Tank Crash: You've had one now help someone else!

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Let's take this opportunity to share our own tank crashes and explain what happened and why it happened so we can help someone else in the future. Even share some before and after pics if you will.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I had a major crash a year or two after I first got into the hobby. I had spent a lot of money, time, and effort creating this beautiful reef and with a week it was all but gone!

I had noticed that the corals were declining and I had no idea what was going on. I took all the proper steps with water changes, testing, etc. But what had eluded me was a broken glass heater in the bottom of my sump. The heater had exploded and started to foul my tank and I had no idea.

After about a week I found the problem but it was too late for many corals.

My advice when things are going bad is to of course check all your water parameters but do a thorough equipment check as well.

 

[SDguy]

My lessons:

1. Don't use anti-siphon holes in return lines. Design your system better.

2. Don't use cheap equipment in critical places, like return pumps.

 

[Poseidon]

My second biggest crash... NEVER disturb a 4 year old DSB down to the bottom.

My biggest crash, NEVER disturb a 4 year old DSB, AND Double the flow at the same time.

 

[luke33]

First crash, don't use silicate sand : ) It leaches and scratches. Second crash, phosphates. Second was the worst as I lost every 5-6yr old sps colony I had, along with my chalice collection. Still love the hobby though : )

 

[Trex]

Knock on wood -- haven't had a crash since I started this hobby, some screw ups of course, but not a full crash.

However, one thing I have learned, have back ups -- pumps -- powerhead, main, skimmer -- extra heater or two, an extra clip on fan (( if you use that for summer heat )) or two. Heck, even have back up filters/membranes/resin for your RO/DI unit. Having those on hand can prevent an issue from becoming a problem, or worse.

 

[cdness]

My worst crash was when I used 90% new water during a tank move... I lost about 85% of my SPS colonies and had to get back frags where I could...

Lesson learned: Give away your most prized pieces to other people in the form of FREE insurance frags. Keep a record of who has them and follow up to make sure they are still doing fine... You will thank yourself for doing it when the time comes to call on those insurance frags.

 

[jonbar1]

HAVE A GENERATOR AND A TANK SITTER THAT CAN USE IT!

In the fall of 2008 my tank was about 2 1/2 years old and had finally been looking better once I finally stopped using Reef Crystals salt. I was working in disaster relief at the time and Hurricane Ike had just hit Galveston Island and Houston, Texas so I was off to do my part. I had no Idea it would have had the power to make it to Ohio and knock the power out for over a week while I was gone. I ended up being gone over a month and figured I'd be reefless when I got home.

Before:

The pics I was sent:

[/QUOTE]

A surprising amount of LPS survived this and now rule the tank today

 

[Bandomo]

My first and only tank crash was due to a blown heater. Lessons learned...

1. Never place a heater in the sump where it has the potential of being exposed to air due to evaporation.
2. Never run a heater without a controller!

 

[slapshot]

My sons friend threw a penny in the refugium. Yes just a penny, that's all it took. killed everything. At least it was only FO at the time but.....

Lesson, control the access to the refugium and tank. I then built it into the wall and all doors have locks.

Second one, tried to help a friend whose tank was rtning. Took in some of his corals and in the process gave myself AEFW.

Lesson, sorry never add corals from a tank that has a problem......no matter what!! Oh and dip everything that goes into your tank.

RIP

 

[VIPReef]

Big Oops that I've heard in the past from customers:

1- ran out of RO/DI water so customer goes ahead and uses water straight from the tap
2- went on vacation and left my cousin, niece, whatever in charge of my tank. Mind you this family member is only 8 years old
3- Went on vacation and left my a/c off because it was cool at the time. Here in sunny Florida winters only last a couple of days then temps rise up rather quickly
4- tested my alk and it was really low then tried to adjust it quickly just in case
5- Put a mouse pad under the pump inside my sump cause it was too loud and I read it online. Mouse pad adhesives are not waterproof and they will wipe out your fish.
6- Pump burned out so I went to Home Depot and bought a really big one really cheap, but it heated my water 100 degrees
7- That live phytoplankon bottle smelled funny, but I used it anyways
8- left the ro/di valve opened so when I got home I had a freshwater tank...heck the ick was gone..lol
9- I got a bunch of frags for like $5 bucks, but no need to qt or dip. The guy says his tank is free of parasites.
10- there is that penny

Enjoy!

 

[Connie]

I've had two crashes.

1. The heater got stuck to the "on" position and cooked most of the coral, my GBTA and most of the cuc. All the fish survived even though it got up to 92 degrees. Thanks to the mild Alabama weather, I no longer run a heater. My DT stays at a perfect 77.2 degrees 24/7 naturally. I do have one though just in case.

2. During a routine water change, fresh water was added instead of fresh salt water. I didn't realize it until the next day and it was too late. Lost most corals. Fish survived. ALWAYS check the salinity of the water you are using just prior to adding to the DT.

 

[swannyson7]

Never had a complete tank crash, but had a few partials...

1. Heater cracked and got stuck in the on position. It heated the tank up to about 87 and the stray current killed all of my fish. Luckily I was keeping mainly Z&P at the time which pulled through.
Lesson learned: Use a temperature controller for redundancy & grounding probe to keep yourself from getting zapped.

2. 10 day power outtage with a faulty generator, broken battery powered air pumps, and no battery backup for pumps. Lost several fish, but only the expensive ones.
Lessons Learned: PMCS your equipment periodically so that you aren't in trouble when "the big one" comes. Ensure that you have an ample supply of batteries, and multiple options in the case of an extended outtage such as generators, DC Inverters, battery backup, etc.

3. When I first got in the hobby, my tank's pH was always a bit low (7.7-7.9). I was always chasing the magical 8.2-8.4 and a LFS recommended a pH buffer to bring it up to the desired level. Upon adding to the tank per the manufacturer's directions, the pH went up to 9.5, alk spiked, and calcium plummetted followed by promt swings in the opposite direction as I conducted an emergency water change. Turns out that the product had been recalled over 6 months prior and the LFS failed to pull the product from the shelves despite being notified (the manufacturer claimed that all vendors that carry their products, including that particular store, had been notified). Lost several pieces of LPS, and two carpet anemones.
Lessons Learned: If it ain't broke don't fix it... everything was happy in the tank for 6 months at that pH level prior to the additive. Research additives thoroughly prior to using them. Find a new LFS. What works for others may not necessarily work for you. Be more concerned with alkalinity than pH... if alk is at appropriate levels, the pH will level out.

 

[dohc97]

mini crash: i run a hob skimmer and when i went to pickup the cup i accidentally spilled all the dirt right into the tank. Within 2 hours all sps that were in direct contact with this rtn'ed, i ended up losing 3 sps colonies and my favorite which i thought was a goner luckily is making a comeback. pictures to show the before of my favorite and the comeback:

before crash:

this is after the skeleton turning completely black and algae covered, remarkable what corals can do: