Everything is Dead
- Thread starter disc1
- Start date
EllieSuz
Premium Member
If I were you, I'd take each piece of rock and "wash" it in clean saltwater, using something like a Maxi-Jet 1200 held in your hand to powerwash detritus off the rock. It shouldn't prolong a cycle since you're using saltwater and it would cut down on rising nitrates later on.
sporto0
New member
Dave, sorry & congrats, I've had this happen to me when I lived in Va Beach, a hurricane wiped out power for 2 weeks, the live rock recovers quickly, I wouldn't do anything to it, just a 50% water change & a few weeks cure time & your back in business buddy, it sucks to lose all your corals, I know & it's not even the money that matters. I know it doesn't help now, but the generator is your savior, after my catastrophe I vowed to never be without back up again, I haven't had to use it for many years, but I keep it maintained & ready for any situation, most likey an ice storm here in Pittsburgh. Good luck to you sir & congrats on your engagement again!
screamingibis
New member
Congrats on the engagement. The knowledge you have for reefing is invaluable. It shouldn't take you long at all to get back up and running again. I've been at this for only two years and i still feel like a newb.
One thing is for sure, I'm ordering a generator tomorrow. i don't care what my wife says.
One thing is for sure, I'm ordering a generator tomorrow. i don't care what my wife says.
Steve Wright2
New member
sorry to read this David
congrats on the engagement
how long was the power out?
as I suspect, if you can get those rocks scrubbed using the existing tank water, you will still have some bacteria life on/in etc
the reason I say this is because 2 years ago, I had to do an emergency tank strip down
and it was 3 weeks later when I got it set up again
for that 3 weeks, the rocks sat damp ( not submerged) in a 20 gallon holding bucket with fitted lit, which kept the contents moist
I had removed all the corals and fish, and sent them back to the LFS
naturally there where encrusting corals such as GSP which whilst I had manager to remove the main colony, some encrusted patches remained on those rocks
3 weeks later, when tank was re filled, and rock once again submerged
the GSP opened again
in addition the coralline in general also survived this 3 week damp period
and whilst I cannot say that bacteria also survived
I feel pretty confident, based on speed of cycle, that enough did so
Steve
congrats on the engagement
how long was the power out?
as I suspect, if you can get those rocks scrubbed using the existing tank water, you will still have some bacteria life on/in etc
the reason I say this is because 2 years ago, I had to do an emergency tank strip down
and it was 3 weeks later when I got it set up again
for that 3 weeks, the rocks sat damp ( not submerged) in a 20 gallon holding bucket with fitted lit, which kept the contents moist
I had removed all the corals and fish, and sent them back to the LFS
naturally there where encrusting corals such as GSP which whilst I had manager to remove the main colony, some encrusted patches remained on those rocks
3 weeks later, when tank was re filled, and rock once again submerged
the GSP opened again
in addition the coralline in general also survived this 3 week damp period
and whilst I cannot say that bacteria also survived
I feel pretty confident, based on speed of cycle, that enough did so
Steve
reefgeezer
Active member
You've helped me a lot recently. I'm sure I can provide some frags when the time comes. Wichita to Little Rock is a pretty easy shipment.
disc1
-RT * ln(k)
Thanks Sushi... and happy birthday to you!
I lost a 100 gallon while on vacation. Heat wave hit, higher power usage and brown outs caused my sump to run dry. Chain reaction after that from too much water loss and lack of water movement.
I cleaned up and removed the dead corals and fish. Drained all the water. Proceeded to clear rocks of noticable stuff while making emergency water from tap. Once I was done a few hours later all that was left was the rock, 6 to 9" deep sand bed, and fresh water. Replaced power heads and pumps then restarted standard light cycle.
Less than 24 hours later sand was back to normal. Few days later rocks. About 2 weeks or so my zoa's started to come back. I left it that way for over a year with only minor water changes. No interest yet the zoa's, sand, and rocks thrived. Daughter ended up putting in a pair of clowns and a few snails (ok, lots of snails) and it was looking really nice. However, I didn't want to replace a blown MH ballast so I ended up moving rock and sand to a couple bio-cubes my son and I just started. Scrapped off all the zoa's and gave them away.
I guess what I'm trying to say, and not very well, is that I just cleaned what I could. Threw back in some water, and let nature take its course. While I know it really sucks the wind out of everything maybe something good will come out of it. I don't know.
Lots of good bits of information here. Best of luck and really sorry to hear about your loss.
I cleaned up and removed the dead corals and fish. Drained all the water. Proceeded to clear rocks of noticable stuff while making emergency water from tap. Once I was done a few hours later all that was left was the rock, 6 to 9" deep sand bed, and fresh water. Replaced power heads and pumps then restarted standard light cycle.
Less than 24 hours later sand was back to normal. Few days later rocks. About 2 weeks or so my zoa's started to come back. I left it that way for over a year with only minor water changes. No interest yet the zoa's, sand, and rocks thrived. Daughter ended up putting in a pair of clowns and a few snails (ok, lots of snails) and it was looking really nice. However, I didn't want to replace a blown MH ballast so I ended up moving rock and sand to a couple bio-cubes my son and I just started. Scrapped off all the zoa's and gave them away.
I guess what I'm trying to say, and not very well, is that I just cleaned what I could. Threw back in some water, and let nature take its course. While I know it really sucks the wind out of everything maybe something good will come out of it. I don't know.
Lots of good bits of information here. Best of luck and really sorry to hear about your loss.
So sorry to hear about your tank David. 
Wooo! Congratulations to you both!
:lol:
Wooo! Congratulations to you both!
:lol:
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