Confessions of an IDIOT

[Blitzburggirl]

In my years of reefkeeping I have learned never to mess with equipment before going away. Well, I got careless and did a waterchange prior to going away for 2 days. 2 days. That is it.

Well, it's cold, and I needed to use my 300 watt heater to warm up the water change water. I could leave the suspense til the end. But with this statement, you already know what I am going to say. I forgot to plug the heater back in. I know a 300 watt heater is not enough for a 180 gallon tank, but I also have a second 300 watt heater, and 4 400w metal halides on a 6' tank.

Pertinent details, it's a 180 mixed reef. LPS, SPS, fish and nems (3 mini carpets, a LTA, and a blue gig.)

When I came home Sunday, the heat had been off in the house, and the tank temp was 67 degrees

Here it is 5 days later. The temp is now stable at 78-81 (massive halide lighting, but after tonight this will be bullet proof 81.)

The purpose for this thread, being here, rather in the general reefing is this:

The fish are all fine.
All the LPS is fine. Most of the SPS is fine But, they were all AC so I can live with this.
The mini carpets are fine.
The 1 year established LTA is fine too. Perhaps never better quite frankly.

My concern is my blue gig. Of course. Isn't that the way it always works.

I added it to my tank the last week of November. It did very very well. It took about 2 weeks for me to feel very confident it would do well. Of course it had some coloring up to do, but I've read every word about gigs on this and other forums in the last 2 years and further back in some cases, along with the pictures, and I really really felt good. The mouth was firm. It was eating mysis out of the water column within days, it has eaten small chunks of homemade seafood mush 2 times as well. It never did the inflate/deflate thing, the mouth also had a slight yellow tint. Extremely sticky etc....

So, a month and a half into the process of bringing this beautiful animal into my reef, I messed up. And messed up bad.

I'll do my best to describe what is going on. I wish I could share pictures, I will try my best to share some Monday. Here are the last pictures I've uploaded to photobucket for reference.

This was the WORST the mouth looked throughout the whole process

This is the best representation of color:

 

[bradjc]

Your tank looks pretty good still. I think you are going to be ok. Despite what a lot of people say temperature change isn't the end of the world as long as it wasn't done instantly. Everytime I go snorkeling I swear there are spots that are at least 5-10 degrees warmer or colder than others and the currents push that all over the corals and such all day and night and they don't just survive they strive. Very nice tank by the way.

 

[Blitzburggirl]

When I got home Sunday, the gig was shrunken, and had moved into the cave to the right of his "spot." He is still firmly footed, but, his foot is attached on the roof of the cave, so he is effectively facing downward, but not mushed into the sand.

Observations: Color is still the same. Tentacles are not knobby like when first purchased from the fish store there was still some length to them if that makes sense, and the color does not look different.

Actions: Gradually raised the tank temp back up to 78-81 and searched the heck out of ReefCentral for experience. I ran across a thread indicating that gigs like a higher temp? 82? Thoughts on this? I didn't even go so far as to touch the gig, or try to feed him (that seemed like a bad idea) I just left everything be.

Observations: He has not been inflating and deflating, foot still firmly attached, slowly "growing" and his tentacles are lengthening. Concerns here though, parts of his body are now resting on sand, and he's not in direct flow or direct light. Both of these seem counter productive. These animals have instincts, not brains. Where should I bet my money? His instinct will draw him out of the cave and back to the the light and flow, or his lack of brain will leave him to waste away not "knowing" to seek better conditions? As you can see, the rockwork is complex, and, given that he's firmly footed, I am hesitant to try to play reefgod here.

Last night, for the first night, I touched him. His tissue is still very firm, and he immediately reacted. Not retracted, but reacted. He is also still very sticky.

I know nothing happens fast in a reef, but I am willing to tear apart the entire structure, bust off the encrusted corals and relocate them to flip him up to the light. OR, should I just wait, and see what he does???????? This is soooo hard. I want to do the right thing, but I'm honestly not sure what that is.

It bears noting, in the event the advice is to tear apart the rockwork, the tank does have a deep sand bed, and is well over 1.5 years old. I use nass snails primarily for clean up, so the top portion is pretty well stirred, but, in this condition, I am VERY reluctant to take the chance of compromising water quality for this anemone.

I welcome all questions and comments. Constructive or otherwise, I really don't care, I would just like as much valuable feedback as possible.

 

[chimmike]

that is a pretty amazing tank. I think it will recover and hope it does for you!

 

[Blitzburggirl]

Your tank looks pretty good still. I think you are going to be ok. Despite what a lot of people say temperature change isn't the end of the world as long as it wasn't done instantly. Everytime I go snorkeling I swear there are spots that are at least 5-10 degrees warmer or colder than others and the currents push that all over the corals and such all day and night and they don't just survive they strive. Very nice tank by the way.

Thank you for the feedback I have worked very hard on this tank and take great pride in it, and the beautiful animals that reside in it. These are actually "before" pictures, taken about 2 weeks ago or so. I lost several SPS, but I really don't care. The gig is my only concern at this point.

I will say your post made me think of something, can it be taken as a good sign that none of the fish are appearing stressed (in terms of the gig releasing anything bad?)

I hate that I can't see his mouth, I'd feel alot better if I could. But then again, maybe it's good that he's still somewhat "fluffy" and the mouth isn't too obvious. Dang I wish there was a manual of right and wrong.

 

[Conrad25]

I think your gig will probably snap back out of it honestly if everything else looks happy. I also feed mine everyday with smaller food that I feed the fish at the same time. I have never had it spit or let it go of it at all. If the tentacles are sticky and everything, I would start feeding it more and it seems that you cannot overfeed these guys at all. You will be surprised how much that helps with gigs. Has the gig colored up a lot more since you have had it? It looks bleached pretty good to be honest.

