Power failure - Quick easy question! Help

Johny123 · 03/11/2018, 03:16 PM

So I had a power failure in my bio cube 16Gallon...and after an amazing year almost everything died. It has been 5 days, I have drained the water and all that is left is live rock and sand. I threw out all coral and dead fish.

1) When I refill, can I just dump in water and salt...I am cycling tank all over again. or is it essential that I premix and check salinity in a bucket first?

2) Will my tank ever be the same. I was told by the guy at the fish store, that after a month of cycling "nature will work itself out." but to think of all the snails, and starfish, and little critters that died in there...will I be able to get my tank back up and running. I NEVER had a trace of ammonia or nitrate, I was METICULOUS. I had corals, and three fish. I was able to save one and have a quarantine tank setup.

My main question is can I just dump in salt and water, or do I have to premix? Any other suggestions? Time to rebuild.

Indymann99 · 03/11/2018, 03:28 PM

You should premix the water and salt prior to filling the tank. Your tank WILL have to cycle again depending on how much dieoff has happened.

Keep the faith and take time.

Might want to look into a generator/batt bkup system for the future.

Johny123 · 03/11/2018, 03:44 PM

will it be the same!!! There is so much die off, little critters. things that came in on the live rock

Johny123 · 03/11/2018, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indymann99

You should premix the water and salt prior to filling the tank. Your tank WILL have to cycle again depending on how much dieoff has happened.

Keep the faith and take time.

Might want to look into a generator/batt bkup system for the future.

100% dieoff. 5 days of below 50degree temperature. No circulation. Dead stuff everywhere.

carrots · 03/11/2018, 05:51 PM

I just made it through 7 days without power due to the snow storms that hit the North East. I learned my lesson from previous storms and got a $300. generator. Money well spent. In the past when I lost a 20 gallon and a 55 gallon to an outage, I broke down the smaller tank and left the bigger one to balance out on it's own. The bigger one was cloudy and smelly for a week or so but then cleared up and was as good as before in a shorter time than I expected. There were pods and worms that survived the 53 degree temps. and I'm sure they helped get the tank balanced again. You will have your mature tank back quicker this way then if you start over with a complete breakdown.

Johny123 · 03/11/2018, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrots

I just made it through 7 days without power due to the snow storms that hit the North East. I learned my lesson from previous storms and got a $300. generator. Money well spent. In the past when I lost a 20 gallon and a 55 gallon to an outage, I broke down the smaller tank and left the bigger one to balance out on it's own. The bigger one was cloudy and smelly for a week or so but then cleared up and was as good as before in a shorter time than I expected. There were pods and worms that survived the 53 degree temps. and I'm sure they helped get the tank balanced again. You will have your mature tank back quicker this way then if you start over with a complete breakdown.

Interesting. I need to wait two more days to get a heater, I had to use the heater to setup a small quarantine tank for the one clownfish that survived the frigid temperature. two days later he is doing great.

Any advice on the quarantine tank? its 10 gallon, I just added saltwater and a filter to stir up the water. and the heater. What else do I do? Never had a quarantine tank, but obviously can't ad Nemo back to the main tank for a while. It's AMAZING he survived. cool story.

Joe0813 · 03/11/2018, 06:03 PM

I would premix it before you put it in the tank... you would be surprised at the amount of life you might still have on that rock.

Indymann99 · 03/11/2018, 06:06 PM

You need to be ready to do DAILY WATER CHANGES... your QT is NOT cycled. You should get an "ammonia badge" available at any LFS. Shows you Ammonia levels and is VERY helpful in QT.

Johny123 · 03/11/2018, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indymann99

You need to be ready to do DAILY WATER CHANGES... your QT is NOT cycled. You should get an "ammonia badge" available at any LFS. Shows you Ammonia levels and is VERY helpful in QT.

oy. this is crazy. Daily? There is a sea urchin in there that survived too. No sand or rock

03/11/2018, 03:16 PM	#1
Johny123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 81	Power failure - Quick easy question! Help So I had a power failure in my bio cube 16Gallon...and after an amazing year almost everything died. It has been 5 days, I have drained the water and all that is left is live rock and sand. I threw out all coral and dead fish. 1) When I refill, can I just dump in water and salt...I am cycling tank all over again. or is it essential that I premix and check salinity in a bucket first? 2) Will my tank ever be the same. I was told by the guy at the fish store, that after a month of cycling "nature will work itself out." but to think of all the snails, and starfish, and little critters that died in there...will I be able to get my tank back up and running. I NEVER had a trace of ammonia or nitrate, I was METICULOUS. I had corals, and three fish. I was able to save one and have a quarantine tank setup. My main question is can I just dump in salt and water, or do I have to premix? Any other suggestions? Time to rebuild.

03/11/2018, 03:28 PM	#2
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	You should premix the water and salt prior to filling the tank. Your tank WILL have to cycle again depending on how much dieoff has happened. Keep the faith and take time. Might want to look into a generator/batt bkup system for the future. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

03/11/2018, 06:03 PM	#7
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I would premix it before you put it in the tank... you would be surprised at the amount of life you might still have on that rock. __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

03/11/2018, 06:06 PM	#8
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	You need to be ready to do DAILY WATER CHANGES... your QT is NOT cycled. You should get an "ammonia badge" available at any LFS. Shows you Ammonia levels and is VERY helpful in QT. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

03/11/2018, 03:44 PM	#3
Johny123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 81	will it be the same!!! There is so much die off, little critters. things that came in on the live rock

03/11/2018, 05:51 PM	#5
carrots Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Mendham, NJ USA Posts: 395	I just made it through 7 days without power due to the snow storms that hit the North East. I learned my lesson from previous storms and got a $300. generator. Money well spent. In the past when I lost a 20 gallon and a 55 gallon to an outage, I broke down the smaller tank and left the bigger one to balance out on it's own. The bigger one was cloudy and smelly for a week or so but then cleared up and was as good as before in a shorter time than I expected. There were pods and worms that survived the 53 degree temps. and I'm sure they helped get the tank balanced again. You will have your mature tank back quicker this way then if you start over with a complete breakdown.