Devastating Tank Tragedy
- Thread starter returnofsid
- Start date
SNAKEMANVET
PREMIUM MEMBER
Thanks for the link.
ordy1
New member
Sorry to hear about your losses.
In my field of work, refrigeration and air conditioning, we always try to put redundencies in our systems.
I have a pH monitor for the tank and one for the reactor. But now that I think of it, neither would help in a case like yours. If the solinoid is stuck open, removing power to it will have no effect. I have my reactor solinoid being controlled by a Milwaukee controller and the Milwaukee controller plugged into a AC Jr.
In my field of work, refrigeration and air conditioning, we always try to put redundencies in our systems.
I have a pH monitor for the tank and one for the reactor. But now that I think of it, neither would help in a case like yours. If the solinoid is stuck open, removing power to it will have no effect. I have my reactor solinoid being controlled by a Milwaukee controller and the Milwaukee controller plugged into a AC Jr.
returnofsid
New member
Some have mentioned the solenoid sticking, because I initially reported this as the problem. Then I realized it wasn't the issue. The issue was a plugged needle valve, and me. My mistake was that I was opening up the needle valve, a little bit more, every couple of days, because it was plugging up. I wouldn't have any bubbles, so I'd open it up slightly. A couple days later, same thing.
So, when whatever was plugging the needle valve became unplugged, the needle valve was opened A LOT, enough to allow the CO2 bottle to quickly empty.
redfishsc, you think it was hard to read...It was REALLY hard to write!!! LOL
keinreis, thank you so much for the link. I will definitely read and DO it!!
solitude127, yes, I believe a Ph controller would have prevented this and I'll be investing in one, before putting the Calcium Reactor back online.
So, when whatever was plugging the needle valve became unplugged, the needle valve was opened A LOT, enough to allow the CO2 bottle to quickly empty.
redfishsc, you think it was hard to read...It was REALLY hard to write!!! LOL
keinreis, thank you so much for the link. I will definitely read and DO it!!
solitude127, yes, I believe a Ph controller would have prevented this and I'll be investing in one, before putting the Calcium Reactor back online.
My needle valve was doing the same thing as yours. I found your thread, it scared the poo out of me, and I shut the reactor down till I could order a new needle valve. After contacting the manufacturer and following their fix the valve has been working like a charm with no issues at all. Since they have directions on this fix... this is obviously a known and common issue. The question of the day is why don't they modify the valves per their instructions at the factory?
returnofsid
New member
Well, it's been a year ago, today, that this tragic event. I figured I'd take a lil' time to update.
The tank has fully recovered, and is doing well. Honestly, I don't know if I've recovered, fully, lol. I still very much miss all the fish that died. I still haven't replaced some of the SPS that I lost.
The Calcium Reactor is still off line, but only because I've not refilled the Co2 bottle. I do plan on getting it back online soon. I'll be adding a couple inline valves, on the Co2 line. These valves will only allow "so much" Co2 through them. So, if anything were to fail, the valves will prevent a catastrophe.
For the past year, I've been manually dosing and actually fine tuned my dosing schedule. It took me a couple of weeks, but I figured out a "daily dose" that my tank consumes. Sure beats testing and dosing once a week. In this way, I dose, daily, and test once a week, adjusting my daily dose, if needed.
RIP Fellas
Here's an updated FTS, that I took, 3 days ago.
The tank has fully recovered, and is doing well. Honestly, I don't know if I've recovered, fully, lol. I still very much miss all the fish that died. I still haven't replaced some of the SPS that I lost.
The Calcium Reactor is still off line, but only because I've not refilled the Co2 bottle. I do plan on getting it back online soon. I'll be adding a couple inline valves, on the Co2 line. These valves will only allow "so much" Co2 through them. So, if anything were to fail, the valves will prevent a catastrophe.
For the past year, I've been manually dosing and actually fine tuned my dosing schedule. It took me a couple of weeks, but I figured out a "daily dose" that my tank consumes. Sure beats testing and dosing once a week. In this way, I dose, daily, and test once a week, adjusting my daily dose, if needed.
RIP Fellas
Here's an updated FTS, that I took, 3 days ago.
scubasteve06
Jeeper Reefer
Wow I am sorry to hear about that even though it was a year ago. I'm glad that you kept your head up and didn't sell out. I know its hard to re-stock after losing prized fish, but besides coral your tank is looking kinda empty!
