my tank crashed.

Well as soon as I could get everything transfered into the 90 it crashed. Im not sure what happened. I figured that things were just taking a little time getting used to the new tank and before i knew what happened pretty much everything had died.

As it stands now I've lost all fish, all sps, my clam, 3 brains, and a few other things.


Im undecided on whether or not i want to start over in the 90 gal or just sell off everything i have for the 90 gal and 45 gal and put that money towards setting up the 240 i have sitting in the garage.

I feel horrible for all the things i killed, I should have waited for the 90 gal to settle in more than did to make sure it wouldnt try to cycle.

No use looking back at this point, so im just trying to figure out what to do for the future.
 
I am so sorry for your loss. The same thing happened to me when I moved from St. Pete to Bville. Long storry. Very sad. I am glad you are able to look forward.

How can I help?
Diane
 
temp issues or just a sand movement created an ammonia spike,did you do any water changes with the transfer?
 
Heres what i did. maybe someone can figure out how things went wrong.

I had the 90 gal all cleaned and setup with the 30gal sump below which i had also cleaned.

The 45gal was barebottom so I didnt move any sand, i was also going to the run the 90 barebottom. I added 60 gal of new saltwater to the 90 gal, and and began slowing moving water back and forth between the 2 tanks to stabilize temps. Once the temps had stabilized between the two tanks i began moving the LR and water from the 45 to the 90.

the LR was out of water for maybe 5-10 seconds before it got back in water in the 90gal. So i cant see the rock having any die off in that time.

once all of the rock and most of the water was in the 90 then i moved over the fish and the lps that werent attached to rocks.

In total i had about 60gal of water from the 45gal (45 + 15gal sump) and 60gal of new salt water, which would equal a 50% water change. Nothing that should throw things out of whack.

I had a huge ammonia spike which im sure is what killed everything off. I just cant see what the source of it could have been. Unless there was something stuck the overflow in the 90 gal that i couldnt scrub off.
 
I know it sound dumb but did u check the sg from the new water?
How old was that salt ?
1st time using that salt?
sorry man...
 
First off sorry to hear of the loss. If there is anything I can do to help let me know. Anyway.... Just a shot in the dark. What did you use to clean the tank? Or what may have got into the tank while it was sitting in wait?
 
I did check the sg of the new water, but I only have a cheap hydrometer. The salt was new, and it was tropic marin pro reef. i have used that salt, but it was not what i was using in the 45.

I used dish soap and a scotchbrite pad to clean the tank. I have used that combo to clean tanks and RO cans in the past and havnt had any problems. I did make sure the tank was very well rinsed.

I dont think anything could have gotten into the tank while it was waiting, im not sure though.
 
wow, I feel your loss. The worst part is trying to figure out what happened.

Any changes in cleaning or spraying stuff near where the 90 gal was?

any of your fish or clean up crew a possible suspect for releasing anything when stressed (ex. sea cucumber, cowfish, etc.)

new or used tank - is it possible someone has cleaned it with something before you washed it out

check your scotchbrite pad - some of the new pads come with antibacterial stuff in them - I noticed that on packaging on my dishsponges

Gatorolsen
 
i did have a cuke, but it was the black sand sifting kind, i thought they werent supposed to be toxic. He had made one 2 moves before without any problems.
 
I would have to agree w/ gatorolsen on the scotchbrite...and I never use any soap just white vinager when cleaning anything on the inside of the tank. No temp change? I would have to say it was something prior to adding water and rock. But, I am not an expert here. Ted or Paul.....what do you think happened? Crystal
 
well i found 2 survivors in the 90 gal tank of death. the sandsifiting cuke and a nassasarius snail.

in the 45 gal rescue i think my weslo brain and suncoral are gonna make it. 2 cyanaria brains are questionable.

so not a total total loss but pretty close.
 
I say either it was soap residue although killing off of the corals is quite alot or maybe something did die off in the rock. How old is the rock? Maybe it was too old and did you have enough rock for your 90? But crashing as soon as transfer was over sounds like something was in the tank like soap. Fish die really fast that way. I am so sorry to hear what happned. We have all made mistakes that have made us feel terrible. Maybe it was something that was beyond your control. Even so try not to be hard on yourself as there is no turning back just moving ahead. I say go for the 240 in the garage!:fish1: :fish1: :fish1: :fish1: :fish1: :fish2:
 
I know a little hand soap under your finger nails ,when you put your hands in the tank can kill your tank . How soon after the incident did you test for Ammonia ? Ted
 
well I read the packaging for the scotchbrite pads and it has in big letters "DO NOT USE IN AQUARIUMS" so i think that is culprit. Live and learn i guess.

Thanks for the offer steve. I would be really interested to come by and look at your DIY stuff. I need to get all new equipment for the 240 and I like building things, and I dont like spending $500 for a few peices of acrylic and a pump (ie skimmer, and reactors)
 
Thanks for the offer steve. I would be really interested to come by and look at your DIY stuff. I need to get all new equipment for the 240 and I like building things, and I dont like spending $500 for a few peices of acrylic and a pump (ie skimmer, and reactors)

PM me when you want to stop by.
Steve
 
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