close call

[Tynan Rasmus]

I came home last night from my trip to TO which I left to on Saturday morning. I figured 2 days was not bad to shut down my pump for. I left 3 MJ 1200s running for flow, but I guess I should have attached an air hose to a couple of them. When I got home all my fish were dying. I mean how do they ship them?? are they not in bags for at least 2 days??

When I arrived home, they were all discolored, my black clowns were orange, my orange clowns were swimming upside down and sideways, the black stripes on my sailfin tang were gone, and all of them were huddled together in the top corner of the tank gasping for air. My guess is lack of oxygen. Anyhow, I fired up the pump and within about 30 minutes all of thier color turned back to normal. By morning, they were eating again and happy as ever......... and to think, we almost stayed one extra night!!!

[bubblybabs]

Whew! I'm glad you came home when you did! You had pumps running yet they were gasping? No movement of the water at the top?

Babs

[motorslave]

Was it the return pump you shut down? Its best to leave the system running all the time, more than likely it was lack of oxygen.

[Twitterbait]

yes, if you are shutting down for a trip then make your tank Hypo so it will hold o2 better. If you have coral then take it to 1.015 or so.

[jenajet]

Just wondering why did you turn of the pump? I'll admit if I leave for a few days I dial my skimmer way back so it barely fills the collection cup but I never turn off pumps. Got me stumped here. Glad everyone perked up for ya.

[Tynan Rasmus]

Yep, it was just the return pump I shut down. I shut it down because I do not have an auto topoff system and I was not there to top it. My pump would have run dry otherwise. I really didnt think that over one night would be a problem, guess I learned from this one. I am going to order the ultralife topoff switch from a LFS tomorrow.