Nah, I'm just kidding, but a tang or two or a dwarf angel of some sorts would look right at home in there! I really want a tail spot blenny or a starry blenny. Will either of these two get along with my LMB? I've heard that blennies just won't get along with each other even in a big tank. A new LFS I visited yesterday for some tigger pods has a 300DD with a starry blenny. He tolerates the diamond goby, but I did see him chase him once. He leaves the mandarin, and scooter blenny pair alone. The Diamond Goby and the Starry Blenny are the same size though, while the dragonets are much smaller at 1/2 the size.
Nah, I'm just kidding, but a tang or two or a dwarf angel of some sorts would look right at home in there! I really want a tail spot blenny or a starry blenny. Will either of these two get along with my LMB? I've heard that blennies just won't get along with each other even in a big tank. A new LFS I visited yesterday for some tigger pods has a 300DD with a starry blenny. He tolerates the diamond goby, but I did see him chase him once. He leaves the mandarin, and scooter blenny pair alone. The Diamond Goby and the Starry Blenny are the same size though, while the dragonets are much smaller at 1/2 the size.
djkms
Fish Freak
Wow this is quite the gut wrenching read. I am glad to see your tank doing well a year later!
I just setup my tank a little over a couple months ago and purchased a Lifereef calcium reactor. Right now its just sitting around since I really dont have a need for it yet.
This thread has just made me really nervous hooking it up. That's good though because more thought will go into it when I decide to do so!
So I have a Neptune Apex and a lab grade PH probe for my reactor. The neptune can cut the power to the pump pushing water through the reactor, the regulator and the recirculation pump if needed. I would assume this would be enough failsafe to prevent what has happened here in this thread?
Sounds like it would still be a great idea to invest in a electronic solenoid.
I am curious about the post the person made about his tank exploding! WTH caused that? Heat, pressure? I live in a apartment, if a tank exploded on me not only would it cause havoc to my belongings but it could potentially destroy my neighbors things. What precautions do I need to take to avoid this?
Thanks!
I just setup my tank a little over a couple months ago and purchased a Lifereef calcium reactor. Right now its just sitting around since I really dont have a need for it yet.
This thread has just made me really nervous hooking it up. That's good though because more thought will go into it when I decide to do so!
So I have a Neptune Apex and a lab grade PH probe for my reactor. The neptune can cut the power to the pump pushing water through the reactor, the regulator and the recirculation pump if needed. I would assume this would be enough failsafe to prevent what has happened here in this thread?
Sounds like it would still be a great idea to invest in a electronic solenoid.
I am curious about the post the person made about his tank exploding! WTH caused that? Heat, pressure? I live in a apartment, if a tank exploded on me not only would it cause havoc to my belongings but it could potentially destroy my neighbors things. What precautions do I need to take to avoid this?
Thanks!
returnofsid
New member
Thank you! You should come visit sometime!!
Wow I am sorry to hear about that even though it was a year ago. I'm glad that you kept your head up and didn't sell out. I know its hard to re-stock after losing prized fish, but besides coral your tank is looking kinda empty!
There's already one Tang, a Tomini Tang. Up until recently, there was a beautiful Powder Blue Tang. However, I rehomed it. Even though it was introduced well after anything else, it was VERY aggressive towards the Foxface. It was constantly beating up on the Foxface, to the point where the Foxface wouldn't even eat.
A Tailspot Blenny would get totally lost in the tank. We had one, in a 24 gallon Aquapod and it'd even get lost in that...lol. I do have a Starry Blenny, in our 40 and in fact, it was one of the fish that survived the tank crash. Eventually, I'll probably reintroduce it to the 200. You can see it in the first picture I posted, today.
Lately, I've been thinking about a couple more fish, but haven't decided just what I want, yet.
Please don't let my tragedy keep you from using a Calcium Reactor. However, DO let it bring about caution. Calcium Reactors are very useful, but need to be used appropriately. Precautions do need to be taken. Using your Apex would work, to control your Calcium Reactor, in conjunction with the PH probe of the Apex. However, sometimes, relying on a PH Controller can cause issues, as they're apt to get out of calibration, often.
As for the electronic solenoid, Calcium Reactors are used in conjunction with a Co2 Bottle and Regulator. Most of these Regulators include an electronic Solenoid. The solenoid is what you'd actually plug into your Apex, in most situations.
