disaster and possible rebirth

[slief]

ar normal. About half the zoas are wide open and half are still closed up.

However, I do have a question/issue. My skimmer is now making very white bubbles at the top of the collection cup and they don't want to pop and drain down. Instead, they actually are pushing the top of the collection cup up off the cup and creating a big (as in 3 or 4 inches out the sides of the cup) ball of white foamy bubbles? In 12+ years I've never seen a skimmer foam like this. The bubbles in the neck of the skimmer look very normal, they just don't seem to pop.

I'm guessing they are so strong due to organics from the stuff that has died in the tank?

I did bad and cleaned it up this morning and I should have taken a photo. I intend to start pulling the tank apart to day. I need to get under the rocks and get after dead bodies.

First, I am terribly sorry for your loss. That is a major tragedy. If there is any silver lining, it's that you aren't starting over in the sense of the tanking maturing process. As such, you should be pretty safe to start off where you left off and begin the restocking process as soon as the nutrients settle back down.


The thick foam is likely the result of the die off and all the resulting organics in the water. Take some silicone grease or even olive oil and add a think coat to the underside of the lid as well as the very top edge of the skimmer neck and upper outer edge of the neck. That should cause the foam to break down at the top of the neck and spill over into the cup as a liquid.

 

[slief]

Neptune recommends a third party device that does the same thing (Titan Hercules 3). Works for units up to 1/2 hp, but still not big enough for 3/4 or 1 hp (plus 1 hp may be 220). Rated to 15 amps, but the fine print says 12.5 amps max continouls load.

Furman has a 20 amp device that they refer to as their Miniport that uses DC voltage as a trigger for the AC outlet. You would wire an AC Adapter to the input on the Furman to activate the 20 amp power outlet. It could also be triggered via the Apex's 0-10v output or a standard AC adapter connected to the energy bar outlet.
They have both 15 and 20amp options but they aren't cheap.
http://www.furmanpower.com/sites/furmanpower.com/files/_/Furman-Pro-AV/mp-15_manual.pdf

 

[ca1ore]

I had looked at the Q models, but they are limited to 12A per receptacle. Hadn't seen the other ones though. Good link.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I'm sorry to hear about this Ron. The good news is I see some great collecting trips in the Keys in your future!

 

[bustybones]

Is it possible that a Cuke nuke possibly could have exasperated the problem.

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[Ron Reefman]

Is it possible that a Cuke nuke possibly could have exasperated the problem.

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Absolutely, along with several serpent stars, 6-8 shrimp that all don't do well in cold water and all hide under the rocks where you can't get at them. I understand the cucumber question, as they can be toxic when they die. It's very possible it exacerbated the problem, but I have no way to tell. I woke up to below 60F temps, no fish swimming around, tissue coming off sps corals and both leathers completely collapsed.

Today things are more stable, the water is clear and the skimmer is still making bubbles that don't want to pop and drain from the collection cup. But slief's plan to wipe cooking oil around the outer edge of the inside of the collection cup cover worked perfectly! Thank you for that! This morning the cup is full of foam and some has drained into the remote reservoir, but there is no foam pushing out the vent holes on the top of the cup and the lid is still sitting on the cup, not 1" up of the cup on a cushion of foam.

So dead corals and any bodies I can find will come out today. For now it's a good thing I have a second system so I can move the few sps that look like they might have some slim change to survive.

 

[biecacka]

Ron, sorry to hear about your loss. It bites but you can come back bigger and stronger buddy. I don't have much to offer, some red mushrooms, gold palys, few leathers and a sinulara but I feel you want any I'll frag them up and ship me to ya no charge man.

Corey

 

[Mrs. Music]

wow, Ron, so sad for you. You have such a great attitude about it. good luck with the reboot!
ps. I am going thru a rebuild too. I am taking it slow and steady.