Broke my DT

[cemmerts]

I guess you live and learn. I was attempting to make better what already worked by moving my sump downstairs and running PVC through the wall. While trying to make one of the connections, I guess I was manipulating a pipe that ran to a bulkhead, a little to much, and cracked the DT. It was in a recess, so access to the back was limited. I loved the location though, because it was in the kitchen and we would spend tons of time watching the tank. Luckily, it didn’t just shatter. I had time to rush around and grab buckets and ultimately ran to the LFS, while breaking many traffic laws, to get a ridiculously price inflated 55g tank that would be big enough to hold stuff without things being stacked and corals killing each other.

I have no idea how I got so lucky, but lost nothing other than a couple of crab arms, shrimp pincers, and urchin spines. Everything had 5-6 hours of no heat or circulation, an anemone was put in a warm bathtub (and a bucket first), which absolutely overheated. To make things better, I had been up for over 36 hours straight (work).

I guess for the good news, as everything survived, I went and got a 75g today (old DT was a 40B) and a new stand. I’m having some new plumbing parts sent from BRS and plan to fix some mistakes I learned through the way as well as a new location that will allow me the access to the tank that I actually need. I will have to sacrifice a bit of location however....

 

[vetteguy53081]

I guess you live and learn. I was attempting to make better what already worked by moving my sump downstairs and running PVC through the wall. While trying to make one of the connections, I guess I was manipulating a pipe that ran to a bulkhead, a little to much, and cracked the DT. It was in a recess, so access to the back was limited. I loved the location though, because it was in the kitchen and we would spend tons of time watching the tank. Luckily, it didn’t just shatter. I had time to rush around and grab buckets and ultimately ran to the LFS, while breaking many traffic laws, to get a ridiculously price inflated 55g tank that would be big enough to hold stuff without things being stacked and corals killing each other.

I have no idea how I got so lucky, but lost nothing other than a couple of crab arms, shrimp pincers, and urchin spines. Everything had 5-6 hours of no heat or circulation, an anemone was put in a warm bathtub (and a bucket first), which absolutely overheated. To make things better, I had been up for over 36 hours straight (work).

I guess for the good news, as everything survived, I went and got a 75g today (old DT was a 40B) and a new stand. I’m having some new plumbing parts sent from BRS and plan to fix some mistakes I learned through the way as well as a new location that will allow me the access to the tank that I actually need. I will have to sacrifice a bit of location however....

Glad you recovered and what a way to upgrade. I would though suggest to not place new tank if you have already in the kitchen as with baking.cooking is subject to various temperature changes, not to mention the atmospheric cooking grease that will reach your tank from frying and cooking. What grease?? The one that if you feel the top of your frigde or microwave, the film on the toaster- That stuff than can cause in time. . many water issues.

 

[ReefLab]

sounds like you handled what could've been a disaster.

 

[Pistondog]

Sounds like lemonade from lemons.

 

[ScubaFish802]

A great excuse for an upgrade! Now keep that over priced 55 and set up both haha

 

[cemmerts]

The 75 is going to go in our dining area, which is close to the kitchen, but not in it. I’m just hoping that everything makes it until I can get the 75 set up (hoping tomorrow vs Friday) as it literally has no filtration because my sump was my filter and I didn’t have time to set up an overflow for the 55. I have good flow and got the light set up, but that’s it. Otherwise, it’s just sitting there...

 

[cemmerts]

Update: got the 75 up and going, I have some organizing and what not that still needs done, but the essentials are all here. I also need to get another light as the tank is longer and the 24” reef breeders isn’t long enough.

 

[cemmerts]

Still haven’t lost any creatures. I have expected these things to be super delicate, but I’m quite impressed with the resilience of these creatures!

I added a bunch of new rock and sand. The sump and refuge were basically KO’d. I kept all my previous rock in the temporary tank and I kept as much water as I could from the old tank and put it in the new, but I’m guessing I can still expect some cycling to occur while the algae and bacteria build their population back up? I don’t have a huge nitrogen load to start...