rblackmon89
Community Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 55
- Reaction score
- 97
- Location
- Orlando
- What state or country do you live in
- Florida
Hello everyone.
I've finally decided to post for once. I've been lurking the forums for several years now, mostly to scratch the itch while I haven't had the opportunity for a tank. Recently, I started up a 40g breeder tank that I anticipated would hold me over through the COVID lockdown and until I move out of my apartment and purchase a forever tank. I was very optimistic for this tank, especially since it's my third reef tank, although the last was almost 7 years ago.
Unfortunately for most of the livestock, several fish have not made it and up until recently I hadn't the slightest clue why. The tank is obviously very new, but I have been quite diligent about weekly water changes and testing. Everything has been well within the "normal" parameters, especially for the lethal substances that accumulate in newer tanks. Deaths occurred overnight usually with little to no warning only to one fish at a time. Ultimately I've narrowed down the probable cause of death to being "burned" by the heater since I do not have a sump. About a month ago I believe I witnessed the cause of the "random" deaths. I'm a combat veteran that occasionally has issues sleeping. One night, very early in the morning (and several mysterious deaths in at this point) I witnessed my last beautiful clownfish seemingly having what I can only describe as a seizure, after stabilizing around 10 minutes later I awoke around 8 hours later to a dead clown. Nothing came up on tests, I've never been shocked and I even brought several water samples in to a big name reef store here in Orlando. After witnessing that event I've come to whittle down that my heater, which was mounted horizontally closer to the surface of the water and where most of the perished livestock had been sleeping next to was somehow burning the fish. I've since built a heater guard which I hope will protect my fish. I have quite a few corals, of which I've only lost one.
I absolutely do not mean for this to be a "what have I done wrong post?!" by any stretch of the imagination and only wish to honestly introduce myself and my experience while acknowledging that I have rushed the process in achieving a successful reef and to be more accountable for what is happening within my little slice of the ocean. I want to thank the countless people that have contributed to the knowledge on this forum and hope to contribute more in my own right.
I've finally decided to post for once. I've been lurking the forums for several years now, mostly to scratch the itch while I haven't had the opportunity for a tank. Recently, I started up a 40g breeder tank that I anticipated would hold me over through the COVID lockdown and until I move out of my apartment and purchase a forever tank. I was very optimistic for this tank, especially since it's my third reef tank, although the last was almost 7 years ago.
Unfortunately for most of the livestock, several fish have not made it and up until recently I hadn't the slightest clue why. The tank is obviously very new, but I have been quite diligent about weekly water changes and testing. Everything has been well within the "normal" parameters, especially for the lethal substances that accumulate in newer tanks. Deaths occurred overnight usually with little to no warning only to one fish at a time. Ultimately I've narrowed down the probable cause of death to being "burned" by the heater since I do not have a sump. About a month ago I believe I witnessed the cause of the "random" deaths. I'm a combat veteran that occasionally has issues sleeping. One night, very early in the morning (and several mysterious deaths in at this point) I witnessed my last beautiful clownfish seemingly having what I can only describe as a seizure, after stabilizing around 10 minutes later I awoke around 8 hours later to a dead clown. Nothing came up on tests, I've never been shocked and I even brought several water samples in to a big name reef store here in Orlando. After witnessing that event I've come to whittle down that my heater, which was mounted horizontally closer to the surface of the water and where most of the perished livestock had been sleeping next to was somehow burning the fish. I've since built a heater guard which I hope will protect my fish. I have quite a few corals, of which I've only lost one.
I absolutely do not mean for this to be a "what have I done wrong post?!" by any stretch of the imagination and only wish to honestly introduce myself and my experience while acknowledging that I have rushed the process in achieving a successful reef and to be more accountable for what is happening within my little slice of the ocean. I want to thank the countless people that have contributed to the knowledge on this forum and hope to contribute more in my own right.
