EMERGENCY need suggestions

[melbournefl]

Hello all, I'm in the 3rd day of cycling my tank and I just got a phone call from an old friend of my wife's. Her husband took off and left an established tank at her house and she want's it out TONIGHT, no if's and's or but's. The tank has been basically ignored totally for the last 5 weeks and I'm certain the fish are in a very bad way so before she flushes them I'm going to try to save them. I've got to go to her house in a couple of hours and get (in her words) "all his fish

[hr]
out of my sight" ... I *think* it's a 30 gallon but she's not sure and I've never been over there so I don't have a clue. Here's my thinking PLEASE jump in and give me advice if I'm all wrong. I'm going to take some clean 5 gallon buckets and a rubbermaid container. Siphon off about 5 gallons of his water into the rubbermaid and put the fish in there. Take about 3 gallons in each of 4 buckets, this should give me about 18-20 gallons of "old" water. I'm going to take the rock and put it in the 5 gallon buckets, leave the sand in the old tank with just enough water to cover. Luckily I have 35 gallons of fresh salt mixed and ready so I'm going to bring it all to my place and change about 30-40% of the old water with fresh. Then I'm going to pray real hard for the next couple of weeks till my tank cycles and I can get the fish in a new home. IDEAS SUGGESTIONS HELP! I really was going to go into this tank slowly but I'm being pushed to the wall on this one so I'm going to do the best I can.
Thanks in advance,
Paul

 

[mlm]

The plan sounds could, but I would not change any of the water until after you get it set up at your house and test the water for ammonia and nitrite.

 

[von_rahvin]

hey if you want some close in help i'm in orlando and my parents are in melbourne. they have like 5 tanks of mine and 4 or more aerators. drop me a line 407-325-1976

 

[radge69]

Sounds like you have it covered. The fish are probably really stressed the way it is, so don't be surprised if they don't make it. But you might as well try, free tank, and trying to save the fish is better than watching them go down the toilet. Good Luck.

 

[melbournefl]

Thanks all ! Von, I've got your phone number and don't be surprised if you get a call from "paul."
I'm planning on testing the water and doing the change over a couple of hours (drip method) I'm just scared to death that the water they are in is deadly right now so I don't want to let it drag on too long.
Still planning so jump in!
Thanks Paul

 

[von_rahvin]

as a thought . . . you might want to use a sponge filter on either a powerhead or an airstone to remove some of the suspended particles. one thing i screwed up on was the temps. makes sure you are not changing it too much. even if they are way to cold or too hot to start of with, they have grown accustomed to it being that bad. so change it slowly.

 

[staz7]

definately acclimate all the fish and corals. Do not just dump them in the tank. Good Luck.

 

[melbournefl]

well all, I'm off to begin the move (all prayer's are appreciated) thanks again for the input and if anyone has any suggestions to add please do! I'll check the board before I do anything on my return in a couple of hours.
Wish me luck,
Paul

 

[melbournefl]

Well I went over and met with her last night and much to my delight, she agreed to keep the tank a while longer, at least until mine cycles. I hadn't taken my test equipment so I couldn't check her water but I'm going over this evening to see where we stand. The tank doesn't look to good but the fish seemed okay so maybe we'll get lucky on this one! Thanks for all who gave suggestions and good thoughts!
Later,
Paul