Disaster! Tough lesson learned
- Thread starter Stylo328
- Start date
Stylo328
New member
I don't even know where to start"¦
Came home today from a two-week vacation. As expected most of the fish are gone. What I didn't expect was another alk spike. Came home the alk is at 10 and most if not all of the SPS are either dead or dying. Some are colonies that I've been growing for the past three years and as of this writing, have a few polyps left on the base if any at all. My mystic sunset montipora, which I've complained on here about being too big is gone as are all of the other high-end encrusting montipora. Most if not all of the Capricornis are gone including the purple, that took me so long to find.
My matrix, most of the tenious, and most of the named corals in the tank are gone. I had about 100 gallons of water in the drum in the garage so I did a 100-gallon water change and I'm going to try to do another big water change in the next day or two when I get water delivered.
I'm feeling really discouraged right now. As a Christian I try to find the lesson in everything, even the negative. Maybe God wants me to stick to LPS.
Came home today from a two-week vacation. As expected most of the fish are gone. What I didn't expect was another alk spike. Came home the alk is at 10 and most if not all of the SPS are either dead or dying. Some are colonies that I've been growing for the past three years and as of this writing, have a few polyps left on the base if any at all. My mystic sunset montipora, which I've complained on here about being too big is gone as are all of the other high-end encrusting montipora. Most if not all of the Capricornis are gone including the purple, that took me so long to find.
My matrix, most of the tenious, and most of the named corals in the tank are gone. I had about 100 gallons of water in the drum in the garage so I did a 100-gallon water change and I'm going to try to do another big water change in the next day or two when I get water delivered.
I'm feeling really discouraged right now. As a Christian I try to find the lesson in everything, even the negative. Maybe God wants me to stick to LPS.
I take Cars
New member
Sorry for your loss, Good luck.
Stylo328
New member
Thanks.
Thanks Danny. I may just stick with LPS and zoas from now on. I think I've lost my blue thumb. Maybe I'll change my mind, but for the moment I'm stuck in a pity party.
Thanks.
Stylo328
New member
I'm not sure. My Doser was set to the same amount that it has been for the past several weeks. I replaced the heads about a month ago.
I know the fish all got sick when I added some new fish to the tank without quarantining. Maybe as they started dying, nitrates in the tank increased, stopping coral growth and allowing the alkalinity to build up? I'm not sure.
Even after doing that big water change yesterday the alkalinity is still just over eight.
rovster
New member
Reason the alk spiked was there was a disruption in the balance of the tank. Been there done that. Sometimes something as benign as increasing lighting intensity or even vinegar dose has been enough to cause an alk spike in my tank. Now these things don't directly cause the spike, sometimes corals shut down and stop consuming so you keep pumping it in and voila, alk spike.
Obviously you can't go back, but for anyone else on this situation it may be best to shut your dosers and reactors off until things restabilize.
I don't think it's s bad idea to do LPS and zoos to restore some confidence, but I know you'll be back to the dark side soon. I'll be waiting with tester frags if you wish.....
Obviously you can't go back, but for anyone else on this situation it may be best to shut your dosers and reactors off until things restabilize.
I don't think it's s bad idea to do LPS and zoos to restore some confidence, but I know you'll be back to the dark side soon. I'll be waiting with tester frags if you wish.....
dadummy
Active member
hang in there man, get your water right and tank stable, better things are too come. You can certainly do softies and LPS, but once the SPS bug bites again it's all over. It will bite again lol.
There have been countless times that I would yell, scream, stomp my feet and say that's it I am unplugging this thing,should have gotten a goldfish bowl. It's in those times that I learn the best lessons. This hobby would be boring if there was nothing new to learn
There have been countless times that I would yell, scream, stomp my feet and say that's it I am unplugging this thing,should have gotten a goldfish bowl. It's in those times that I learn the best lessons. This hobby would be boring if there was nothing new to learn
Diesel3443
AEFW Distructor
I have been in your shoes more times then I want to discuss lol. I always get the fever back.
If you are are ever up in the Boynton area I'll gladly give you some frags as the generosity I have seen over the years is paid forward.
Don't give up!
If you are are ever up in the Boynton area I'll gladly give you some frags as the generosity I have seen over the years is paid forward.
Don't give up!
firemedix911
New member
Damn. sorry to hear the bad new. Hang in there brother.
mpfeiffer1
New member
Find the root cause and correct quickly. You have some really smart reefers on this thread. Actually Some of the best in the nation hands-down. I am fortunate to know many of them and with great confidence I can tell you that Any of them would be happy to assist you as we all know how fragile these corals are. Let us know how we can help.
Stylo328
New member
Update:
Did another very large water change yesterday >150 gallons. A few colonies are now completely gone, such as the WWC yellow tip, ATL Bloody Mary, Pro Corals Rainbow, UC Unknown, CB Thing, ice fire, pomade bird, and a few other non-named pieces.
The rest still have some skin or polyps, but I can't imagine they will make it. I snapped some pics while the tank was empty.
This tort has been growing for three years and started with a 1/4" nub.
Blue tipped tenious
Mystic sunset:
Top down FTS:
Most of the rest of the SPS have at least 1/2" of flesh. We'll see how they do over time. LPS and zoas all seem to be fine, including all of the favia. Only the acan appears to be a bit deflated.
Only fish that remain are purple tang (visibly sick), mimic tang (dying any day), Blond Naso (seems completely unaffected), two of the nine lyre tail anthias, midnight blenny and black Cardinal. Everything else is gone.
Thanks again to everyone for the words of encouragement and offers for new frags. You are a great club and I'm glad to have your support. It's those words of encouragement that convinced me to stay in the hobby.
Did another very large water change yesterday >150 gallons. A few colonies are now completely gone, such as the WWC yellow tip, ATL Bloody Mary, Pro Corals Rainbow, UC Unknown, CB Thing, ice fire, pomade bird, and a few other non-named pieces.
The rest still have some skin or polyps, but I can't imagine they will make it. I snapped some pics while the tank was empty.
This tort has been growing for three years and started with a 1/4" nub.
Blue tipped tenious
Mystic sunset:
Top down FTS:
Most of the rest of the SPS have at least 1/2" of flesh. We'll see how they do over time. LPS and zoas all seem to be fine, including all of the favia. Only the acan appears to be a bit deflated.
Only fish that remain are purple tang (visibly sick), mimic tang (dying any day), Blond Naso (seems completely unaffected), two of the nine lyre tail anthias, midnight blenny and black Cardinal. Everything else is gone.
Thanks again to everyone for the words of encouragement and offers for new frags. You are a great club and I'm glad to have your support. It's those words of encouragement that convinced me to stay in the hobby.
Stylo328
New member
Thank you both very much.
Something else I've noticed since the crash is a significant Cyanobacteria outbreak throughout the tank. It is heavily concentrated in the upper right, but can be seen just about everywhere. I iPhones as much as I could with the big water change.
Wondering if it will die off with the significantly diminished bio load.
Something else I've noticed since the crash is a significant Cyanobacteria outbreak throughout the tank. It is heavily concentrated in the upper right, but can be seen just about everywhere. I iPhones as much as I could with the big water change.
Wondering if it will die off with the significantly diminished bio load.
