How to temporarily save water and life?

JingoFresh · 09/17/2014, 02:32 PM

I am having a legal dispute with my landlord, and may need to temporarily remove the water in my tank due to a court order, until I can show it is reversed.

Is there any way I can somehow save the water and if possible life (only peppermint shrimp, sea stars and CUC within) without having to start a cycle all over again?

Xavibear · 09/17/2014, 02:47 PM

Water does not contain beneficial bacteria. That lives in rock & sand.

Nina51 · 09/17/2014, 02:47 PM

is the dispute over you having a tank? i don't know how you could "save" water/livestock without at least setting up a temporary tank but that would make absolutely no sense.

unless, of course, you have a friend or relative where you could take everything but wow, what a pita that would be!

JingoFresh · 09/17/2014, 03:01 PM

I get the water isn't really important.

The livestock may have to die.

Can I save the sand and rocks by keeping it in a bucket with a small amount of water?

m0nkie · 09/17/2014, 03:03 PM

keep the rocks in a bucket of salt water with a heater and a fan. close the lid.. they will stay live until you can have a new tank.

you can probably sell the live stock to LFS or members here.. or give it out for charity

Xavibear · 09/17/2014, 03:04 PM

Keep a powerhead & heater with the rock & sand. Give your livestock to a local reefer or lfs.

Sk8r · 09/17/2014, 03:56 PM

Talk to your lfs, and explain they may have a permanent customer if they will save your fish and inverts for you until you can straighten out. Mine kept mine for 3 weeks in an emergency. Failing that, you can set up a 10 gallon tank you simply keep as a 'fishbowl' type, cleaned daily, frequent one gallon water changes, and meanwhile tub your rock and sand and keep a pump running to aerate it. Light is not necessary. Your inverts might survive in there.

JingoFresh · 09/17/2014, 03:58 PM

OK, thanks all.

Is the heater necessary? Temp in my apartment tends to stay around 70.

How much water? Just enough to cover the rocks?

Would I have to start adding ammonia periodically to maintain the bacteria?

Sk8r · 09/17/2014, 04:49 PM

Just water only, and just enough to cover rock. Keep it aerated, no need to feed it. 70 degrees it should be ok.

JingoFresh · 09/17/2014, 04:56 PM

OK.

I had thought the bacteria will die off if it has nothing to sustain it?

fishhuman · 09/17/2014, 06:05 PM

How long is temporarily, a few hours rock will be fine a few days no a few months might as well set up a new tank

JingoFresh · 09/17/2014, 06:06 PM

a month at least.

Why would it not be fine if I make sure it is sustained?

myofibroblast · 09/17/2014, 06:43 PM

Setting up an aquarium doesn't sound like a prudent idea at this stage, particularly a long-term investment such as a marine aquarium. Giving your livestock and live rock to the LFS sounds like a good idea until your dispute is resolved. Even then, your landlord may not renew your lease when the lease expires (given the history of legal disputes) and you will have to move again.

JingoFresh · 09/17/2014, 06:45 PM

I already have the aquarium setup and cycled.

I don't wish to get into the specifics, but my lawyer is confident that if I have to remove the water from the tank, it will be temporary.

Leaving the rocks and sand in a bucket with powerhead and monitoring should preserve the bacteria in the LR, no?

Maybe adding ammonia as necessary.

myofibroblast · 09/17/2014, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JingoFresh

I already have the aquarium setup and cycled.

I don't wish to get into the specifics, but my lawyer is confident that if I have to remove the water from the tank, it will be temporary.

Leaving the rocks and sand in a bucket with powerhead and monitoring should preserve the bacteria in the LR, no?

Maybe adding ammonia as necessary.

That should preserve the bacteria in LR, yes.

Raising fish is a wonderful hobby, but it is just a hobby. If the hobby gets you into disputes with your landlord that cannot be resolved without legal representation, I would seriously reconsider whether the hobby is that important to you at this time. Like you said, I don't know the specifics and don't need to. Just my gut reaction to your situation. Good luck with the tank and everything.

JingoFresh · 09/17/2014, 06:58 PM

I appreciate the advice, thank you.

The dispute with the landlord is larger than the tank and not focused around it (which I have had since March). They are focusing on that as a form of harassment and making false claims, which is why if I have to remove it, it will be temporary.

kurt_n · 09/17/2014, 07:28 PM

I've followed your posts for a while, and realize that this tank is just a "practice tank" for when you eventually keep an octopus. I doubt it has much beneficial bacteria in it because it's never really had any bioload. Just my opinion, but I'd honestly just break down the tank and not try to save the bacteria. Give the starfish back to the LFS and take the experience of the practice tank for just that... practice.

Just my opinion obviously, but if your landlord is taking legal action (falsely, or otherwise)... you're not staying - regardless of what your lawyer says.

JingoFresh · 09/17/2014, 07:31 PM

It has a sufficient bioload, and has a very adequate amount of bacteria. I've been getting advice from the people over at tonmo, and my tank is ready to go and to introduce an octopus into, I've just had trouble sourcing one. Which is why I don't want to lose it all..

Livestock was purchased online, so will have to try and find an LFS that will be willing to take creatures...

tzylak · 09/18/2014, 09:14 AM

Hmm, how about obtaining a sturdy trash can and putting all of the tank's contents in there. Then dragging all that into a closet for the time being.
IMHO an aerator, a circulating pump and frequent water changes might keep such system indefinitely.

