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The death of the Alpha Tank

post #1 of 10
1/5/12 at 11:12am
Thread Starter 

Well after 10 years of running Saltwater, My reef tank has completely died.

 

It all started with my 125 gallon reef tank cracking when i moved it off the stand and into the bed of my truck.

 

All the corals i put into plastic totes, Fish i put into bags, and all equipment into more totes.

 

I bought a 330 gallon water tank and stored about 90% of the water.

 

On the way down, to SC where  i moved to, My son decided to unplug the heater to the totes with corals.

 

I lost every coral besides a Brain Coral.

 

I lost every fish.

 

The temperature in the water got to 40degrees. ( ice cold ).

 

I dont know, if maybe this is my calling to quit the hobby, or this is just the way it is. I am discouraged alittle because i have spent alot of money on the corals and fish.

 

Seeing that the brain coral is still alive i did, however purchase a 90 gallon USED tank from my lfs. and put all my rock, and put the brain in there under some T5 lighting.   The tank water is almost clear.. from using new substrate etc.

 

 

What was a beutiful tank is now a glob of rock and brain coral.

 

 

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post #2 of 10
1/5/12 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 

I have a rock with Green star pollops on them, The rock is still "Purple" where the green star pollups where, However, it has not shown any signs of them coming back out?  Do you know if they could be in hibernation. also. Didnt loose a few mushrooms,   My 19" elegance coral is gone though. :(

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post #3 of 10
1/5/12 at 12:31pm

That's awful!! So sorry to hear this!

 

If the purple mat is still intact on the GSP, they might still make a come back, that's a really hardy coral.

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post #4 of 10
1/5/12 at 1:28pm

This is heart-breaking, very sorry to hear this.

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post #5 of 10
1/5/12 at 1:34pm

OH WOW.....I am so sorry

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post #6 of 10
1/5/12 at 3:56pm



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by alpha View Post

Well after 10 years of running Saltwater, My reef tank has completely died.

 

It all started with my 125 gallon reef tank cracking when i moved it off the stand and into the bed of my truck.

 

All the corals i put into plastic totes, Fish i put into bags, and all equipment into more totes.

 

I bought a 330 gallon water tank and stored about 90% of the water.

 

On the way down, to SC where  i moved to, My son decided to unplug the heater to the totes with corals.

 

I lost every coral besides a Brain Coral.

 

I lost every fish.

 

The temperature in the water got to 40degrees. ( ice cold ).

 

I dont know, if maybe this is my calling to quit the hobby, or this is just the way it is. I am discouraged alittle because i have spent alot of money on the corals and fish.

 

Seeing that the brain coral is still alive i did, however purchase a 90 gallon USED tank from my lfs. and put all my rock, and put the brain in there under some T5 lighting.   The tank water is almost clear.. from using new substrate etc.

 

 

What was a beutiful tank is now a glob of rock and brain coral.

 

 


How sad....I lost about $1500.00 in coral when my heater broke and zapped my tank. It has been 2 years and I haven't really replaced anything, just kept the tank running for the sake of the survivors. Now I'm getting set to rebuild the reef in earnest.  You were doing a big move and things went bad. After 10 years can you really let go? I know I couldn't.

 

For me, having the SW tank was never the money. I love the hobby and a redo is an oppertunity to do it again and maybe better than before. I did set up a 56g seahorse tank in between going back to rebuilding the reef tank...like I said, I have just kept it running with what survived.

 

So if you still love the hobby, take a deep breath and begin again. Try not to think of the money spent and lost...it will only make you cry. You didn't crash the tank, you were successful...the move was the killer.

 

Oh and +1 on the GSPs mine came back out like nothing was ever wrong...but it took weeks...they were among the survivors.
 

 

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post #7 of 10
1/5/12 at 6:12pm
Thread Starter 

Im not going to give up the hobby...  Just going to try getting frags and work on building the colonys back i think.  Just taking it little by little again

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post #8 of 10
1/6/12 at 6:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by alpha View Post

Im not going to give up the hobby...  Just going to try getting frags and work on building the colonys back i think.  Just taking it little by little again

 

 

I have to ask, why did you purchase a used 90g if you had a 330g already?  Don't you want to set up the larger tank anymore?

 

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post #9 of 10
1/6/12 at 6:31am

Sorry for your losses. Moving can be tough. 

 

I think when I have to mov any amount of distance, I will sell off my tanks inhabitants and start fresh. 

 

 

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post #10 of 10
1/7/12 at 6:20pm

Sorry for your losses.

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