Tank Crash. Lost all my corals :(

OCDP · #1 08-09-2006, 03:53 AM

Well, did another water change and I bought some carbon, and a vacuum. Cleaned the sand fairly well, too hard to siphon in such a small tank. But, got 90% of my sand clean... all I can say is WOW

disgusting.. I had 3 pails full of dark brown water. Glad it's gone.

Now I just need to work on getting the rocks clean.

Flusher · #2 08-09-2006, 04:11 AM

I've never cooked rock, but I think this might work:

If you were to find a temporary new home for your surviving corals and maybe your fish, couldn't you just keep the tank more or less intact and cook the rock right where it is? Leave everything running (heater, skimmer, powerheads) except for the lights. That might be the easiest way to do it. Maybe throw in more cleaners (crabs, sea hare), too?

Just a thought. You might even be able to keep the fish in there; I don't think they need much light (probably not enough light to grow algae, anyway). You'd basically have a dimly-lit FOWLR tank for awhile.

GrimReefer · #3 08-09-2006, 04:19 AM

sorry to hear about your losses. i don't know how i would feel if i lost my whole tank. threads like these really discourage me from SPS and metal halides...

reeferaddict · #4 08-09-2006, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genix

sorry to hear about your losses. i don't know how i would feel if i lost my whole tank. threads like these really discourage me from SPS and metal halides...

Don't let it scare you off... just pay close attention and plan accordingly if you DO decide to try SPS...

OCDP · #5 08-09-2006, 02:46 PM

Yeah that might work Flusher, but I also may just go with new rock, a fresh start that way. I may not replace all the rock, but a few big pieces at least.

Genix, definitely don't let these stories hold you back from going with SPS and halides... it's worth it. And like reeferaddict said, plan around it.. I could have done things to prevent this... even if I would have had a fan to keep the room cooler.. things may not have been so bad. So plan things carefully I guess and everything should work out ..

GrimReefer · #6 08-09-2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCDP

Genix, definitely don't let these stories hold you back from going with SPS and halides... it's worth it.

is it really, though? i like the way soft corals sway in the current and i'm pretty satisfied with them. i like the colors and shapes of some SPS but the added expense and risk hardly seems worth it. it's too demoralizing to lose livestock for me to attempt SPS just for the challenge.

reeferaddict · #7 08-09-2006, 10:45 PM

It IS worth it IMO... and it seems to be a part of the addiction too...

I am keeping a "mixed reef"... probably more challenging than any other style out there, especially given my fish load... when you get results, I can't describe the satisfaction, and you can't beat the colours and shapes of SPS... I still keep a couple of soft corals too... I like the waving and such, but even at that I've been able to get that effect from LPS corals.

I'm not saying SPS is for everyone, just not to be daunted by stories like this, it can happen to a softie tank too...

OCDP · #8 08-10-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genix

is it really, though? i like the way soft corals sway in the current and i'm pretty satisfied with them. i like the colors and shapes of some SPS but the added expense and risk hardly seems worth it. it's too demoralizing to lose livestock for me to attempt SPS just for the challenge.

Who is to say you will lose all your livestock though? Even so, as reeferaddict stated, if you had a tank full of LPS or softies, and tank temps get out of control, too much light, etc... you'll still lose all your corals. So really, with all proper planning for unexpected heat and anything else you can easily avoid this from happening. If I would have had a temp controller or even a fan blowing at the water surface, things may not have been so bad. Anyways, moral of the story is, it can happen to any tank, no matter what corals your keeping, anyone can suffer a tank "crash" perse... just plan around it. I need to start adding things to my tank like temp controllers and fans, especially for summer, well... only for summer really.

Another update:

I did yet another water change, the tank is clear and stench free. I vacuumed that sand on Tuesday and it worked like a charm. One more vacuum and the sand should be really clean.

I took all my rocks out yesterday after work and rinsed them thoroughly and gave them all a quick scrub. I also rinsed them in FW for a bit as suggested. They look a bit better, I just have tons of detritus sticking to the tank walls and rocks, and it makes my entire tank look like ass. I have been basting it off and using the AC500 with the foam insert to help get rid of some of the large particles.

I also bought a digital thermometer (was using a stick-on previously) I have to admit, they both work well... the stick on is pretty accurate, as well as the digital obviously.

Another thing I forgot to tell you all, was that my Royal Gramma I purchased that I thought jumped never jumped. I must have found (and I am ashamed to admit this) a really old dried up fish of some sort under my sstand. You have to udnerstand though that my tank stand has barely any clearance on the bottom to look under, so I had nooo clue about this (the only reason I looked there is because my female clown made her way under there when she jumped) I got home Monday and he was unfortunately gasping for breath. I have NO idea where this little bugger was hiding, but he did a good job of it. The heat and tank crash must have pushed him over the edge and he never made it

I just thought it was bizarre, I got home and seen this bright purple and yellow... "Hey! He's ALIVE!!" ... sadly he was stuck on a Seio intake

. RIP little buddy.

After a few days of working on the tank, I must say I am more pleased with the empty look, although I do miss some of my fav. SPS pieces ... but the tank looks much more "open" . I'll snap some pics... I think my tank would be perfect for a host anemone ... right dead center in the tank where my clam is. I am able to get a free purple H. Crispa from a friend, and I will put him in sometime next week or next weekend. Things seem to be stable now and I have changed out at LEAST 25g of water since Monday. Carbon is being used and I am skimming heavy, cleaning the cup daily.