Tank Crash. Lost all my corals :(

[Matt]

Originally Posted by reeferaddict

IMHO I would let it go, and in fact he would be the best candidate to watch it if you left again - he certainly would be a lot more wary of problems that may arise. Like I said in my earlier post - everyone can learn from this, but that's just my opinion....

OT, reminds me of a business "case study" once related to me. Abbreviated, it goes: young line manager at Ford; accidentally sets the line using yesterday's shift orders; overproduces the wrong things for a full shift, and none of the needed-for-today stuff; line stops, millions lost. Manager tries to resign; Director refuses, saying: "I just spent 3M training you."

In other words, NOTHING teaches like experience.

On topic, Scott, you have my sympathy to go with all the others... I crashed my tank a while ago, and also lost a lot of my corals. Soldier on... Keeping a slice of a tropical reef in the middle of the bald prairie is not for the faint-of-heart, but we few (the bold, foolish ones...) we get to watch something special in our living rooms.

[OCDP]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[christyf5]

Man this thread is like a car crash, you know you shouldn't look but you can't help it

[Delphinus]

Anyone seen any good movies lately?

[Joe Reefer]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Anyone seen any good movies lately?

Pirates was good.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

OCDP,

Are you sure a hard-to-keep anemone is the best thing to put into the tank at this time?

[OCDP]

Alright, well that's it for this thread.

I think I just won't even bother updating anything with my tank anymore... people just seem to have a bad view on me it seems. As if I haven't been keeping an eye on paramaters, you think I would honestly add one in if everything is all out of wack??

Thanks for the posts, maybe I read them wrong, but I found them pretty rude. I'm not sure what to make of them? I haven't done anything wrong here.

At this point I won't bother posting any updates on my tank.

I would never add the anemone with tank paramaters being out of line. As of now, I have no detectable ammonia, nitrite and nitrates appear to be lowered a bit since vacuuming my sand and cleaning my rocks.

Sorry if I have wasted all of your time, but you chose to read the thread. Thanks to those who have offered me help and given me advice, I appreaciate it.