How long after a problem do you see bad things?

[ToddinAtl]

Hi All,

My main pump shut down about 3 weeks ago (causing a nasty flood). The pump was off for 12 hours or less. I did a water change and got things going again but now I'm experiencing a diatom bloom which is worse than when the tank originally cycled.

I was wondering if the diatom bloom is the cause of the pump going down. I realize the severity of the original "problem" probably dictates the length of time before you see the results, but does it sound reasonable that this "problem" would take this long to rear it's ugly head?

I just did another 25% change yesterday

Thanks,
Todd

btw..My conch's loving it but I don't think it can keep up

[JennM]

I've seen "post traumatic stress" in a tank, 2-3 weeks after a bad event.

Lost 2 fish in a client's tank about 14 days after their Rio skimmer pump melted its mess into the tank. At the time of the problem, I only lost a brittle star and a few hermits -- result of copper windings in the water (ewww!) Metal sponge and fast action saved the rest of the inverts and corals in that tank.

Steve Shindell told me too that he had some losses well after the fact after his crisis that you and I helped with. His tank is looking great again though!

Jenn

[Rick O]

Hi Todd and welcome to The Reef Tank.

When the pump went out did the tank temp drop significantly. What I'm thinking is that you had some dieoff in the LR that caused an increase in DOC's. I would keep doing regular water changes. It could be worse, at least it's not hair algae.

[ToddinAtl]

I'm glad Steve's tank is doing well..My mishap was no where near the disaster he had..

Rick..I think just the opposite. Although I didn't look at the temp at the time I believe it probably went up with 3 175W MH and 220 of PC over an 80 with no water circulation but I could be wrong..I was hoping the diatom outbreak wasn't going to fuel the HA but it has. My HA usually will grow in my sump only, but I've noticed some patches coming up around my overflow in the main tank...I guess it's just another thing.

Thanks folks,
Todd

[SShindell]

Jenn's right -- everything looked great and then a large die off and algae bloom 2 weeks later. Nothing like a 155 gallon water change to perk things up. Now the tank looks better than ever, best growth in the SPSs I have ever had.

The change in temp makes a lot of sense as the main culprit, although everything (salinity, pH, grabbing fish out of Todd's mouth) happened so fast.

Steve