Finally killed my oldest tank.

[Bugeater281]

So my first tank is done for. And to be honest I’m surprised it’s lasted this long. I’ve had it for ~4 years. But it’s actually been running for closer to 7. It’s a 55g, no sump, no skimmer, just a hob refuge. Long story short(kinda), I got the tank from a buddy when he got divorced. It was a fish only tank. Ran on tap water. The beginning idiot that was me, after moving the tank it needed new water. So I pull out a soup pot and boil the water and mix in the salt(I’m a dumb***). Later added coral only for them to die right away. Since then all the rock had been swapped out, all sand replaced, all water changed to rodi. It’s fought Dino’s, algae outbreaks. And towards the end was a pod sanctuary, which my dragonnete loved. It was full of macro algae and mushrooms. And two nems.

A little advise, don’t leave your rodi on for 24hr straight. Especially with a 100gpd rodi system. Noticed the water on my floor, and I was just like oh s***.

Salinity was 1.000. Temp was low 70s. Didn’t see my dragonnete. Assumed he was dead, so it turned into saving the nems and mushrooms. Mix up some saltwater at 1.040. Spend 4hours bringing temp and salinity up. Got it to 1.020. Called it good for the night.
Today, nems have melted, bristle worms are in piles and moving weird. Mushrooms are oozing slime. Manage to pull a couple coral that may survive(Kenya trees). Low and behold there’s my dragonnete. Pulled him out and he’s going to be spending the next 8 hours drip acclimating to my 40 gallon system. Not sure if he will survive. But he’s still swimming a bit on occasion. Tested the water, no ammonia yet, but the tank is a cloudy white. I’ll probably tear it down tonight. Thankfully I have a 40g system and a 210g system(cycling).

So I recently had moved the 55g, and hadn’t had the auto top off installed. And had been manually topping it off. And I sure messed that up.

So don’t be me. I feel stupid. But I’m also happy it wasn’t one of my main tanks I ruined.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

I hope the majority of your fish and coral survive! Why is your RODI tied into the main display? Is that the same for your other tanks? I wasnt aware that was something people do.

 

[UnderseaOddities]

Nems probably expelled toxin through nematocytes and ectodermal gland temporary shocking your fish and polluting the water column? Is the water milky white is there a pungent odor(dead or dying nem)smells like rotten potato or old seaweed... if so scoop the nem out of the tank aswell as any zoas) take the rest of soft coral out and hit with iodine) do a 50 percent water change then another 30 the next day then 20 the next(mix water to 33ppt 1.025) and test the water 5 ways add a product like stability and pristine by seachem continue dosing iodine 1ml a week

 

[UnderseaOddities]

Also what are your params,filtration,lighting,dosing regimen,feeding regimen,this may help us deduce what has happened over time

 

[UnderseaOddities]

Maybe look into a bacterial regimen aswell some type of subbactilus to work as a bio filter in a small system the more rock work and the deeper the substrate the more bacterial colonization and more nutrient export and chelating on a microbial level, on a smaller system we need a a stable microbial filter, a mechanical filter(hob filter,hob skimer,powerhead,wavemaker and a chemical filter(bioblocks,chemipure,carbon,ammonia filter,phosphate filter blocks,floss,bottles)

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Also what are your params,filtration,lighting,dosing regimen,feeding regimen,this may help us deduce what has happened over time

Did you read the post? I usually start by reading the post as its pretty clear why the tank crashed.

 

[Bugeater281]

I hope the majority of your fish and coral survive! Why is your RODI tied into the main display? Is that the same for your other tanks? I wasnt aware that was something people do.

I use float valves hooked straight to my rodi system(brs system). When pressure increases, the rodi system auto shuts off.

This tank was upstairs, but I recently moved it into the basement next to my other tanks. I hadn’t plumbed it into the rodi yet. So I was manually turning the rodi on to top it off with my line I used to fill 5g buckets for mixing my freshwater. I got distracted and forgot it was on. My other tanks this isnt an issue.

Luckily all of my good stuff is in another tank(purple tang and frags). My dragonette and a molly where the only fish in this tank. I had added the molly to test the tank for parasites(so far all clear after a month). This tank was going to get torn down once the new tank was going anyways. It was only still running due to the pod population for the dragonette.

 

[UnderseaOddities]

Oh is the rodi tied in to the 55g I'm confused?

