New to the Nano reef

[Illuminati]

That is crazy. Glad you have another on the way.

I wouldn't bother with the lights right now, they can handle being in the dark for a day. Just keep everything in the buckets with the heaters and powerheads and rebuild it in the morning.

 

[sperry]

You did the right thing with the buckets, heaters and pumps. As long as you get a new thank in the next day or so your corals should be ok without light. The thing you will need to watch out for is when you put the sand into the new tank it may start a short new cycle. Disturbing the sand bed can cause that. I would set the new tank up with sand, water from the LR bucket and LR. Let it run for a day or 2 and then test before putting your live stock in. You could use the old hood with the new ballast to keep your corals going if need be.
Better to err on the safe side.

 

[kingfisher62]

I feel wicked bad for you, that is one of my worst nightmares!
You did all the right things,though! Thank god ,you were home when it happened!
do you have heat and circulation in both buckets?
Best of luck,slukach!

 

[Illuminati]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9007698#post9007698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sperry
You did the right thing with the buckets, heaters and pumps. As long as you get a new thank in the next day or so your corals should be ok without light. The thing you will need to watch out for is when you put the sand into the new tank it may start a short new cycle. Disturbing the sand bed can cause that. I would set the new tank up with sand, water from the LR bucket and LR. Let it run for a day or 2 and then test before putting your live stock in. You could use the old hood with the new ballast to keep your corals going if need be.
Better to err on the safe side.

I love this advise........

 

[slukach]

UGH!!! A short cycle? Really? I don't know if I can keep the livestock in the bucket for that long. Is 5 gal enough for 2 clowns, a few xenias and a flower pot?

I do have heat and flow in both buckets.

What would I be testing for? Ammonia? I mean, as far as the short cycle is concerned. Plus, the buckets and cords are everywhere all over the living room. I was going to get new sand...does that mean there will definitely be another cycle?

Most of the sand is still in the cube on the floor with a little bit of water in it and NO heat or flow. I do have a 3rd bucket, but I have any more heaters or pumps.

What do you guys think?

 

[slukach]

Just found out what happened...the bottom glass has a huge crack going from the front to the back. Did I have too much rock (40-45lbs)? I had 20lb of sand and then about 19-21gal of water.

Should this have happened? was it too much weight? It is a 11/2006 tank.

 

[smketyr]

Hope this works.


Steve, OMG at least you were there when that happened!

 

[slukach]

Tom,

At least....I can't imagine if I wasn't here. It would have been a total loss. I am still waiting for the landlord to come up with a leak in his ceiling (he lives below me). But I think I caught most of it with the towels. Well, if the fish live after being stressed out like they were tonight (a crazy arm with a cup coming at them while the water drains out from below).

BTW, nice clownies. And I love the piece in the lower right corner of the pic

 

[slukach]

What is everyones input on a short cycle with using the same sand or adding new sand?

Will it definitely happen? Just a possibility? More likely with new sand or is new sand better?

 

[slukach]

sorry, last line should have read, "is new sand better?".

 

[smketyr]

You probably will have a small cycle, probably just diatom bloom.

 

[slukach]

Tom,

Can I put the livestock back in tomorrow?

And should I try to use the sand that is in a bucket with water and no heat or pump? Or should I just go out and get another 20lb from the LFS (I have to go anyway to get more saltwater)?

As always, I appreciate any and all info....

Thanks,

Steve

 

[smketyr]

That is what my 10 gallon looked like until last weekend. I totally redid the whole thing, now it is some zoas and a large leather that I got from Colin, I was hoping the clowns will host them. I have had those clowns since I started, March will be 3 years. They are the friendilest looking fish but are some MEAN suckers. They have drawn blood! I put a net in the tank when I am doing maintenance, it scares them in submission. They are also, lazy they stay where the flow is the lowest and only come out to feed and attack.

 

[greggwisniewski]

thats insane.. at least you may have caught it in time. I wonder about the weight capacity for the seals in the tank. I havent heard of any 24g with that amount of LR. May want to ask JBJ what they think.

Tom, what kind of epoxy clay are you using to hold the corals on to your LR. I bought some from the LFS and this stuff is awful... should have takin colins advice on the home depot epoxy...

As for the xenia, what do you think the best placement in the tank is.. sand bed or on LR.. closer to light ? more or less flow?

 

[greggwisniewski]

thats insane.. at least you may have caught it in time. I wonder about the weight capacity for the seals in the tank. I havent heard of any 24g with that amount of LR. May want to ask JBJ what they think.

Tom, what kind of epoxy clay are you using to hold the corals on to your LR. I bought some from the LFS and this stuff is awful... should have takin colins advice on the home depot epoxy...

As for the xenia, what do you think the best placement in the tank is.. sand bed or on LR.. closer to light ? more or less flow?

 

[Illuminati]

greg- I always had the best luck with xenia like right below the return nozzle so that's in a low flow area. I kep mine either on the sandbed attatched to a small rock or midway up.
I'll try to dig up a picture of what it looked like. Mine actually grew so big and tall the 3 stalks fell over and died. I have a little that is attatched to the back wall right below the nozzle.



Steve- I would toss the sand that you had. The no water pump isn't a problem but overnight w/o a heater is. The cold is going to kill all the bacteria in the sand. Rebuild your setup, get the sand and water in there and let it settle. I would add the livestock on Friday morning then give them some TLC.

 

[slukach]

Thanks Colin. Thats sounds good. I totally forgot I have that shipment coming from Bryan on friday as well. I will hit up the LFS tomorrow morning and then have st

 

[slukach]

Thanks Colin. Thats sounds good. I totally forgot I have that shipment coming from Bryan on friday as well. I will hit up the LFS tomorrow morning and then have st

 

[slukach]

Thanks Colin. Thats sounds good. I totally forgot I have that shipment coming from Bryan on friday as well. I will hit up the LFS tomorrow morning and then have everything ready for when the cube arrives (it is already on its way...via UPS tracking website). From there, its a) set it up, b) get everything going in it...heat, pump, etc. c) put stuff in friday morning.

If this flops, I may unfortunately throw in the towel. A shame, because I was truly enthralled by the tank. Like I said, I watched the cleaner crew for hours. Then, with the clowns, xenia and flower pot, forget about it. You couldn't drag me away from it. Ahhh, and the flower pot glowing neon green under the LED moonlights....*sigh*.....

 

[Illuminati]

Sounds like a plan. Everything should be stable and o.k. by Friday. I would check the big 3 Friday morning (Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite) and see how it's looking.






Picture time Picture time

Got my order from Ken at Sealifeflorida.com today (nano starfish guy).

Awesome stuff:

All the loose rics and mushrooms here (The reds with blue dots are from someone else)

And a FTS showing my prize additions, 2 gorgonians (Sea Fans).
One is purple and one is orange.