Reef Tank Crash - Advice needed...

sleeri · 07-26-2005, 12:38 PM

I recently got back from a 4 day vacation. I was shocked to find that my reef tank had crashed. I lost a colt coral and all of my xenia. They appear to have just melted away. My mushrooms are tightly bunched up and my starpolyps won't come out. I didn't lose any fish and only one Astrea snail appears to be struggling. My tank was doing great before I left.

I suspect the tank temp is to blame. Apparently we reached some pretty high temps here in the metro area while I was gone. Unfortunately, I forgot to leave my AC on. The temp in my tank was at 95 degrees when I returned. Could a high tank temp do this much damage or should I be looking for another source?

Last night I began a series of planned water changes for this week. Any other recovery advice?

Thanks for your help

the_colonel · 07-26-2005, 12:39 PM

It was the temp, I'm supprised your fish made it. Has it cooled down yet?

sleeri · 07-26-2005, 12:44 PM

I cranked up the cetral AC and got it down to normal about 24 hours later. I don't have a chiller so my tank temp hovers around 81-84 degrees during the summer months. That's at least a 20 degree temp spike.

I've only got 2 clowns (tank raised) and a royal gramma. They lived up to their repurtations as hardy fish.

Clownnut · 07-26-2005, 01:03 PM

hey buddy. same here temp kill some of my corals 2.
xenia's dead can effect the water. watch them closely. do so,ewater change will be a good idea.
GL

Loverotties · 07-26-2005, 01:15 PM

Water changes and change some carbon also will help but the high temp probly did it in the first place.

redlion4 · 07-26-2005, 03:32 PM

High temp certainly the cause. Very surprised anything lived 95°, especially the fish!

Would have advised a slower temp change back to normal. Moving from 95° to 82ish° in 24 hours is as extreme as the temp spike itself. Watch the surviving fish and/or corals closely and be prepared to quarantine any that show signs of disease/sickness. But heck, if they survived 95°, they must be tough!

Water changes, carbon, and heavy skimming will help clear the "polution" from the water.

Superman · 07-26-2005, 08:39 PM

If your tank temp is "hovering around 81-84" during the summer months, it may be a good idea to get a fan on the tank, so that your heater can then determine the stability of your tanks temp. Evaporative cooling is a very cheap way of getting your tank temp down to where it is supposed to. If you could give us a run down on your tanks specs I'm sure we could give you even more great advice.

FastFish720 · 07-26-2005, 08:49 PM

Get an automation system like a controller, it will help prevent overheating from your heater, and it can turn on your fans when it gets too hot.

sleeri · 07-27-2005, 01:52 PM

I've go a standard 55 gal tank (12in x 48in I believe) with a 12 gallon fuge (holds 10 gals of water) and 20 gallon sump (holds 10 gals of water). Fuge and sump are under tank. What kind of fan(s) would you recommend? Where would you recommend fitting the fan into my system?

Shorty5198 · 07-27-2005, 01:56 PM

get the fans on the lights you got. I have a clamp fan on my MH and it got unplugged by accident one day. My tank temp spiked 5 degrees. The fans are a big help. you can find them at any hardware store and they are really versitile. They usually have flexible necks so u can point'm wherever.