09/17/2014, 02:32 PM	#1
JingoFresh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 447	How to temporarily save water and life? I am having a legal dispute with my landlord, and may need to temporarily remove the water in my tank due to a court order, until I can show it is reversed. Is there any way I can somehow save the water and if possible life (only peppermint shrimp, sea stars and CUC within) without having to start a cycle all over again?

09/17/2014, 02:47 PM	#2
Xavibear Crazy Prophet Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 1,008	Water does not contain beneficial bacteria. That lives in rock & sand. __________________ 36g bowfront Current Tank Info: Pair of Occellaris clowns, Royal gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Blue tuxedo urchin, Fire shrimp, Trochus snails, Cerith snails, Nassarius snails, Ricordea mushroom, Kenya tree, Acan brain & Frogspawn

09/17/2014, 02:47 PM	#3
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	is the dispute over you having a tank? i don't know how you could "save" water/livestock without at least setting up a temporary tank but that would make absolutely no sense. unless, of course, you have a friend or relative where you could take everything but wow, what a pita that would be! __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

09/17/2014, 03:03 PM	#5
m0nkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LA Posts: 6,264	keep the rocks in a bucket of salt water with a heater and a fan. close the lid.. they will stay live until you can have a new tank. you can probably sell the live stock to LFS or members here.. or give it out for charity __________________ 560gal in the making

09/17/2014, 03:04 PM	#6
Xavibear Crazy Prophet Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 1,008	Keep a powerhead & heater with the rock & sand. Give your livestock to a local reefer or lfs. __________________ 36g bowfront Current Tank Info: Pair of Occellaris clowns, Royal gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Blue tuxedo urchin, Fire shrimp, Trochus snails, Cerith snails, Nassarius snails, Ricordea mushroom, Kenya tree, Acan brain & Frogspawn

09/17/2014, 03:01 PM	#4
JingoFresh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 447	I get the water isn't really important. The livestock may have to die. Can I save the sand and rocks by keeping it in a bucket with a small amount of water?

09/17/2014, 03:56 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Talk to your lfs, and explain they may have a permanent customer if they will save your fish and inverts for you until you can straighten out. Mine kept mine for 3 weeks in an emergency. Failing that, you can set up a 10 gallon tank you simply keep as a 'fishbowl' type, cleaned daily, frequent one gallon water changes, and meanwhile tub your rock and sand and keep a pump running to aerate it. Light is not necessary. Your inverts might survive in there. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/17/2014, 03:58 PM	#8
JingoFresh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 447	OK, thanks all. Is the heater necessary? Temp in my apartment tends to stay around 70. How much water? Just enough to cover the rocks? Would I have to start adding ammonia periodically to maintain the bacteria?

09/17/2014, 04:49 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Just water only, and just enough to cover rock. Keep it aerated, no need to feed it. 70 degrees it should be ok. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/17/2014, 04:56 PM	#10
JingoFresh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 447	OK. I had thought the bacteria will die off if it has nothing to sustain it?

09/17/2014, 06:05 PM	#11
fishhuman Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: LA california Posts: 647	How long is temporarily, a few hours rock will be fine a few days no a few months might as well set up a new tank

09/17/2014, 06:06 PM	#12
JingoFresh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 447	a month at least. Why would it not be fine if I make sure it is sustained?

09/17/2014, 06:43 PM	#13
myofibroblast Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 88	Setting up an aquarium doesn't sound like a prudent idea at this stage, particularly a long-term investment such as a marine aquarium. Giving your livestock and live rock to the LFS sounds like a good idea until your dispute is resolved. Even then, your landlord may not renew your lease when the lease expires (given the history of legal disputes) and you will have to move again.

09/17/2014, 06:45 PM	#14
JingoFresh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 447	I already have the aquarium setup and cycled. I don't wish to get into the specifics, but my lawyer is confident that if I have to remove the water from the tank, it will be temporary. Leaving the rocks and sand in a bucket with powerhead and monitoring should preserve the bacteria in the LR, no? Maybe adding ammonia as necessary.

09/17/2014, 06:58 PM	#16
JingoFresh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 447	I appreciate the advice, thank you. The dispute with the landlord is larger than the tank and not focused around it (which I have had since March). They are focusing on that as a form of harassment and making false claims, which is why if I have to remove it, it will be temporary.

09/17/2014, 07:28 PM	#17
kurt_n Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: WA Posts: 2,592	I've followed your posts for a while, and realize that this tank is just a "practice tank" for when you eventually keep an octopus. I doubt it has much beneficial bacteria in it because it's never really had any bioload. Just my opinion, but I'd honestly just break down the tank and not try to save the bacteria. Give the starfish back to the LFS and take the experience of the practice tank for just that... practice. Just my opinion obviously, but if your landlord is taking legal action (falsely, or otherwise)... you're not staying - regardless of what your lawyer says.

09/17/2014, 07:31 PM	#18
JingoFresh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 447	It has a sufficient bioload, and has a very adequate amount of bacteria. I've been getting advice from the people over at tonmo, and my tank is ready to go and to introduce an octopus into, I've just had trouble sourcing one. Which is why I don't want to lose it all.. Livestock was purchased online, so will have to try and find an LFS that will be willing to take creatures...

09/18/2014, 09:14 AM	#19
tzylak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 457	Hmm, how about obtaining a sturdy trash can and putting all of the tank's contents in there. Then dragging all that into a closet for the time being. IMHO an aerator, a circulating pump and frequent water changes might keep such system indefinitely.