more that are powered off)

 

[CD_Scapes]

It appears to be severely underlit
And I’m sure some parameters are less than ideal

I’d start there. Full barrage of water parameter tests. And par map of the tank

Looks like it has half the light fixtures it should have (unless there are more that are powered off)

Yeah currently the other AI is broken so it’s running on just 2 of the 3

 

[VintageReefer]

What model hydra are they?

 

[CD_Scapes]

What model hydra are they?

32s I believe

 

[VintageReefer]

The skimmer is empty. I would expect a neglected tank to have a full cup. Was it emptied recently it is it broken?

 

[CD_Scapes]

The skimmer is empty. I would expect a neglected tank to have a full cup. Was it emptied recently it is it broken?

I will ask about that, I was also confused about that too

 

[VintageReefer]

There are some problems a tank can go through the correct themselves in time. It is possible when fish and more sensitive coral died, the tank parameters spiked, and caused a chain reaction over the course of a few days or weeks, and then after a few months things leveled back out. There might not even be a problem anymore. There are living corals, fish, pods. some algae growing. The owners might think the tank is cursed lol but it’s possible things self resolved and all it needs is a new light and some cleaning. Or maybe some 2 part to get alk and ca corrected.

 

[CD_Scapes]

There are some problems a tank can go through the correct themselves in time. It is possible when fish and more sensitive coral died, the tank parameters spiked, and caused a chain reaction over the course of a few days or weeks, and then after a few months things leveled back out. There might not even be a problem anymore. There are living corals, fish, pods. some algae growing. The owners might think the tank is cursed lol but it’s possible things self resolved and all it needs is a new light and some cleaning. Or maybe some 2 part to get alk and ca corrected.

Better day time pics, but yeah haven’t done the water testing yet. Ran out of time today

 

[VintageReefer]

I’m seeing bubble algae on the power head, easiest spot to clean from. Put pump on full blast with a large net in front / covering the power head slightly and then flick them into it or in front of it. They will blow right into the net

Hammer colony - darn. I bet that was an incredible piece. Hammers can be sensitive and this tank had a unknown history. At least some are alive

I’m seeing vermetid snails - can’t tell if they are alive or not. Bumblebee snails are great clean up crew addition and will kill these and eat them but leave the tube behind

I see surface scum, I question if the return pump is working, or clogged and reducing flow.

Rockwork looks pretty clean. I’m not seeing hair algae or cyano

Tank doesn’t look to bad to me.