Seal Failed

[Pete Luna]

So the bottom seal on my SPS dominate 220 gal tank started to leak, within 10 minutes I had lost 20 plus gallons, I have moved all my Coral, Rock, Fish into a 34 gal frag tank and plumbed it into a 250 gal Rubbermade trough along with sending all my Zoa's to a local reefer to keep in his system. This was 9PM Thursday got everything fully moved by 6AM Friday, longest any coral was out of the water was 15 min.

My question, because of that stress on the coral, how long should I wait to move them out of the trough into another tank. I have 350Lbs of rock out of tank I have in rubbermade trash cans with heaters, skimmers and pumps on them, so I am hoping once I get my new tank the cycle will be quick or not at all.

So far of the 100 + sps I have not lost one YET

 

[mich2599]

Woah sounds like an extremely busy task. Best of luck!!

 

[Fishy212]

Any idea of why your seal failed?? I am just wondering what caused it, was it not leveled or something like that? I just had an issue with my tank not being leveled so I shimmed it to make it level. Just the thought of it is giving me some major anxiety. I’m not saying that is the reason why it happened but would like to know what you experienced and how it transpired.

 

[Pete Luna]

No idea tanks been up for right at two years, the stand is 2x6 with 3/4" marine plywood that the tank sits on
when I put it in it was 1/32 high one one side but was fully supported on the bottom

 

[Cory]

Did it have styrofoam under it?

 

[Pete Luna]

Look like my replacement tank will be here 1/11/20. I have only lost on chalice frag that broke during the move along with one small SPS frag that has started to turn white.

I have my Apex and trident on the temp system, all parameters are maintaining as they did in the tank, ammonia=0, Nitrates=0.5 and phosphates=0.08 here is my next concern.

Cycle, when the tank failed I moved everything except sand. I have 300 lbs of rock, livestock is 2 Gobies, 2 clownfish, 3 purple tangs, 5 anthias 2 chromas. The new tank is 250 gal, I have water that is currently in the system to fill new tank, so only slight water change to start. question, Do I need to add rock and cycle, than coral or, can I move everything back in as I did during the emergency and moved out.

 

[Pete Luna]

Everything is stable so far. Here’s run and frag tank. Water goes from tub to frag tank and back to tub. Still using Kalkstirrer consumption dropped a little but is almost back to dosing 7233mL of RODI through the Kalkstirrer.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I would add it all at once and wouldnt expect a cycle with all that live rock. If you do have a cycle it'll be minimal.

 

[Pete Luna]

Thanks.

 

[Brian_68]

Any idea of why your seal failed?? I am just wondering what caused it, was it not leveled or something like that? I just had an issue with my tank not being leveled so I shimmed it to make it level. Just the thought of it is giving me some major anxiety. I’m not saying that is the reason why it happened but would like to know what you experienced and how it transpired.

Leveling a large tank can be hard if not on a solid floor like concrete. You can level it without water but then add 2000 lbs of water and a floor can sink or shift. A friend's tank caused the floor to sink toward one side almost an inch once filled. Needless to say the tank did not stay there once he discovered that.

 

[Tahoe61]

Alkalinity can be problematic. I would cycle the tank for at least 2 weeks before making the transition.
Hope all goes well and you sound like you have it under control.

 

[Pete Luna]

Thanks. I have hardwood floors. I had a company come in and put bracing under floor before installing. When I moved from tank to Tub Alk consumption dropped a little. I have a trident so it’s checked every 6 hrs. Trident adjust dose to compensate for a swing.

 

[Huskymaniac]

I would setup the new tank with sand and once it is cleared move everything over. With that amount of rock you will not get a cycle..

 

[Tahoe61]

I would setup the new tank with sand and once it is cleared move everything over. With that amount of rock you will not get a cycle..

You may not get a cycle but alkalinity can be problematic.

 

[MERKEY]

Look like my replacement tank will be here 1/11/20. I have only lost on chalice frag that broke during the move along with one small SPS frag that has started to turn white.

I have my Apex and trident on the temp system, all parameters are maintaining as they did in the tank, ammonia=0, Nitrates=0.5 and phosphates=0.08 here is my next concern.

Cycle, when the tank failed I moved everything except sand. I have 300 lbs of rock, livestock is 2 Gobies, 2 clownfish, 3 purple tangs, 5 anthias 2 chromas. The new tank is 250 gal, I have water that is currently in the system to fill new tank, so only slight water change to start. question, Do I need to add rock and cycle, than coral or, can I move everything back in as I did during the emergency and moved out.

You can rinse all the sand until clear and put everything as is right into the new tank. Like they do at big reef conventions.

@brandon429 has threads about this and would probably incorporate yours into it.

 

[MERKEY]

You may not get a cycle but alkalinity can be problematic.

There will be no cycle if the sand is rinsed properly and everything is held properly until put back in.

 

[MERKEY]

NO CYCLE if done like this.

 

[Pete Luna]

Thanks. Was thinking on going bare bottom but I guess sand would help the cycle

 

[MERKEY]

Thanks. Was thinking on going bare bottom but I guess sand would help the cycle

There wont be a cycle.....

 

[Huskymaniac]

Thanks. Was thinking on going bare bottom but I guess sand would help the cycle

If your going bear bottom just dive right in, lol. I mean I have put together QT tanks with PVC pipes and a bottle of biospira with no cycle. Your not gonna cycle with 300lbs of rock