Rough Day to kill things...

[Reef Doctor]

I thought I'd share my bad experience with you guys, since you'd understand my pain. So yesterday I was in the midst of my water change on my 5 gal pico. Had my bucket of perfect saltwater all ready. Drained about 3/4 of my tank because I do a large water change every few months, and it has been good for my pico. Had my In-Laws in town asking tons of questions about tank maintenance, and my kids running in circles all around. I promptly filled my tank with water, and was ready to put everything away, when I noticed my cleaner shrimp acting funny. I quickly did a salinity check in the tank, and the readings were too low to even be read. The feeling of dread and "what's going on?" ran through my head as my heart started beating faster. I looked to my right at the empty bucket and realized my mistake. I had added my bucket of newly filled topoff water straight into the tank instead of my saltwater bucket which was on my left. I then went into a draining, refilling, frenzy that felt like it took an eternity trying to balance my parameters. By the time I got it rebalanced, my cleaner shrimp had died, my snails were upside down on the sand, my duncan was almost inside out, and all zoas and shrooms were so closed up you would have thought they were re-enacting that "mystical" big bang particle.

As of this morning things looked like they may have normalized. I'll find out when I get home if there's been any more casualties. Wish me luck!

 

[azkass]

With that small of a tank I would do 1/2(or less) gallon water changes weekly rather than big water changes every so often. That way it won't have such a dramatic effect as you experienced. I feel for your pain but we all go through it at one time or another. If you only offered a few casualties, consider yourself lucky.

 

[zrogst]

Ouch - trust me you're not the first to make that mistake. Always do a quick taste test on the water you're putting in and you'll get used to the taste of correctly mixed water.

That being said, all your coral should survive. RO/DI dips are part of regular dipping procedure for most softies and hardy LPS. It will (as you found out) do the most damage to inverts. I'm not sure why that is scientifically - maybe the osmotic pressure bursts certain cell walls but that's just a guess.

 

[Reef Doctor]

I usually do small water changes, but every few months, with the detritus buildup, it seems to help clear out some of the gunk with a big water change, although I'd never done such a large water change as last night, usually 1-2 gallons.

 

[Big Hank]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear about that. I've been there.

Best of luck, and I hope that everything turns out ok!

 

[SaltyTony]

Good Luck and keeping fingers crossed for you.

 

[Stolireef]

Another to add to the list of mistakes I've made or will make at some point. It really sucks when things like that happen.

I bet you come through this OK. (I was going to insert a funny quip but having made mistakes like this all too frequently, I think a heart felt good luck is more in order).

 

[Reef Doctor]

Another to add to the list of mistakes I've made or will make at some point. It really sucks when things like that happen.

I bet you come through this OK. (I was going to insert a funny quip but having made mistakes like this all too frequently, I think a heart felt good luck is more in order).

Thanks. Everything else in the tank looks like it's going to come out of it OK, except I cant find my clown goby, and I'm not sure if the "pom poms" on my pom pom crab are alive. My corals are still pretty ticked. It was a ridiculous mistake. Just have to check this off my "Stupid things I've done to my tank while trying to keep everything alive" list. Thanks again for the kind words.

 

[ademster]

at least you are a reef doctor. You can fix them up.

Seriously. I have done it, albeit on a much larger scale. 45 gallons of fresh rodi in a 375.
I thought I had poured the whole bag of salt into the barrel. well I did, but into the other barrel, without the pump in it. The one with the pump in it was just plain jane RODI

 

[zrogst]

The anemones they use as poms are probably goners. You can add another pompom crab to your tank later and he will propagate them and share them to the pomless crabs.

 

[AZBigJohn]

Add me to the list of folks who feel your pain, and wish you the best. Keep us updated.

 

[kmbyrnes]

Sorry to hear your bad luck. Keep plugging onward.