 

[UnderseaOddities]

I thought I read that but wasn't sure

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

I use float valves hooked straight to my rodi system(brs system). When pressure increases, the rodi system auto shuts off.

This tank was upstairs, but I recently moved it into the basement next to my other tanks. I hadn’t plumbed it into the rodi yet. So I was manually turning the rodi on to top it off with my line I used to fill 5g buckets for mixing my freshwater. I got distracted and forgot it was on. My other tanks this isnt an issue.

Luckily all of my good stuff is in another tank(purple tang and frags). My dragonette and a molly where the only fish in this tank. I had added the molly to test the tank for parasites(so far all clear after a month). This tank was going to get torn down once the new tank was going anyways. It was only still running due to the pod population for the dragonette.

I wouldn't tie those directly to your tank to control top off. When they are turned on and off fairly quickly then your RODI won't be 0 TDS. Dragonettes typically have a slime coat like no other if I am not mistaken. Still sucks to deal with anything like that later at night. Sorry to hear about it though.

 

[UnderseaOddities]

Yeah itll come out 0 to 4 if it flicks on quick even with di post filter dont want any heavy metals in the watercloumn or flourides and cloramines

 

[Bugeater281]

I wouldn't tie those directly to your tank to control top off. When they are turned on and off fairly quickly then your RODI won't be 0 TDS. Dragonettes typically have a slime coat like no other if I am not mistaken. Still sucks to deal with anything like that later at night. Sorry to hear about it though.

I have the double di system. My rodi always come out a 0(double checked with handheld tds meter). You definitely burn through di resin a bit faster. I also have a auto top off system. I just Havnt got around to installing it. I plan on wiring in some individual solenoids with float switches. That way the pump can fill either tank with a single pump. Just Havnt ordered the parts yet.

 

[Nathan Milender]

So my first tank is done for. And to be honest I’m surprised it’s lasted this long. I’ve had it for ~4 years. But it’s actually been running for closer to 7. It’s a 55g, no sump, no skimmer, just a hob refuge. Long story short(kinda), I got the tank from a buddy when he got divorced. It was a fish only tank. Ran on tap water. The beginning idiot that was me, after moving the tank it needed new water. So I pull out a soup pot and boil the water and mix in the salt(I’m a dumb***). Later added coral only for them to die right away. Since then all the rock had been swapped out, all sand replaced, all water changed to rodi. It’s fought Dino’s, algae outbreaks. And towards the end was a pod sanctuary, which my dragonnete loved. It was full of macro algae and mushrooms. And two nems.

A little advise, don’t leave your rodi on for 24hr straight. Especially with a 100gpd rodi system. Noticed the water on my floor, and I was just like oh s***.

Salinity was 1.000. Temp was low 70s. Didn’t see my dragonnete. Assumed he was dead, so it turned into saving the nems and mushrooms. Mix up some saltwater at 1.040. Spend 4hours bringing temp and salinity up. Got it to 1.020. Called it good for the night.
Today, nems have melted, bristle worms are in piles and moving weird. Mushrooms are oozing slime. Manage to pull a couple coral that may survive(Kenya trees). Low and behold there’s my dragonnete. Pulled him out and he’s going to be spending the next 8 hours drip acclimating to my 40 gallon system. Not sure if he will survive. But he’s still swimming a bit on occasion. Tested the water, no ammonia yet, but the tank is a cloudy white. I’ll probably tear it down tonight. Thankfully I have a 40g system and a 210g system(cycling).

So I recently had moved the 55g, and hadn’t had the auto top off installed. And had been manually topping it off. And I sure messed that up.

So don’t be me. I feel stupid. But I’m also happy it wasn’t one of my main tanks I ruined.

I had good luck with a tank like this in the 90s running on undergravel. Used tap water, 'conditioner', and instant ocean. No corals, at the time condylactus was all the rage but i was lucky to get 4 months out of one. These can work for fish if you go slow and monitor the bio load to filtration. I kept an octopus and then 7-8 damsels once that died. Only took it down d/t instability of college life and moving. It can work, with one of the new ATO's it may have even done better. Probably not worth keeping for a dino refuge, but if you put an ato on it you would likely never have that problem again.

 

[Bugeater281]

Well a little update. Looks like the coral and fish I pulled out will make it. I’m sure the tank would need some carbon and go through a mini cycle. Havnt decided if I will leave the tank up. But at least it’s saveable