Electrocuted Tank - Emergency!

[drift3r]

I wasn't sure where to post this so I hope it reaches someone who can help. I have been lurking on this forum for a very long time but haven't posted until now. I have 5 tanks of varying sizes and have been in this hobby for quite some time. Lighting struck my house yesterday and my surge protector failed for one of my newer nano tanks. This tank only housed inverts and corals. The heater exploded and covered my tank in shattered glass and electrocuted the entire tank. All corals appear to be dead, the algae has turned white, and all inverts are floating lifeless at the bottom of the tank. I figured everything had died but I safely removed the broken heater and let the tank sit overnight in case any survivors emerged.

Sure enough, an Emerald Crab showed this morning. It is barely moving so it must be badly injured. Has anyone had issues with losing tanks due to electrical failure who might be able to offer some guidance? Is there anything I can do to help this emerald crab? And how would you recommend I re-start my tank? I planned to start from scratch as it will need to be cycled again but any tips would be so appreciated. I have also filed a claim with the company who produced this faulty surge protector as it turns out they may offer reimbursement for this loss. I am absolutely devastated.

 

[juggalogentry]

oh man nobody should have to go thru this, im sorry for your losses, is the crab eating, how often is it moving,

 

[drift3r]

Thank you. Since my post this morning we found a few more surviving hermit crabs but the majority are dead. Our bristle star and all of our asterina stars are fried. Our frog spawn, kenya tree, and mushrooms are completely dead as well as quite an extensive zoa collection. The Emerald Crab hasn't eaten but he is looking a bit more active. We might just do a very large water change and hope for the best. I'm fairly certain the bio filter is toast so we will probably be starting over with a new cycle.

 

[fishroomlady]

so sorry this happened to you hopefully, it will work out in terms of getting the losses covered.

 

[drift3r]

Yes it is such a bummer. Here is a photo of the aftermath. I really wish I had a good before photo but you can see lots of the dead corals in this one. They shriveled up into nothing and the algae that was once green turned bright white. I cleaned it out really well earlier today so it looks much different now. I did a 50% water change. Now begins the long process of re-building.

 

[ritter6788]

Thread moved to Reef Aquarium Discussion.

Sorry about your loss!

 

[loknar28]

That is awful I'm surprised though that the house ground rod did not divert the strike. Maybe you can check with an electrician to find out if there is anything that could have prevented the surge through your tank. I know it is recommended to have a grounding probe in the sump but that would not have helped in this case. There needs to be something at the feed.

 

[ninja007]

For the crabs... obviously if you can move them into an established, safer home for the time being then do that. Just make sure the move is it more stressful than whatever's going on in the tank right now if it recycles and everything. Try to give them perfect water quality and decent food and remove any stresses... all you can ever do in cases like this.

 

[Eienna]

Ouch!!
Glad no people got electrocuted...but man...what a mess! Poor little guys!
All you can do is try to clean up their home (get the dead stuff out - that's gonna get bad fast), and look after it as you would...and hope. Target feeding's a good idea if they'll take anything. I personally recommend Dr. Tim's One and Only to get the nitrifiers reseeded. Pricier than Bio-Spira but works much faster and (I think) more effectively. A water change is probably in order but try not to take too much at once, as that could be stressful.