Worst mistake of my reefing career

[WalrusKisses]

Last night I was heating up water to do a water change with, and had the used the heater from my tank. I cranked it up to 93 to speed up the process. Got the water to 80.2 (same as my tank)m and everything went fine.

Here comes the good part. I then put the heater still set to 93 BACK IN MY TANK and went to bed. I just checked my tank like I normally do every morning and it was at 91.3. I suddenly remembered what I did and nearly had a heart attack.

I really hope I didn't just nuke my tank.

Seriously. :headwalls:

I'll keep you guys updated. Lights come on at 2 and I'll see if everything is dead.

 

[1kwksvt]

That sucks forest sorry to here... Hopefully everything is ok I would invest I a second heater to eliminate that in the future

 

[WalrusKisses]

The funny thing is I have a case of them, I was just being lazy

 

[Allmost]

ahh that sucks ! hope no significant damage has been done !

I made that mistake once too ... but for only 2 hours. now I plug my heater in a controller. so even when I change or screw around with the dial on the heater, the controller wont let it heat up too much.

 

[WalrusKisses]

Just got back from class, I set up a fan and a bag of ice and the temp is back to normal. Everything seems okay, but I'm sure I can expect some bleaching. When I had a 86 temp swing in summer, everything expelled their zooxanthellae.

We will see.

 

[WalrusKisses]

ahh that sucks ! hope no significant damage has been done !

I made that mistake once too ... but for only 2 hours. now I plug my heater in a controller. so even when I change or screw around with the dial on the heater, the controller wont let it heat up too much.

Yeah, I really want a controller, but they're too expensive for me.
Maybe if the RKL goes on super sale or I find a used one

 

[EllieSuz]

The RKL is only around $130. You could put it on your Santa list and maybe get one for Christmas.

 

[cordell]

Would turning up the heater that high really make it heat faster? Doesn't the heater run at full capability whenever it is on?

 

[WalrusKisses]

Things look generally ****ed off, frogspawns look especially bad, one is really deflated, and the other is sliming. I think the one sliming my be a goner.
The water is also pretty cloudy... Doesn't look like there is a nitrate spike, at least that's what the tests are saying. I'll probably do a five gallon water change today to be safe.

 

[WalrusKisses]

Would turning up the heater that high really make it heat faster? Doesn't the heater run at full capability whenever it is on?

Huh, I suppose you're right. I guess I just assumed that higher=faster. When in reality, it probably just keeps the water at the temp it's set to.

Salt in the wound to know that I didn't even need to crank the heater up.:sad2:

 

[WalrusKisses]

Does anyone have any advice on what to do after such a huge swing? I know one of the main issues with a temp swing is low oxygen, so I've pointed both my power heads up and am getting a really good amount of surface water moving.

I want to do everything in my power to minimize the damage done.

 

[Dragonvale]

Water changes is the best thing to do, along with taking anything out that looks bad. Is there a reason why you have your temp at 80.2? Seems high.

 

[woodnaquanut]

Would turning up the heater that high really make it heat faster? Doesn't the heater run at full capability whenever it is on?

Heaters are either on or off. There is no on-er.

Setting a heater to 93 means it won't shut off till the water is 93!

Same thing for house heaters, btw.


WK, hope all is well.

 

[WalrusKisses]

Water changes is the best thing to do, along with taking anything out that looks bad. Is there a reason why you have your temp at 80.2? Seems high.

80.2 is the lowest I can get it to in the daytime, so I have the heater switch on at night to keep it there. Now that it's getting cooler, I could probably run it lower. Should I? I've read that mid eighties aren't awful if kept stable.

It used to stay at 84 during the summer...

And I'm setting for a 5 gallon waterchange as I type. So far a frogspawn has died. and the other one isn't looking too great either. SPS have polyps closed except for montis, zoas look good, mushrooms are still a little deflated, chalice doesn't look so hot, acans look "meh."

 

[Dragonvale]

Do you run your lights at night? Any fans? I've seen tanks kept at a higher temps but their generally in hotter regions. I'd just keep an eye on an other melting corals. I have another piece of purple haze if you loose it. It maybe smaller though.

 

[WalrusKisses]

A 10 watt underwater halogen for my fuge, fans kick on only during my day time light cycle.

The purple haze looks okay, but the second frog spawn succumbed.

 

[bru65]

Heaters are either on or off. There is no on-er.

Setting a heater to 93 means it won't shut off till the water is 93!

Same thing for house heaters, btw.


WK, hope all is well.

+1. Aquarium heaters are very basic on general. They do not have rheostats like a coil stove element.

 

[WalrusKisses]

Completed a 5 gallon water change, water is still a little milky/cloudy. If it's not better tomorrow I may do a 2 gallon change. Does anyone have some carbon they'd be willing to lend me a scoop of?

 

[d_carloo]

I got some carbon if you need some Ill be in santa rosa all day tomorrow let me know what time is good for you pm you my number

 

[Ssteve]

Update? How's the fish?