So what happened at Stingray Bay?

[mhurley]

How the heck can 15 minutes without the oxygen system crash the whole thing and kill 54 rays? 15 minutes?? Am I crazy to think that if this is the story, that that system was severely overstocked?

Absolutely tragic day.

I'm sure folks here know people that work/volunteer there.

 

[Volcano1]

Isn't this the second time for this type of tragedy ?

 

[mhurley]

Isn't this the second time for this type of tragedy ?

yes

 

[DopeCantWin]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...of-tank-at-brookfield-zoo-20150712-story.html

Sounds like the oxygen levels were low for a while, but then it took 20 minutes to restore them, although at that point it was too late.

 

[ostrow]

Mike no details yet.

My wild speculation:

1. System critically overpopulated.
2. Main oxygenation from massive ETSS skimmer (IIRC when I asked an employee it is 10' tall and 2' diameter).
3. Pump on skimmer failed.
4. O2 was restored 20min after DISCOVERED but was bad overnight.

All rampant speculation based on the setup as I knew it 3yrs ago.

 

[mhurley]

Mike no details yet.

My wild speculation:

1. System critically overpopulated.
2. Main oxygenation from massive ETSS skimmer (IIRC when I asked an employee it is 10' tall and 2' diameter).
3. Pump on skimmer failed.

This is my main point Joel....That skimmer is 10' tall and probably 3' wide.
That thing alone should be able to maintain O2 content.

This is a FB comment from the zoo from yesterday regarding testing.

"There is also an automated aqua-guard system that alerts the manager in the event of a change in the water quality. The aqua-guard tests the life support system every 15 minutes and checks for the temperature, pH levels, oxidation reduction potential, ozone level, and dissolved oxygen. Staff did respond immediately, but the condition of the stingrays was irreversible in even that short amount of time. Our staff is currently analyzing the life support system to determine the exact cause of the malfunction, though."

 

[DopeCantWin]

You'd think the pH would drop to tell them they have a major problem, that would be the first alarm I'd set.

 

[ostrow]

This is my main point Joel....That skimmer is 10' tall and probably 3' wide.
That thing alone should be able to maintain O2 content.

This is a FB comment from the zoo from yesterday regarding testing.

"There is also an automated aqua-guard system that alerts the manager in the event of a change in the water quality. The aqua-guard tests the life support system every 15 minutes and checks for the temperature, pH levels, oxidation reduction potential, ozone level, and dissolved oxygen. Staff did respond immediately, but the condition of the stingrays was irreversible in even that short amount of time. Our staff is currently analyzing the life support system to determine the exact cause of the malfunction, though."

I remember going with Connor when he was like 6, and we both ignored the rays and drooled over the skimmer. They let us behind the fence to marvel at it.

 

[DopeCantWin]

I remember going with Connor when he was like 6, and we both ignored the rays and drooled over the skimmer. They let us behind the fence to marvel at it.

I know how you feel. I use to stare more at my sump workings than my corals. Not just the skimmer, but I liked looking at all the pods crawling around on the Chaeto.

 

[gg1111]

I was there on friday when they were working in that shed/room with the giant skimmer. Didnt know the rays died . They where working very Hard with some sort of clog.

 

[ostrow]

I was there on friday when they were working in that shed/room with the giant skimmer. Didnt know the rays died . They where working very Hard with some sort of clog.

That sort of squares with my thinking on the cause .... that skimmer somehow failed, which with that model means the pump feeding it failed.

 

[mhurley]

They where working very Hard with some sort of clog.

Bingo.....

 

[gg1111]

There where these 3 foot tall round pumps/pod looking things?? about 4 of them total, and they opened one and where working on it. Maybe it clogged up. The skimmer was skimming fine. Could not believe How big it was!

 

[gg1111]

But 20 minutes down time?? I dunno about that?

 

[e55driver]

Last time I saw the skimmer is was a huge R2K 10 feet tall by at least three feet wide. Keep in mind that was 6 years or so ago.

 

[SPS Galore]

This at Brookfield or the shed? Someone mentioned shed, but I believe it was at Brookfield..... If it was at the shed, I can get some inside... I have a friend that works at the wild reef and the frag tank there.

 

[ostrow]

Brookfield Zoo