cause for tank crash?
- Thread starter mkinley17
- Start date
mjtech12
Member
Well a lot of things can cause a tank to crash, bad water quality, parasites, not enough flow and filter setup, contamination, ive found that contamination is a big culprit of the cause of tanks crashing not making sure you have no chemicals on your hands( I.E. Soap or not washing your hands) Before you tackle your husbandry duties can cause it to crash.
mkinley17
Member
Like I said my tank is fine, and I was just wondering so to prevent such a melt down. I have had tanks for about 10 or 15 years now and never had any problems. Must be doing something right, I have a fish or two some corals that did not make it and the normal algae concerns that's about it. I just try to keep ever thing simple.
Thanks for the input.
Thanks for the input.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
To my way of thinking plant life (fw plants, marine macro and other algae) is the best stabilizing thing in our tanks.
For instance, you can get an ammonia spike but with plant life, that spike can be interrupted by the plant life consuming it preventing the crash.
And of course, the less you mess with success, the more success you have. So I don't use mechanical filters and don't do water changes.
That way there is less for me to screw up plus the tank conditions are more constant as well as stable.
my .02
PS my one tank crash was when I messed with the tank and added a toxin. LOL
For instance, you can get an ammonia spike but with plant life, that spike can be interrupted by the plant life consuming it preventing the crash.
And of course, the less you mess with success, the more success you have. So I don't use mechanical filters and don't do water changes.
That way there is less for me to screw up plus the tank conditions are more constant as well as stable.
my .02
PS my one tank crash was when I messed with the tank and added a toxin. LOL
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Major pH, salinity and temp swings can also cause tank crashes.
Sometimes someone's auto doser goes beserk and dumps a bunch of chemicals in the tank = death
Sometimes adding a burrowing fish in an established system can cause a tank crash - it can dig up pockets of hydrogen sulfide in a deep sand bed.
High nitrates can cause pH swings...
Not enough overall "balance" of organisms to waste.
Toxins
Large fish deaths
Severe neglect
Too much, too fast, too soon...
Sometimes someone's auto doser goes beserk and dumps a bunch of chemicals in the tank = death
Sometimes adding a burrowing fish in an established system can cause a tank crash - it can dig up pockets of hydrogen sulfide in a deep sand bed.
High nitrates can cause pH swings...
Not enough overall "balance" of organisms to waste.
Toxins
Large fish deaths
Severe neglect
Too much, too fast, too soon...