Tank disaster - need advice

[Donmarco]

I received an emergency call from a neighbor last week while I was out-of-town. When he arrived to take care of my 125G reef tank, the water was milky white, the coral were all dead or dying, and the water temperature was 95 degrees! Long story short - the Apex Aqua Controller malfunctioned and, for some reason, it turned the heater permanently on and the chiller permanently off. I talked my neighbor through the nested menus and reversed things.

 

Still, the damage was done. When I returned home today all the corals were dead - nothing survived. I have only 4 fish in the tank - the two larger are either hiding behind the LR or are dead behind it. The two Clownfish are desperately hanging on to their host anemone, but it looks in bad shape. Remarkably the hermit crabs and Fighting Conch seem okay (perhaps not for long).

 

I honestly don't know what to do. Should I remove all the LR? Should I scrub all the coral in saltwater to remove what I can of the coral and then return it to the tank? Should the sand (6" deep) be removed? Should I attempt to remove the anemone (I can see the foot, but it still seems attached to the rock). What should I do?

 

I'm filtering water right now, and I'll mix up saltwater tonight. Tomorrow I thought I'd change 10 gallons and then continue to change 10 gallons every day until all 125 gallons (tank) and 35 gallons (sump) are replaced. My fear is that water changes won't be enough.

 

Can anyone offer me advice?

 

This is heartbreaking because I've had the reef tank for 7 years and it's survived some of the older tank challenges. It was absolutely beautiful when I left. It tears my heart out to look at it now.

[ridetheducati]

I would do the following:

 

1.  Review and test Apex programming to identify cause;

2.  Conduct two 60 gallon water changes; while performing each water change, remove all decaying matter and dunk live rock in saltwater to dislodge detritus;

3.  Try not to overly disturb the sand bed; and

4.  Do not stress, let the system reach its equilibrium.

 

Purchase a Seachem Ammonia badge to monitor possible nitrogen cycle. 

 

Edit:  To clarify, day one and day two perform the 60 gallon water change.

Edited May 31, 2015 by ridetheducati

[Donmarco]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I reinitialized the Aqua Controller and now the whole system is off. Try as I might, I can't get the power strips to work and the controller isn't responding. The system failure was definitely caused by the controller.

 

I don't intend on spending several hundred dollars to replace the controller and I'm not able to do a 60g water change. With so little left alive, it seems best to remove everything and then to try to bag whatever still shows signs of life. Perhaps the local fish place will want the fish.

 

I suppose that this is just a sign that I shouldn't continue in this hobby.

 

I think I'll post the equipment I own on the forums and see if anyone wants to buy it. As for the Aqua controller, I'll just trash that.

 

Thanks again for the advice.

[DaveS]

These set backs are quite common. 2 big water changes and you'll be back on your way shortly. If you can not make enough water than either spend a few dollars for it at a LFS or see if someone here can help.

[davidm]

take a couple of deep breathes and take it slow.  We've all had our share of disasters - it happens.  I would echo the advice above, do some large water changes when you can, and wait a month or two to see what you can re-build from.

 

where are you located? Best, David

[gmerek2]

I heard tap water is great for emergencies.just put the fresh water chlorine remover in it? Anyone confirm? Just watch rapid temp and PH swing with large water change. I would do a 10g change every 30 min or so

Edited June 1, 2015 by gmerek2

[epleeds]

Where are u located? I normally have 100 gallons of fresh Rodi water on hand.

[dave w]

Donmarco, I've kept saltwater tanks since 1984 and had 3 major meltdowns like yours.  Each time it happened I left the hobby for at least a couple of years because it broke my heart to lose so many pretty fish when my purpose had been to extend their lives.  

 

But that was before the days of a local internet support group.  If my tank melted down again today I think I wouldn't miss a beat.  I hope you can do the same.

[JR-Tanked150]

Please tell us where you are, some of us might be able to help you.

[Donmarco]

Hello everyone. First, thanks for your kind replies and encouragement. I finally managed (I don't know how I did it) to reinitialize my Apex aqua controller. All the equipment is working, but I haven't yet reprogrammed all the outlets. That can wait.

 

I did a water change this morning (as many gallons as I could manage - 15 g) and I'll continue doing that every day until the water clears.

