Lets Define "Tank Crash"...

[Cell]

I'll keep track... So we have:

1. A catastrophic and rapid die-off due to undetermined reasons.

2.

I would argue the reason matters not. A crash is a crash whether the cause is a mystery or not.

 

[Cell]

I thought undetermined was appropriate as so many posts related to "crashes" are usually something discovered suddenly.

"I woke up this morning and found..."

Sometimes when that initial post happens, it is before any investigation has occurred, because people posting on a "crash" are usually seeking guidance as to what they might look for.

I should have read further first. True, it may typically be a sudden thing and undetermined initially, but eventually you may determine the cause and I don't think knowing would change it's classification as a crash.

 

[Dom]

A thank crash is where you play bumper cars with your tank and it shatters everywhere.

Lol...

If that’s what you’re doing, you deserve everything you get.

 

[ca1ore]

Tank crash is an event that causes most everything in a tank to die.
Enough stuff dies that it overwhelms the biofilter and starts killing everything else.

Sounds about right to me. Rapid and catastrophic.

 

[Dom]

I won't give my opinion here but whatever we call it, I feel it happens way to much in this hobby.

I wish you would....

 

[Abe K]

I always assumed it meant some catastrophic happened (electrical failure, chemical stuff, ammonia, whatever) and literally everything in the tank dies.

Like this?

 

[ActualProof]

Omg, close... but I think there’s still something alive in there!

 

[ReefRondo]

When I first joined this hobby I thought a tank crash was your tanks biology going out of line to catastrophic levels. Nothing to do with leaks, disease outbreak etc. Only now I’m doubting the the meaning after reading this?!? To clarify ‘biology’ I mean the time spent cycling your tank to begin with and growing all the good bacteria to make the fundamental cycle in your tank work correctly. So crash to me means your bacteria all dying I guess making it unable to process fish waste causing total wipeout.

 

[Mark Novack]

When an 8 tube, 3 bank led, lamp falls into the aquarium, kills the power for five hours and 90% stock dies in three days? Does that count?

 

[mkwarner77]

I define it as something known or unknown that causes a mass die off of all livestock in a relatively short time. My only crash happened on a 4 day power outage in the winter, no heat, dead everything. I also had a dino bloom, a few years back that caused alot of coral and a few fish deaths, but I wouldn't define that as a crash. Thats the definition that works for me.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Lets Define "Tank Crash"...

It's when bad bacteria overwhelm the good.

 

[destro]

Haha!

 

[DEWreefing]

Knock on wood I have never had a tank crash. I have had multiple acros strip due to a major alk swing I do not consider that a crash. First response will determine weather you will be calling that a close call or you said screw it everything died. I keep rinsed activated carbon on stand by just in case. Along with plenty of additives as well as what I call droppers. Like if my alk is to low I have 2 part even though I run a calcium reactor. If my ph sky rockets due to kalk I have vinegar around. Your actions will show your skills in keeping a reef. Happy reefing.

 

[drblakjak55]

Tank crash. Gfci triggered on vacation. For me the question is what to do now Some advocate remove everything. Throw away sand. Bleach all rocks. I removed all dead animals. 50% water change every three days. Every day aggressive stirring of rocks and sand. The microfauna comes back. The tank recycles. Tank aquascape version five doing well

 

[drblakjak55]

T

ank
Tank three weeks post crash. Did not remove rocks or sand.

 

[cancun]

Great topic! When I think of a "tank crash" I don't just think of multiple things dying quickly, but of everything dying quickly. Like a prolonged power outage, heater malfunction, dosing pump issue while not at home, disease etc. In other words a total tank wipe out.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I should have read further first. True, it may typically be a sudden thing and undetermined initially, but eventually you may determine the cause and I don't think knowing would change it's classification as a crash.

Right. This is what I'm thinking too.