The Aftermath Of A Reef Tank Crash

[@formallydehyde]

There's so much dead material in the rocks and sandbed at this point that will be decomposing for months if not years even if all the surface stuff is removed. The poor surviving fish and conch really should be rescued and rehomed. They deserve a better life.

[@Corie155]

This tank needs to be reset. Those fish shouldnt have to deal with such conditions. That salinity is insane. The owner needs to be educated in how to keep a reef tank, or stop..

[@williealcover7569]

Agree

[@gnarlytubeage]

You can also remove salt water and fill back up with RO water instead of making fresh salt water to correct the salinity, but I think you guys did a good job so far 🤙

[@gnarlytubeage]

Use a power head on the rocks, use and internal filter to polish the water, gravel vac water change, and rinse repeat until clean

[@jonathanreich9694]

Considering you are not a professional maintenance company you were doing the best that you can. I applaud your effort on trying to bring this tank back up to being able to support these beautiful animals.

[@DreamStateLiving]

thanks! We are still working on it little by little and hopefully will have it back up and thriving in some months!

[@roraewright9552]

Had this happen to one of my customers. Tell your friend to take this opportunity to re-rockscape the tank and start over. Salinity is the least of your problems.

[@DreamStateLiving]

Really?? What else could go wrong if they get everything back in check and a clean up crew in there?

[@robryan751]

@@DreamStateLiving Sounds like a business idea.

[@Jenisiz7]

​@DreamStateLiving Flow behind the rock....I don't see any impeller back there which is insanely bad for a tank with sand like that combined with a massive rock wall. Because sand is finer/mid combined with a massive amount of tall rock work, flow from one impeller can't be very very high to compensate as it would destroy most of the leathers leading to "dead spots" which are massive detritus build up zones. So you need either more open rock work or another impeller in the back. Super common issue that speeds up crashes insanely fast. Given the tanks size and corals I see in in there, had the rock work been more structured and open for cross currents and ato set up, wouldn't of had really many issues. I've taken this approach over my 22 years in reefing and find solid flow and an ato are the pillars to a self-sufficient tank.

[@TheSleevelessReefer]

A marineland magnum filter with the pleated cartridge helps in this situation. It will help remove all of the floating stuff from the water column

[@deciduus]

sounds like this was a solid approach, main reason to care with salinity is those fish but im sure they'll be super happy as it adjusts lower. usually it would be coral you would be careful with the swing for, and inverts, but in this case, I'd say a slow steady stop over a few days is ideal to get the fish back to proper salinity asap without sending their bodies into shock.

[@spacedoutt108]

I’d continue with a massive water change while vacuuming up all the debris. It will take a few weeks fr but you might be surprised with what you can save. At the end of the day you have the documented progress and experience.

[@killerwease1]

I'd say 100% water change honestly and slowly start to siphon detritus. It's never happened to me but I heard disturbing too much detritus is also a big no no. It's truly unfortunate what happened to that tank.

[@DreamStateLiving]

🙌🙌

[@alexsulewski2497]

I think it might be better to lower the salinity fast if the levels are toxic. Its true that rapid change in salinity is stressful on the coral but not as stressful as having to endure levels that are toxic.

[@dereks3207]

not to mention the corals that are even alive, are tough as nails anyway. i wouldn't worry about stressing stuff out.

[@DreamStateLiving]

not worried about the corals -- barely any left lol -- it is the fish I want to move slow for.

[@stevennguyen4993]

I agree, but my only experience was with a couple of damselfish, and those are bricks. Left for military training, but family did not receive the memo that salt does not evaporate. Came back to +1.028 on the swing arm. All my invertebrates died months prior, but they were having too much "waterfall sound" and were refilling with saltwater. If any fish were to survive salinities of +45, I'd place my bets that they'll respond well even to a quick relief from extremely toxic levels of salinity.

[@williealcover7569]

Yeah, fish and corals are great at dealing with rapid salinity drops. Lower it quick, that’s best. However, rapid salinity increases would be very detrimental.

[@gnarlytubeage]

You can also kink the hose in one hand and siphon with the other to make it a one person job, get a larger head on the hose and you can cover more surface area on the sand without sucking the sand up

[@DreamStateLiving]

yea its a 1 person job in my tanks.. but with this one I cant reach the bottom without being on a step and then I would have to stack the buckets 3 high if I didn't want to create a splash lol

[@damiantosd8720]

Keep updating us on this one really intrigued. Great job helping them.

