House flooded- Need help choosing temporary tank

Ser Davos · 08/27/2016, 09:51 AM

So our house flooded (I'm from Lafayette, LA) in the recent storms and I'm just getting to moving my 125g from downstairs to a temporary tank upstairs. I saved all my fish and coral by using a generator to run a powerhead to aerate water while the power was out for 2.5 days.

I have a purple tang (4-4.5 inches maybe), 2 clownfish, a firefish, a watchman goby, and a cleaner ship. Also a some SPS and a few LPS that are all doing fine.

The only thing I have on hand is a 56 gallon column style tank. It may be 1-2 months before I can get them set back up in the 125.

Will the 56 work temporarily? I know my tang won't be happy about that, but compared to a lot of tangs I've seen he isn't the most active swimmer.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

fcmatt · 08/27/2016, 10:02 AM

I think in this case just saving the fish was awesome and getting a temp tank of any reasonable size is fine. I would not spend a ton of money for a 2 month setup. I would use whatever I already own.

Ser Davos · 08/27/2016, 10:11 AM

Thanks for the response. I guess I'll start the move into the 56 then.

Yeah you should I have seen it, I had extension cords running over 1 foot of water... not the safest thing by far but we saved them! We didn't leave here the entire time for that reason, stayed upstairs during it.

billdogg · 08/27/2016, 12:17 PM

I think they'll be (unhappy but) fine also.

Best of luck to you!

Sk8r · 08/27/2016, 12:36 PM

Power to you, in every sense. If you have anything to spare and can lay hands on a cone-type skimmer for that tank, it might help oxygenate that tank enough to keep the tangs happy: I'm just guessing, but I think that the foam-types have to provide more oxygenation than others, and tangs need that, particularly. Failing that, maybe a bubbler in the sump that's crazy-active. I'd also suggest keeping the temperature more like 78 than 80, again, because cooler water holds more oxygen. Aside from aggression, that's going to be the biggest problem in the smaller tank. If you do get aggression, install an eggcrate barrier: it won't impede water flow. You have my total sympathy.

Grayhead · 08/27/2016, 01:32 PM

Stock tank works wonders. Large sizes available

Rebekwl · 08/27/2016, 02:20 PM

If you have issues with the lack of space in the 56 gallon, you could always get one of those 100 gallon brute troughs. They're pretty inexpensive at tractor supply (somewhere between $60-$80) and would offer a lot more space

Ron Reefman · 08/28/2016, 05:23 AM

Going through the same kind of issue (tank disaster, not the flood... good luck). I have more fish than I care to think about from my 180g and 75g tanksthat leaked and are now in a shallow 65g tank. They have been in there for 3 weeks now. I have been using mostly blue leds, very little white for short periods of time before and while I feed, which is every other day. So far so good.

Best of luck in your recovery.

d2mini · 08/28/2016, 06:37 AM

Just wanted to say sorry about your house!
Hope you get fixed up soon.

Reel North · 08/28/2016, 08:26 AM

That's awful but you saved me which is awesome! Get a big S for the front of your reefin T

The stock bin is a great idea, and one I have used when curing rock, or changing rock etc etc. They are really cheap, and a 100g would be perfect. You could literally put your skimmer on a stand in the stock tub and use powerheads etc. You can even put all your rock in there which will keep IT alive.

Ugly, but will work so well for you and take the pressure off rushing to setup the 55 again.

As an added bonus, you will always have it just in case.

Dkuhlmann · 08/28/2016, 04:18 PM

I agree with getting a stock tank. Cheap and you will still find uses for it after you get your new tank up and running.

davocean · 08/28/2016, 04:23 PM

I have used Brute trash cans to hold rock for long periods, sometimes fish and corals but you need to rig a light, they are something you can and will always use.
Sorry to hear about your situation

kmbyrnes · 08/29/2016, 06:15 AM

Sorry about the flooding but congrats on being able to save your fish.
They may not be overly happy, but it's better than the alternative.

Ser Davos · 08/29/2016, 07:07 AM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions/condolences. I setup the 56 for now and moved everything into it as a temporary measure. Everything seems happy so far. I will probably look into a 100 gallon stock tank soon and move everything into that.

