After The Crash- Some Observations

carfac · 09/29/2007, 09:20 AM

As some of you know (because I posted here enough then!), I had a very bad tank crash in early August. I lost a LOT of friends- fish, crabs, all my snails, green Monti, Clam, and more. It was a tough fight getting the amonia back down- I was doing 10 gal water changes daily, and seeing no results- VERY disheartening.

Things finally seemed to get back together after about 10 days of that. I got a Remora, and that seemed to help things along, too.

Once I got the amonia down, I waited a good month to do ANYTHING. Mid Sept, I finally got brave enough to put more snails and crabs back in. Last week, I replaced the clam.

One of my survivors (happily) was my anenome, and the pair clowns that host in him.

One thing I have noticed after the crash is that the anenome is THRIVING. Not just back, but back with a vengeance! He was 5-7 inches wide before. Now, he spreads out almost a foot (which is a heck of a lot in a 24 gal!)

I have also noticed my new clam seems particularly well adjusted. His colors are very vibrant, and his "mouth" (the fleshy part outside the shell) is also bigger than the old one, and looks very good.

I had a brain that also survived. His fleshy parts are not the pretty pure pink they once were, I think he is still recovering a bit. But he is out, and larger than ever.

This crash happened about 1 year into my tank (actually, 1 year, 2 months). I have noticed a lot of other people seem to have a "one-year-crash". I wonder if it is just another part of growing a tank, just particularly bad in my case.

I also wonder if it is maybe good for the tank in some ways. I am not sure if it was the crash, or adding the remora, but my tank seems much healthier and cleaner after the crash.

Or maybe I am just trying to read too much into it at all.

Also, I had a question. I noticed yesterday some white flecks on the flesh of my brain. Sort of like the flesh that flecks off you when you get a sunburn. They seemed to be gone in a day. Anyone have any thoughts?

Dave

paultbrown · 09/29/2007, 12:03 PM

Two things (maybe three) contribute to your better water quality.
1) Remora.
2) Water changes.
3) Less detritus.

Once your ammonia came down you had good water quality (low nitrates and phosphates) from all the water changes. Also all the proper amounts of trace elements and no imbalances.

The Remora helps to hold the water quality for longer.

If you stirred up the sand and cleaned out detritus on the rocks etc that helps too. The crash was only the trigger. You can do all these things to improve water quality anyway. The crash just prompted you.

murfman · 09/29/2007, 12:32 PM

The anemonea might be so big because he is hungry. Try target feeding him and see if he shrinks up a little.

09/29/2007, 09:20 AM	#1
carfac Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 362	After The Crash- Some Observations As some of you know (because I posted here enough then!), I had a very bad tank crash in early August. I lost a LOT of friends- fish, crabs, all my snails, green Monti, Clam, and more. It was a tough fight getting the amonia back down- I was doing 10 gal water changes daily, and seeing no results- VERY disheartening. Things finally seemed to get back together after about 10 days of that. I got a Remora, and that seemed to help things along, too. Once I got the amonia down, I waited a good month to do ANYTHING. Mid Sept, I finally got brave enough to put more snails and crabs back in. Last week, I replaced the clam. One of my survivors (happily) was my anenome, and the pair clowns that host in him. One thing I have noticed after the crash is that the anenome is THRIVING. Not just back, but back with a vengeance! He was 5-7 inches wide before. Now, he spreads out almost a foot (which is a heck of a lot in a 24 gal!) I have also noticed my new clam seems particularly well adjusted. His colors are very vibrant, and his "mouth" (the fleshy part outside the shell) is also bigger than the old one, and looks very good. I had a brain that also survived. His fleshy parts are not the pretty pure pink they once were, I think he is still recovering a bit. But he is out, and larger than ever. This crash happened about 1 year into my tank (actually, 1 year, 2 months). I have noticed a lot of other people seem to have a "one-year-crash". I wonder if it is just another part of growing a tank, just particularly bad in my case. I also wonder if it is maybe good for the tank in some ways. I am not sure if it was the crash, or adding the remora, but my tank seems much healthier and cleaner after the crash. Or maybe I am just trying to read too much into it at all. Also, I had a question. I noticed yesterday some white flecks on the flesh of my brain. Sort of like the flesh that flecks off you when you get a sunburn. They seemed to be gone in a day. Anyone have any thoughts? Dave

09/29/2007, 12:03 PM	#2
paultbrown Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1	Two things (maybe three) contribute to your better water quality. 1) Remora. 2) Water changes. 3) Less detritus. Once your ammonia came down you had good water quality (low nitrates and phosphates) from all the water changes. Also all the proper amounts of trace elements and no imbalances. The Remora helps to hold the water quality for longer. If you stirred up the sand and cleaned out detritus on the rocks etc that helps too. The crash was only the trigger. You can do all these things to improve water quality anyway. The crash just prompted you.

09/29/2007, 12:32 PM	#3
murfman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 4,670	The anemonea might be so big because he is hungry. Try target feeding him and see if he shrinks up a little.