[@DreamStateLiving]

Will do!

[@codylevi8049]

A three day black out would help a lot, three days lights off, one day on lights on cleared my green hair algae up fast. I had to cover the whole tank in cardboard just so no light could get in.

[@Najaxyutara]

Merci !

[@Pontiuspilate666]

That tank definitely needs more flow!

[@Arborpress]

That tank is definitely going to take a WHILE to get to back to normal. Your friend needs 2 more power heads in that system; seems like too little flow is a big culprit there.

[@DreamStateLiving]

more flow definitely sounds like a good idea!

[@JBReefer45]

I had crashed my own tank too and in I'm the long process of recovering from health concerns. Now this is allowing me to get the nitrate levels down which has been taking almost 8 months so far.

[@DreamStateLiving]

😭😭

[@oscarnienhouse3930]

dam that looks good idk how a tank that epic can get that bad

[@bladerunner4754]

Sorry but I think the tank is just done for.

[@DreamStateLiving]

hmmm challenge accepted lol

[@dclatin29]

In a case like this I would use a pump to blow everything off and at the same time use a small submersible filter with a polishing filter and let it run to clean up all the gunk. Or another is using a small piece of tubing thing a mesh bag to one end and placing that end in the sump and let the siphon go. This will act as a filter as u clean tank removing debris but not water. Pinch hose to stop flow. Also tank need more wave makers the flow is like stagnant

[@IsaacDionne]

A bit late but I had bought a probe for checking salinity when i first started, it used it correctly, but it told me that the water was off by 10 ppm to 35 when I started. I did think it was weird I needed to add more salt than instructions said. I had a tank that ran for about 5 months with fish and coral. The entire time my salinity was 45. Only lost a crab and shrimp. When I figured it out by bringing my water to shop I was shocked. They told me nothing in the tank should be alive but the fish and corals (clown, fire fish, bicolor blenny) all were fine. Torches, hammers, lps, tons of softies all fine. Anyways I did bring it down, and the way I did it took about 10 days, but basically dropped it 0.6ish ppm per day. I did this with no issues either but added tons of bacteria to make sure I wasn’t gonna crash the tank. I’m sure the bacteria that were thriving at 45 ppm are different than the ones that thrive at 35 ppm.

[@spacedoutt108]

Just continue with your experiment. We are self professed marine biologists at the end of the day. 😂 let’s get it !

[@DreamStateLiving]

🤙🤙

[@mikesbigtank6015]

Running a filter with some floss during the cleaning would help a lot!

[@DreamStateLiving]

yes for sure -- I do that on my tanks.. but they just have some sort of rock collection in the sump instead of socks 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@mikesbigtank6015]

@@DreamStateLiving Shut down the sump during cleaning and run aquaclear or similar type of filter.

[@Pontiuspilate666]

​@@DreamStateLivingsounds like a nitrate factory!

[@McReef2950]

Don’t bother trying to clean it … just reset if you’re trying to save the tank. Not worth attempting to save it.

[@Mike2k30]

I'd completely Re-Boot.

[@dclatin29]

In a case like this I would use a pump to blow everything off and at the same time use a small submersible filter with a polishing filter and let it run to clean up all the gunk. Or another is using a small piece of tubing thing a mesh bag to one end and placing that end in the sump and let the siphon go. This will act as a filter as u clean tank removing debris but not water.

[@LMC-Offroad]

Just a quick recommendation, I would calibrate that refractometer real quick with a solution or they say not to but even some R.O water and make sure it’s accurate. They can be off! Doesn’t take long to check either. Before you go making big changes.

[@DreamStateLiving]

Thanks. I always calibrate it with RO when I’m making water to make sure

[@Fifthimagez]

I’m sorry that happened 😢

[@codylevi8049]

Salinity lowering shouldn't be a issue. Ive always been told that it only implies if they go up in salinity not down but 45 is crazy regardless and its better to take it slow

[@sandycheeks7506]

I am no maintenance person but it’s got good bone just it will take a while to get to be good and you have to do everything little by little since the salt is so high

[@robinson0320]

I probably wouldve done a 10-15% water change with just RO to see where that gets me.

[@Chris58369]

Yes I would go really slow lowering the salinity especially it being that high…

[@waterbox_box_joe]

It’s a blank canvas waiting to be painted 💯🔥

[@DreamStateLiving]

!!