Dkuhlmann · 08/29/2016, 05:45 PM

08/27/2016, 09:51 AM	#1
Ser Davos Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 46	House flooded- Need help choosing temporary tank So our house flooded (I'm from Lafayette, LA) in the recent storms and I'm just getting to moving my 125g from downstairs to a temporary tank upstairs. I saved all my fish and coral by using a generator to run a powerhead to aerate water while the power was out for 2.5 days. I have a purple tang (4-4.5 inches maybe), 2 clownfish, a firefish, a watchman goby, and a cleaner ship. Also a some SPS and a few LPS that are all doing fine. The only thing I have on hand is a 56 gallon column style tank. It may be 1-2 months before I can get them set back up in the 125. Will the 56 work temporarily? I know my tang won't be happy about that, but compared to a lot of tangs I've seen he isn't the most active swimmer. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

08/27/2016, 12:17 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I think they'll be (unhappy but) fine also. Best of luck to you! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/27/2016, 12:36 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Power to you, in every sense. If you have anything to spare and can lay hands on a cone-type skimmer for that tank, it might help oxygenate that tank enough to keep the tangs happy: I'm just guessing, but I think that the foam-types have to provide more oxygenation than others, and tangs need that, particularly. Failing that, maybe a bubbler in the sump that's crazy-active. I'd also suggest keeping the temperature more like 78 than 80, again, because cooler water holds more oxygen. Aside from aggression, that's going to be the biggest problem in the smaller tank. If you do get aggression, install an eggcrate barrier: it won't impede water flow. You have my total sympathy. __________________ 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%.

08/28/2016, 05:23 AM	#8
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Going through the same kind of issue (tank disaster, not the flood... good luck). I have more fish than I care to think about from my 180g and 75g tanksthat leaked and are now in a shallow 65g tank. They have been in there for 3 weeks now. I have been using mostly blue leds, very little white for short periods of time before and while I feed, which is every other day. So far so good. Best of luck in your recovery. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

08/28/2016, 06:37 AM	#9
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Just wanted to say sorry about your house! Hope you get fixed up soon. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

08/27/2016, 10:02 AM	#2
fcmatt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NH Posts: 850	I think in this case just saving the fish was awesome and getting a temp tank of any reasonable size is fine. I would not spend a ton of money for a 2 month setup. I would use whatever I already own.

08/27/2016, 10:11 AM	#3
Ser Davos Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 46	Thanks for the response. I guess I'll start the move into the 56 then. Yeah you should I have seen it, I had extension cords running over 1 foot of water... not the safest thing by far but we saved them! We didn't leave here the entire time for that reason, stayed upstairs during it.

08/27/2016, 01:32 PM	#6
Grayhead Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 581	Stock tank works wonders. Large sizes available

08/27/2016, 02:20 PM	#7
Rebekwl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 8	If you have issues with the lack of space in the 56 gallon, you could always get one of those 100 gallon brute troughs. They're pretty inexpensive at tractor supply (somewhere between $60-$80) and would offer a lot more space

08/28/2016, 08:26 AM	#10
Reel North New King of Quarantine Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hammertown, Canada eh Posts: 1,175	That's awful but you saved me which is awesome! Get a big S for the front of your reefin T The stock bin is a great idea, and one I have used when curing rock, or changing rock etc etc. They are really cheap, and a 100g would be perfect. You could literally put your skimmer on a stand in the stock tub and use powerheads etc. You can even put all your rock in there which will keep IT alive. Ugly, but will work so well for you and take the pressure off rushing to setup the 55 again. As an added bonus, you will always have it just in case. __________________ It takes a very rich man to buy cheap things Current Tank Info: frag tank. Lame

08/28/2016, 04:18 PM	#11
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	I agree with getting a stock tank. Cheap and you will still find uses for it after you get your new tank up and running. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

08/28/2016, 04:23 PM	#12
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I have used Brute trash cans to hold rock for long periods, sometimes fish and corals but you need to rig a light, they are something you can and will always use. Sorry to hear about your situation __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

08/29/2016, 06:15 AM	#13
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	Sorry about the flooding but congrats on being able to save your fish. They may not be overly happy, but it's better than the alternative. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

08/29/2016, 07:07 AM	#14
Ser Davos Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 46	Thanks everyone for the suggestions/condolences. I setup the 56 for now and moved everything into it as a temporary measure. Everything seems happy so far. I will probably look into a 100 gallon stock tank soon and move everything into that.

08/29/2016, 05:45 PM	#15
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	__________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300