BTA killed by Vortech overnight! Help!

NastayNatron · #1 10-17-2011, 02:30 PM

Alright so I woke up late for work this morning (naturally on a Sunday) and did the quick once over the tank. I had bought a RBTA yesterday afternoon. It was doing well and hadn't moved all day. I noticed its foot blowing in my MP40 and the water was cloudy! I immediately called in sick to work and did a 25 gallon water change. I also added 1 1/2 cups to each of my tlf reactors. I removed my phosban to add carbon to one of them. So as of now I am out of salt waiting for an aquarium store to open (horrible timing) and I am running 3 cups of carbon. I have also changed out my micron filter socks.

This is all on my 125g reef tank. The only fish swimming are my clownfish as the lights do not come on for another 3 hours and 40 minutes. If anyone has suggestions as to what could help me through this please say! Also any stories of this happening to you and your experiences! Thanks everyone!

Nathan

Lampshade · #2 10-17-2011, 03:32 PM

I had the same thing happen awhile ago. You did the right thing by refreshing carbon. I did a 30% water change and refreshed my carbon, but the water was still cloudy. everything was ok in the end, no other losses at all, even in the cloudy mess of water coral still had healthy polyps.

Hope everything goes well, in my experience it looks much worse than it actually is.

DiverDude · #3 10-17-2011, 04:24 PM

It's a good idea to keep at least 1 extra bucket of salt on hand for emergencies as well as RO/DI water.

I always have ~40 gal of water on hand and an unopened bucket of salt on standby !

ponokareefer · #4 10-17-2011, 04:37 PM

I had the same thing happen a few years back and you are doing all that you can. I'd look into some type of screen for the powerhead if you are looking at getting another RBTA.

There was a video posted by someone on here a while back where they video taped a BTA through the night and it was amazing how much they can move around.

Beverly · #5 10-17-2011, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponokareefer

I'd look into some type of screen for the powerhead if you are looking at getting another RBTA.

There was a video posted by someone on here a while back where they video taped a BTA through the night and it was amazing how much they can move around.

That was me who did a timelapse of our RBTA overnight. Man, that poor thing moved like crazy for a few nights before it settled down. We always had serious protection over the intakes of our powerheads so those kinds of mishaps did not occur. Poor RBTA

RIP

NastayNatron · #6 10-17-2011, 05:11 PM

Alright well the tank seems to have cleared up a lot. I usually do have extra salt on hand but red coral was all out of H2Ocean which was the kind I have been using. I ran out this morning and bought Instant Ocean as I have been thinking about switching to this for a while. The lights come on in 15 minutes so well see if the fish are out and about swimming like usual. I sure hope they are. As for the anenome im pretty choked. Ive been wanting one since I got into the hobby and now after this im not sure Ill try one again for a while. I should have had the sponge screen over the vortechs to try and prevent this.

Anyways ill keep you updated on progress. For now here are a few pics.

The BTA after being intoduced to the tank

Waterchange

Carbon running in the two reactors