Hep lighting fell into my tank!!!

Borchers · Jan 3, 2014

So I was at work and my youngest Daughter calls me. "Dad your lights fell into your tank". What the heck. She follows it up with one of the LED bars fell into the tank. "Dad the LED is still on and smoking under water" I tell her to unplug the lights completely from the power bars. Well I was at work the whole time. Now that was at 0945hrs this morning it's now. 2015hrs. My corals are very ****ed off. My Stylo looks like hell and every polyp is sucked in further then I thought it could do. My Z&P are half closed and my SPS is pale and slightly sliming. The polyps are out somewhat and the Millie's look ok. So please tell me it's going to be alright. I seriously can't take another mass die off. If I do the tank is gone and I'm out of the hobby for a long time. What should I do???

Water changes
Carbon
Wet skimming
More flow
Lights out for a few days

Help.

:sad:

JMSKI333 · Jan 3, 2014

That is really terrible!

Big water change. Like 30% and start running carbon if you are not. Wet skimming wont hurt either but water change and carbon are the big ones.

I'd do another water change tomorrow too.

Reef Pets · Jan 3, 2014

Water change never hurts. But, in your case the problem is not water quality but electricity in your water. These type if things never turn out well. If you are gettin die off from your coral I would suggest a water change to help possibly save other coral.
Unfortunately, you probably won't know the extent of the damage for a day or two.

Borchers · Jan 3, 2014

That's what I'm afraid of! The next few days

Spsnut · Jan 4, 2014

Run a poly filter, some carbon, and do water changes. You are going to lose things; you had a rather major contamination. If you stick it out install a ground fault recepticle. I'm glad your children didn't get hurt.

reefndude · Jan 4, 2014

Has anything else been affected? Fish, snails, shrimp etc. Is the light fixture done?

Touring · Jan 4, 2014

how did it fallin? im assuming you did not have safety anchors at the end

TheSaint216 · Jan 4, 2014

I had the same problem happen last year. A par 38 bulb fell in sometime during a 12 hour shift. I came home and my tank looked like Milk and smelled like death. Do some big water changes and run some carbon. Just because it looks dead doesnt mean it is. I had a Miami Hurricane chalice frag that bleached completely thats now the size of a coffee cup saucer.

JMSKI333 · Jan 4, 2014

How are things looking this morning? Did you get a water change in before bed?

Borchers · Jan 4, 2014

Yes Kids and electricity do not mix at all. She's 13 and pretty smart. She turned off the main power to the entire system and shut it all down before doing anything. It's just 1 push of a button and it's all out.

Update...........
Did a WC last night, new carbon, WC set for Sunday. I've been gone all day so I just got home and !!!! It all looks very good. SPS a little pale but none the worse. They all have nice polyp extension, no flesh missing. Miles and Stylo look good. All Z&P look perfect and show no ill effects. Fish still fat and hungry. Clam open and still responding to shadows over the tank. The only goner is a SPS that was barley holding on. The LEDs are toast. The full 12 bank is gone but the driver is good. Checked all power outlets. No issues. I'm counting my stars and I'm glad my daughter was not injured. Her quick thinking saved the day. Total time in the water less then 2 minutes.

JMSKI333 · Jan 4, 2014

Sounds like somebody gets to pick out something real nice at toys R us. My family is oblivious to my tank.

Spsnut · Jan 4, 2014

Glad to here it! I had a pc light go in my first tank; the only thing I remember losing was a keyhole limpet we called "Spooky" That happened so long ago now I can't remember much else, accept not to do precarious things over the tank. I'd still like seeing a poly pad ran for a few weeks.