Think you're overfeeding? Think again!

[stupid_naso]

I just experienced about the craziest thing in keeping saltwater tank. The little boy whom my mom babysits managed to go near my aquarium, see and open the flake container. And..... POUR THE WHOLE THING INTO MY TANK .
I was at school at the time. I went home and saw my sandbed covered by flakes. Not the view you want to see, let me tell you that. I syphoned most of it out, in the same time caused me to do about 40% water change. I replaced my filter pad, and the phoz-absorb, knowing that those flakes contain phosphates.
I left it, because I have class in the afternoon and a test that I was supposed to be studying for while the whole thing happened. When I got home, my tank is green. Obviously algae bloom. The corals are retracted, well most of them are. The two fishes are swimming normally and my inverts are fine.
Just want to share my 'little' crazy experience.
And yeah, you think you're overfeeding? Think again .
stupid_naso

 

[striker]

I'd never pour the entire bottle of flake food! Only about half It's enough to make you want to build a fence around your tank to keep away the little terrors. I had the same problem with my wife overfeeding the tank but never to that extreme. I hope your tank recovers ok.

 

[stupid_naso]

HAHAHAHAHAHA... yes that will. Except I cannot be mad at this kid. He's just too much. I am actually impressed with this kid's ability to understand and mimic what I do.
See, the amazing thing is my tank has no opening except the one on the back. I have glass cover, and the back has a little hole, that's where I feed my fish from. He managed to got the whole thing in there. He always watch me feed my fish, and I guess he learned it. He's not even 2 yet.
Oh well, my tank is still green. I am a little worried because algae bloom consumes o2 in the tank. I am affraid my fish will suffocate. I already added that little blue sponge thing in there from a little pump. Basically that blue thing makes air bubbles. I know corals don't like it but I gotta do what I can to keep my fish alive right?
Anyone has any comment on what I'm doing?
stupid_naso

 

[jim672]

stupid_naso,
Sorry about your troubles. I had an algea bloom like that but I guess, essentially, I was the "little kid" I suppose I was overindulging my pets a bit by over feeding. Anyway, a bloom was the result.
I did COUNTLESS water changes.....over weeks. 5-10% about every 3 days. My fish all were fine........but I didn't have any coral at the time so you may want to take it slower than that to not negatively effect them.
Good luck!
Jim

 

[daisy]

will a protein skimmer help? Just a guess. And what about setting your powerheads to full-open on the air intake? I think I would have completely lost it. On the other hand, I have a two-year old as well, so after reading your thread, I keep the food out of reach even more than before.

 

[stupid_naso]

daisy,
See, we can always learn something good from an unfortunate experience like this. The lesson is... Kids and Aquariums don't go together .
Jim,
I am letting the tank heals itself. Thanks for the response .
stupid_naso