Old tank syndrome

[peseifert]

General question for those with tanks up and running for more than 5 years. Is there a strong reason to tear it down - new rock, complete refugium clean out, assuming things are generally working. Only wonder because I recently lost 6-7 Rbta's of long standing with no change in water parameters or lighting. No fish losses. Not sure what to do.
Thanks

 

[username in use]

Old Tank Syndrome is not really a thing. It's usually LARS which translates into Lazy A** Reefer Syndrome.

People start being complacent, start cutting corners or ignoring basic maintenance that they used to do. They put off major maintenance issues and let things slide and before you know it things are dying and looking funky.


You say you lost 6-7 RBTA's with no change in water parameters or lighting. Something had to have caused it. Did they all die at once? Was it over the course of a year? Did you change any of your husbandry practices? Add new items?

 

[Reefrunner262]

Have you changed your bulbs over the 5 year span?

 

[peseifert]

Thanks. Not sure I fit the LARS profile.
30% water change two weeks ago (150 gal) tank, lights are MaxspectRazor Razor 43" unit one year old. All media changed on regular basis. Did spike phosphates to 1.0 , but running phosban reactor and Chemipure elite to drop it.

 

[Silly clownfish]

Old Tank Syndrome is not really a thing. It's usually LARS which translates into Lazy A** Reefer Syndrome.

People start being complacent, start cutting corners or ignoring basic maintenance that they used to do. They put off major maintenance issues and let things slide and before you know it things are dying and looking funky.


You say you lost 6-7 RBTA's with no change in water parameters or lighting. Something had to have caused it. Did they all die at once? Was it over the course of a year? Did you change any of your husbandry practices? Add new items?

+1 my first reef tank was 17 year sold when I upgraded and tore it down. Yeah, I gphad hair algae and yeah it was because my maintenance slipped at times -a lot. Sometimes going a few months between WC.

You say you haven't let this happen and I applaud you for that.

how long after the first RBTA died did you find andre ove it? Could it have triggered a chain reaction?