[@waterbox_box_joe]

@ I can’t wait to see the finished ✅ product I love me a nice reef tank 🪸💯🔥

[@6jdhd]

There is no fish in there. So you can do a 50% water change with out any affects to the corals. Remember coral acclamation is false. Your do not need to acclimate corals so you dropping salinity, fast, it's not gonna affect the corals.If you had fish and invertebraes in there, then yes.

[@Chris58369]

There is fish in there if you watched it 😅

[@DreamStateLiving]

there is fish in there..

[@6jdhd]

@DreamStateLiving didn't see the fish. I would say take them out if you can put them somewhere else. If not then just do 10% water changes every day till level drop

[@Tactical_Shrimp]

Well I feel s little better about my tank now best of luck

[@DreamStateLiving]

😂😂

[@Dan-vz9bm]

Where is the surface agitation and circulation?

[@FlavioSouza-qn6ei]

perfect

[@ou812reefing]

Please give us an update

[@DreamStateLiving]

Fishies still alive a few days later!

[@ou812reefing]

I'm sure if you do water changes and bring the salinity down slowly like you said it should be just fine

[@slaw8609]

At least you'll save the poor fish .

[@MaxelWong]

47 for salinity is WILD - that's bordering on those toxic pools near the bottom of the ocean

[@DreamStateLiving]

I know! I was triple checking like no way!!

[@ZweiSpeed]

This the worst I've personally ever seen. Wild!

[@DreamStateLiving]

😭😭

[@nicosenecaut7542]

How did iy get that far 🤦‍♂️

[@svens.1064]

Da aollte jemand ran der sich mit Salzaquarien auskennt. Das einfachste wäre alles leer zu machen und neu zu beginnen denn selbst der Riffaufbau ist nicht mehr die Art wie man ein Riffaquarium startet. Und dann muss geschaut werden was mit den ganzen Filtern und Pumpen ist. Man kann ein Aquarium schon eine ganze Zeit ohne große Aufmerksamkeit laufen lassen, dann muss die Technik aber auch funktionieren.

[@DeZoutWaterMeneer]

This tank is to messed up to clean, just get everything out that is worth saving and start with fresh rock, sand and water.

[@johnwilliams4806]

What happened?

[@DreamStateLiving]

lol opposite problem!

[@johnwilliams4806]

@ so what happened how did it happen? I had some personal problems come up and I could manage my tank and when I go back it was trashed … very sad but I’m rebuilding now with you ….

[@AvenPerdana]

Begitu banyak rotiera dalam tank mu

[@johnwilliams4806]

Crazy mine got down to 25 just go slow

[@PyrosPelagics]

what a shame, i bet a lot of money was spent on this tank. i'd love to have it if the person doesnt care for it lol, you're doing good with it though.

[@DreamStateLiving]

yuppp ton of money down the drain :( I believe they are going to try to get it back up and running. but if that plan changes, ill let you know!

[@mistersniffer6838]

Afraid to go 45 to 35?? The tanks D'ED!!!! WTF????

[@DreamStateLiving]

fish are still alive..

[@mistersniffer6838]

@@DreamStateLiving - I was talking about coral. Dropping the salinity would be a blessing for the fish.

[@SPNX]

She voice Mrs incredible?

[@JeanRibeiro]

Cruzes 😮

[@Elreydelsiding]

😂 no coral do 100% water change

[@DreamStateLiving]

there is fish.

[@Whaleydavey]

Me with near perfect water parameters and still having fish losses and this guy keeping them alive with salt density going through the roof. Doesn’t make sense. Probably his tank is aiptasia and ich free ! The high salt probably killed off all the parasites and pests. LOL

[@DreamStateLiving]

lol yea I was pretty surprised anything was still alive

[@Whaleydavey]

@@DreamStateLiving If the majority of fish and corals can survive around 38, 39 or 40 salinity and pathogens like ich and velvet can’t, you might have just discovered another way to combat these blights on the hobby.

[@nandorasmussen4512]

Para ser sincero, acho que o indivíduo que faz isso deveria ser preso ou processado por maus tratos aos animais.

[@SkunkShrimp]

Lol @ all these people stating to reset it.

[@filipinoreefer]

same happened to me at my work tank and i trashed every living creature and sold my tank and it's equipment

[@DreamStateLiving]

Dang! 😭