Rookie mistake im sure, but somehow(sore subject) my ro water container got replaced with vinegar. once i noticed the almost immediate death in the tank out of instinct i added baking soda to it. All rock has been removed and is in 3/4 new saltwater 1/4 old tank water. ph stable 8.2. there have been a few snails that seem to have survived along with a few blue legs, im slowly pulling them out as i recognize them. whats my next step? is it better to bring ph to survivors up slowly, or get them back to proper ph immediately? obviously i know water needs to be changed out and stable, am i going to have to go through full cycle again? best advice for removing dead material from the sand bed?
Help tank crash
- Thread starter Bellamy55
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CasaReefer
Promoted To Sponge
Bump
Also since posting have skimmer and air pump running to tank to bring ph up a little slower. initial ph test was not even on the chart. below 7.4 so went from 8.2 to less than 7.4 almost instantly. A few inverts seem to be all that have survived. looks like pompeii. some stuff is basically stuck in the same position it was.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Run some GAC, water changes as you know.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Most likely yes.
thanks, seems instincts have been pretty good and saving what i can. I'm so upset right now. i keep ro water in a 1 gallon jug for regular top offs. "someone" was cleaning and when done left the bottle of vinegar next to the tank. I just grabbed my bottle as i usually do for topoff then i realized it wasn't my ro water after the fact. my fault for not paying attention to the bottle or having my bottle more clearly labeled other than ro on a sharpy on the cap.
KrisReef
10K Club member
What volume of vinegar went into what volume of tank water that has now been diluted 3 to 1?
If some of the snails and hermit crabs are still alive, why wouldn't the bacteria also still be kicking?
Fix your water top-off system to prevent a repeat.
Pohnpei!
If some of the snails and hermit crabs are still alive, why wouldn't the bacteria also still be kicking?
Fix your water top-off system to prevent a repeat.
Pohnpei!
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
If you don't have a ATO system, now's the time to think about one.
i had probably 1/4 to 1/3 gallon of vinegar go into 20 gallons. yeah ato would have avoided this. unfortunately i work seasonal work and its the slow season, its been on my list though. Wasn't sure about the bacteria as alot of stuff did not survive.
i say 1/3 but i put approx 1-1.5 tank water in a storage tote with 7.5 gallons new saltwater. i added the tank water incase biological lived it wouldn't all be new water. pulled all the rock and started adding survivors. ph in main tank is coming up more slowly now as to not double shock any left over survivors. also have a heater and powerhead in container and air pump running in each