 

I also cleaned the protein skimmer (the smell was worse than a sewer), replaced the filter sock (I'll do that every day as well until the tank stabilizes), cleaned the tank and removed as much of the dead coral as I could (except for the star polyps and leather corals that are anchored firmly to the rock). I'll begin taking rock out tomorrow and scrubbing it submerged in fresh saltwater.

 

I discovered my Foxface hidden in the rocks. He looks okay, but he's still hiding. It emerged for a couple of minutes when I was pulling dead coral. It ate a little of the algae I dislodged, but then took cover immediately afterward. I had another large fish - I found bits and pieces of it in the water after I removed coral. I haven't yet found the majority of it, but I'll keep looking.

 

The anemone is still alive, though it's color isn't very good. The oral cavity is firmly closed. I'm thinking this might all be a good sign - at least it isn't filled with polluted water. The Clownfish are still staying close to their anemone. They wouldn't leave it this morning to eat. I'm being very sparing with the pellet food I feed them as I don't want to further pollute the tank.

 

I'm doing the best that I can. Yesterday I was really in shock after seeing the tank after returning from vacation. Now I've calmed down so I'm handling things a little better.

 

A couple of people asked where I live - I live in Charlotte Hall in Charles County, Maryland. The nearest reputable aquarium supplier is in Leonardtown. I called them about prepared saltwater, but they don't keep it in stock.

 

Anyway, I just wanted to give all you kind people a little update. I'll keep you posted.

 

Mark

[monkiboy]

glad to hear you are making progress. you can update your location of your profile as it's quite useful for other members and in times just like these. there are a few members in waldorf not too far from you at all with larger tank builds that might be able to help as well. we are a great group and you'll find always willing to motivate and help those around us.

[sen5241b]

I would do the following:

 

1.  Review and test Apex programming to identify cause;

2.  Conduct two 60 gallon water changes; while performing each water change, remove all decaying matter and dunk live rock in saltwater to dislodge detritus;

3.  Try not to overly disturb the sand bed; and

4.  Do not stress, let the system reach its equilibrium.

 

Purchase a Seachem Ammonia badge to monitor possible nitrogen cycle. 

 

Edit:  To clarify, day one and day two perform the 60 gallon water change.

 

 

STRONGLY AGREE WITH NUMBER 2

Ten 5 gallon changes is not the same as one 50 gallon change

[PatrickB]

I would give Apex a call soon, explain to them the situation. If this is a bug you could be helping others.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dangros]

Mark I had a similar issue years ago but was able to save the anem.  I was able to pull it off the rock and place it in a 5 gallon bucket containing newly made salt water, a heater, and SMALL airstone.  I did a 50% daily water chg in the bucket if I saw any stress from the anem.  It was oozing for a couple days before recovering.  Overall, it was in the bucket for about a couple weeks before I cleared out the bad water in my tank.  Initially, I had also saved the mating pair of clowns but one jumped out of the bucket.  That made me sicker, knowing that I had come so close to saving the most important part of the tank only to screw it up so absent mindedly.  IF you go this route, dont forget the to cover the containers or the fish will jump ship.  I now have a small QT tank just in case but it's not large enough to hold all of my 90g tank's creatures.

 

I also have two 30 gallon Brute trash cans in the garage - one full of fresh the other full of salt water.  I recommend doing something similar so you can clear out the screwed up water.  When I lived in an apt, I had a fairly large trash can in the bathroom with the RODI unit plumbed into the sink next to it.  

 

I would imagine the skimmer could go nuts for a while - till things settle.  I just recently had a parasite come in and wipe out all but 2 of my fish - which I need to remove in order to let the tank run fallow for 72 days.  So I know your pain.  Keep at it. 

[scott711]

you may also want to post your apex program here.  Many of us use that controller.  There may be advice that we could give you in tweeking the controller to prevent that from happening again.  IE have statements in the apex that shut things off if temp reaches x, send you emails if x, etc.  For example, during the storms yesterday I lost power.  I received an email from my controller telling me it lost power.  I was home and knew about it, but if I wasn't home, I would know about it.   You can also have it send emails/txts to other people in case you are out of town.

[dangros]

Good point Scott! Mine will email and text me when ever any critical parameters are out of range. Although I don't know how to email when the power isn't on since the router tends to go out as well.

[surf&turf]

Let us know when your ready for corals, i'll give you some free frags.

[s2nhle]

Sorry for the lost. Hope the fish are doing fine.