Before and After the Flames

[NanoReef]

Hey everyone. So it's been 5 months since the fires in Fort McMurray. We are finally all settled in back down south, and the new setup is finally running and stable, so I figure it's time to tell the story.

A few years ago we moved from Calgary up to Fort Mac for work (like many other Canadians) and we moved our setup up there with us. Unfortunately, like many others, we weren't able to get home from work after we got the evacuation notice as the fires were already across the highway blocking our way into town. So our tank went 5+ weeks without being looked at, and for a few weeks without power. I wanted to share what an established reef turns into when no one can care for it. Here are some before pictures
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/47D4907D-838B-44D9-B04B-08810E773E53_zpsayvsj7sp.jpg
Clams
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/A809D87F-DF35-4136-AF9C-4D4ECF0A15CC_zpsdashginf.jpg
Red planet and purple bonsai
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/6D17A5FF-E3AA-458F-B25D-F10FFC148B3E_zps3vt6dade.jpg
Sunny D colony
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/AAA96A7F-3CB5-4291-8F5D-AE765948244D_zpsmtnrqwjt.jpg
Fruit loops and Rastas
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/1894EAE1-190A-435C-B204-304DB86884E1_zpsfqmwb5pc.jpg
Space monsters
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/D14F4FE6-74BE-4984-BC33-B08D3489C990_zpsqcy8puf8.jpg

[NanoReef]

Acans
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/E874F21D-43DB-4AF5-AEDF-6B635986D952_zpsiuqz00hg.jpg
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/92912A98-3E8D-473D-B96B-AEA06EB35AD2_zpsrxrh35dx.jpg

And here is the after. In 5 weeks, with all the heat of the fires, we evaporated the ATO, sump, and over half the tank. Here is the unfortunate aftermath
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/9D16598D-7C27-49FE-B2DC-5A0D056958A4_zpsvtwuzkt9.jpg
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/402D6990-C492-431F-90AD-2E3B7D3D3703_zpsjmclzrgy.jpg
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/F4C80770-B204-48B7-AFFE-801232BF020E_zpstpu8ddsi.jpg
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/F2CEBEA7-F7BE-4679-9B34-FD411590A346_zpsuphwhuvb.jpg
Bone dry sump, and salt creep everywhere
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/A0D3C52D-EDEF-472C-B12A-1A3755A6B374_zpsbpfdnypu.jpg
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z399/SPRKSHO/Reef%20Tank/5AC2D151-A287-4D54-98CF-26DC9C2B1289_zpstrrylo2p.jpg

The amount of algae and stuff that covered everything after the power went out is incredible. It really was amazing to see what 5 weeks away from a tank will do. We were some of the lucky ones who didn't loose everything in the fires, but of all the stuff we did loose, the tank was the heartbreaker. On the plus side, the fires moved us back down to the city we love, and we haven't looked back. Started the tank fresh, and now we need to start hunting for all the coral we once had

[Myka]

Wow thanks for sharing. Yes you were lucky, but your tank inhabitants weren't - poor little guys. :(

So where are the new tank pics? :D

[warriorcookie]

wow. sorry to see, but glad you and your family made it out safe.

Yeah! where's the new tank build?

[GoFish]

Wow that sucks :( sorry to hear and glad you're back at, lost a lot of nice stuff
Must've stunk

[Tankboy]

Sucks that you lost your tank....good that your home was spared!

[squibege]

It's crazy how much water is gone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk