Tank crashed- need advice

[CzarQwerty]

I was hoping you guys could give me some advice.

While on vacation, the central air to my house died (even though the unit is only 2 years old). It must have died right after my friend checked on everything for the last time. The water temperature was 88 when we got home and I could not get it down quickly because the house was so hot.

I was able to rescue 3 fish and a few corals (hopefully) and put them in another tank that is downstairs in a cooler area. I'm afraid I probably lost everything else.

Does anyone have some advice about whether I can and how to salvage the live rock and sand? Or do I have to start over completely with everything inside the tank?

Thanks

 

[Mr tap water]

Hi there what makes you think your tank has crashed just because it's reached 88 temperature It does not mean it's crashed if all your equipment was still running your system should be ok ,you say you've taken all your stock out of it don't come back in Until you do this Do a 50% water change Leave for one more day and test your water for ammonia nitrites nitrates if all ok Carry on and buy a small bottle of bio Boost And adds to your tank as instructed on the bottle This will help but good bacteria back into the system after one week gradually I just got back to the tank

 

[eyesinthedrk]

i seriously doubt that temp spike crashed the system. may have killed coral and fish but that doesnt mean anything with live rock, sand, and equipment.

 

[Fizz71]

I had temperatures over 90 thanks to a 1000W heater on a crappy controller. It was a fish fry in my tank and just about everything visible died, but not 2+ years later I still have the same LR, sand, and DSB that I had before.

Just keep testing like you're cycling (ammonia, etc.) to make sure nothing is still rotting in your tank.

 

[leveldrummer]

take out anthing that you know is dead before it rots, let the tank sit and stabilize, then access the situation for what is going on.

likely this wont kill off your entire tank, but it will be a set back, and you will have to start adding stuff back slowly.

at the very worst, you might have to add more rock to seed some micro life again.

 

[CzarQwerty]

thanks everyone for your advice. i've started water changes and will continue that until the water parameters stabilize.

 

[Mr tap water]

That's good to hear you're going in right direction good luck