Need Help with Tank - Husband Deceased

[hmaesmom]

Hi!
I apologize for the hostile title, I'm just looking for some MUCH needed help! My husband did pass away this past week, and left me with a very beautiful 2 year old daughter -with her daddy's love for our 2 saltwater tanks!!
The tanks need LOTS of attention, they have ++algae growth, are about 2 months overdue for a water change, and now the 75 gallon is making horrific noises.
He built his own sump system under the tank, but there is still one piece of equipment hanging in the back of the tank. After a little research I think this is called a (HOB) Hang on Back skimmer?? There is a tube running into this, from an air pump, and it is making an awful gurgleing sound.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? It is literally keeping me up at night!
Thank you!!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by hmaesmom http:///t/394707/need-help-with-tank-husband-deceased#post_3513191
Hi!
I apologize for the hostile title, I'm just looking for some MUCH needed help! My husband did pass away this past week, and left me with a very beautiful 2 year old daughter -with her daddy's love for our 2 saltwater tanks!!
The tanks need LOTS of attention, they have ++algae growth, are about 2 months overdue for a water change, and now the 75 gallon is making horrific noises.
He built his own sump system under the tank, but there is still one piece of equipment hanging in the back of the tank. After a little research I think this is called a (HOB) Hang on Back skimmer?? There is a tube running into this, from an air pump, and it is making an awful gurgleing sound.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? It is literally keeping me up at night!
Thank you!!
Hi,
Welcome to the site...I'm so sorry to hear you lost your man...I lost mine in 2010 after 34 years together. Lots of hugs and prayer going your way this morning, with such a young child I hope you have a good support system from your family members. Now lets see what we an do to help you with the fish tanks.
If your husband made his own sump system I am surprised he would not have an insump skimmer......
To be sure it is a HOB skimmer, does it have a cup that collects brownish yuck in it? if so then it is a skimmer. If the PUMP itself is making noise it's because the power head that drives it may need to be cleaned or the propeller reseated....that is just a fancy way of saying carefully take it apart and keep tabs where everything should go to put it back together, and pull out the little fan looking thing and clean it, and the hole it drops into...then make sure it all goes back together as it should and the noise should stop and run smoothly. if not, you may have to purchase another power head. It just connects to the tube going to the skimmer but you should match it with the one on it originally... so that's an easy fix.
If the gurgling sound is low water....do you know about top off? We put RO water not mixed with salt into the sump each day. The water evaporates but the salt does not. I mark the water line with a piece of tape and each day refill with Reverse Osmosis (RO) water to that line, to maintain the SG Level.
A beginners book on saltwater will help you a great deal to understand the terms we are using and to understand what everything does. Take a deep breath, there are lots of people here that will help you through everything...what one doesn't know another one will...you came to a good place for help.

 

[mkinley17]

The other thing that can really help other is if you can take a few pics of the setup. That would help everyone know what you have.
Is there lot of bubbles coming back into the tank? that would give you an idea that the water level is low in the sump as Flower had said.

 

[novahobbies]

I would agree, lots of pics so we can help with the system.....and my deepest sympathies on your loss. :-(