Conrad

 

[Blitzburggirl]

that is a pretty amazing tank. I think it will recover and hope it does for you!

Thank you, and goodness I hope so

 

[Conrad25]

If he is facing down and partially in the sand, I would see if you can find a rock or two that you can put in the sand right below him so he doesn't touch the sand. From what I have read in places, the sand is not good for them to be hanging out on as they are more prone to bacterial infections than......

 

[Blitzburggirl]

I think your gig will probably snap back out of it honestly if everything else looks happy. I also feed mine everyday with smaller food that I feed the fish at the same time. I have never had it spit or let it go of it at all. If the tentacles are sticky and everything, I would start feeding it more and it seems that you cannot overfeed these guys at all. You will be surprised how much that helps with gigs. Has the gig colored up a lot more since you have had it? It looks bleached pretty good to be honest.

Conrad

I sooo hope you are right!!!!

It has changed color since I've had it. The store I got it from housed it for me for a week prior to my being able to pick it up. He had it under T-5's. IMO not a good choice, but at the time, I didn't know that. Anyway, it looked purple/blue there. I have it under 20k 400 watt halides. IMO, it is slightly bleached, as just about any gig a month beyond shipping would be, but given the color temp of my bulbs and the camera setting necessary to capture it, long story short, it's got more brown and blue in person In the slightly more than a month that I've had it, the color has clearly transitioned more blue than purple (I doubt anyone would even say purple now) and has browned up considerably. These pics were about 2 weeks into the process.

Perhaps I should feed him a bit tonight? Maybe just a small blob of PE mysis?

 

[Blitzburggirl]

If he is facing down and partially in the sand, I would see if you can find a rock or two that you can put in the sand right below him so he doesn't touch the sand. From what I have read in places, the sand is not good for them to be hanging out on as they are more prone to bacterial infections than......

The problem is that he's beginning to fill the cavern. It's the cave right below the orange zoos. Behind the green SPS coral that the gig stung his first night in the tank. There is no way to get a rock or two under there. That's why I was thinking I may have to break down that section. See the purple tang, that used to be her cave. It's a comfy size for her if that gives you an idea of size perspective.

 

[Conrad25]

I would def. give him something to munch on than. I usually give mine three squirts of food which he readily wants. I have even caught the anemone prepped for taking it before I put any food into the tank. I think it has something to do with the clowns seeing me and them leaving the nem, gotta love them getting into a routine. If it readily takes it and eats, than I would give it to him daily or every other day and let the nem do its thing, is it too far in the cave that you think he won't be able to stretch out to get light if it wanted too? Also my nem loves 80degrees. I have it go to 78 at night and than when the halides kick on it goes up to 80 and seems that it loves it

Conrad

 

[Conrad25]

Well thats going to be a lot of work to get him moved than..... You also could try doubling up a ziplock bag with a couple of ice cubes and rubbing his food with it, it will usually release than and you can safely and easily take him out of the cave. You might want to try that first before ripping it all apart as that looks like a boat load of work and your tank is beautiful by the way. If he is laying down face first in the sand, it can't be good for him..

 

[Blitzburggirl]

He's got about an inch of flesh outside the cave. He could EASILY get to the light if he wants to. Was it you that has the LED lit tank with a gig? And had to kind of move him? I know it was someone... I read soooooo much in the last 6 months about these guys. Ironically, after this fiasco, I'm hooking up my chiller, because my lights play havoc on my temperature. If only the heat hadn't gone out the same weekend my dumb butt left the emergency heater unplugged.....

 

[Conrad25]

Nope, Im not the one with the LED lite tank. I'm considering it these days though. I have 250w halides:rollface:

 

[Blitzburggirl]

Well thats going to be a lot of work to get him moved than..... You also could try doubling up a ziplock bag with a couple of ice cubes and rubbing his food with it, it will usually release than and you can safely and easily take him out of the cave. You might want to try that first before ripping it all apart as that looks like a boat load of work and your tank is beautiful by the way. If he is laying down face first in the sand, it can't be good for him..

Just for size reference, he's in a 180, and you see how big he is. As he's expanding again (and I'm taking it as a good thing that it's not rapid, and there has been no decline) parts are touching. He's not pressed in at all, but I'm like you, I don't like any of his body touching. I'm alittle afraid to try to get him to release his foot. I don't want him to have to expend any more energy than he has to, I don't think. I don't care about my own energy LMAO I'm the moron here. Maybe I'll try it.... Hmmm

 

[Conrad25]

If he can reach him self out of the cave. I think he would be fine. You could try encouraging him to come out also with extra flow going towards the cave at a angle so it doesn't go directly in the cave, but just enough it notices and wants to be in it

 

[Blitzburggirl]

So the key here being come out of the cave, INTO the flow... Soooooo moving all the LPS in the corner and another vortech placed on that pane on a random flow would be good?

 

[Conrad25]

If you have another vortech than yes. Or if you already have multiple, you may want to just adjust one to be near there. I know once I got more flow on mine, it hasn't wanted to move. They look for ideal places for more food to come there way along with light. Its something def. to try out and see as it has been proven for these guys many times

 

[Blitzburggirl]

I do have another MP40. You can kind of see one in the second picture, just barely. I have a second I need to install anyway, so that's what I'll do for now. He seemed super happy before. I'm not sure why he would go into the cave to begin with... Seems strange and counter intuitive.

 

[Conrad25]

Its certainly weird. But we can always change things around easily with the right incentives

Let me know how it goes, interested to see what his reactions are after you feed him and give him some more flow.

Conrad