Fighting The Good Fight

wilkyz · 03/09/2006, 09:58 PM

Just had to share...

Started a 65 gallon bb sps tank about august of last year. Things have been going pretty well. I have fought a few power outages, equipment failures and murphy's law. I was in no way prepared for Black Tuesday though.

Tuesday morning 6:30am, I wake up and something is not right. Take a peek at the tank and there is 4 inches of water missing and all tank power is out completely. Carpet is soaked and temp is 77.6 degrees.

Go downstairs to check on the sump. All power off and water dripping from upstairs.

Run back upstairs to re-evaluate the situation. Water is trickling from the front front seam below the molding. Run back downstairs grab the biggest rubbermaid container i own. Start pumping water from tank while transferring love rock/corals to rubbermaid. Throw in a powerhead and heater begin thinking about the next move. Get out the wet/dry and try to dry out the carpet.

Find out no one locally has a 65 gallon replacement tank. Order new 65 for pickup on thursday

Pickup tank tranfer 35 gallons of salt i had waiting "just in case"
Transfer as much water as i can from the rubbermade and put corals
liverock in new tank. Remount tunze powerheads/heater and carbon
canister filter

Tomorrow i'll finish filling the tank and bring the sump back on line. I'll let things settle down for a few days and then re aquascape and
see what survives and what does not.

Now that i've had a little time to reflect, a couple of thoughts came to mind. I'm glad i have a sump. I'm glad i always keep 35 gallons of salt madeup. I also keep about 40 gallons of ro/di at all times.

I must admit i was tempted to just quit altogether Tuesday night.
Once i calmed down i came the conclusion that i worked too damn hard on this tank to just give up now.

So, i hope something like this never happens to any of you. If it does
though just remain calm and do the best you can. Try to be prepared for the unexpected and never say die!

Here are recent "before" shots. I'll post the after shots tomorrow

--Tim

Zoalander · 03/09/2006, 10:01 PM

I'm glad you didn't quit and everything worked out. How old was the tank and what brand?

wilkyz · 03/09/2006, 10:05 PM

I guess it was about a year old. I bought it new. Itwas a AGA. The cause as far as i can tell is my removing the center brace. I had made a clear acrylic replacement to get rid of the shadow being cast by the halides when they're lit. I ended up removing that to a few months ago. Big mistake

Mike.B · 03/10/2006, 12:43 AM

So what exactly happened? Did the tank crack? How did the power go out, is your sump in the basement? kinda lost

03/09/2006, 09:58 PM	#1
wilkyz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 23	Fighting The Good Fight Just had to share... Started a 65 gallon bb sps tank about august of last year. Things have been going pretty well. I have fought a few power outages, equipment failures and murphy's law. I was in no way prepared for Black Tuesday though. Tuesday morning 6:30am, I wake up and something is not right. Take a peek at the tank and there is 4 inches of water missing and all tank power is out completely. Carpet is soaked and temp is 77.6 degrees. Go downstairs to check on the sump. All power off and water dripping from upstairs. Run back upstairs to re-evaluate the situation. Water is trickling from the front front seam below the molding. Run back downstairs grab the biggest rubbermaid container i own. Start pumping water from tank while transferring love rock/corals to rubbermaid. Throw in a powerhead and heater begin thinking about the next move. Get out the wet/dry and try to dry out the carpet. Find out no one locally has a 65 gallon replacement tank. Order new 65 for pickup on thursday Pickup tank tranfer 35 gallons of salt i had waiting "just in case" Transfer as much water as i can from the rubbermade and put corals liverock in new tank. Remount tunze powerheads/heater and carbon canister filter Tomorrow i'll finish filling the tank and bring the sump back on line. I'll let things settle down for a few days and then re aquascape and see what survives and what does not. Now that i've had a little time to reflect, a couple of thoughts came to mind. I'm glad i have a sump. I'm glad i always keep 35 gallons of salt madeup. I also keep about 40 gallons of ro/di at all times. I must admit i was tempted to just quit altogether Tuesday night. Once i calmed down i came the conclusion that i worked too damn hard on this tank to just give up now. So, i hope something like this never happens to any of you. If it does though just remain calm and do the best you can. Try to be prepared for the unexpected and never say die! Here are recent "before" shots. I'll post the after shots tomorrow --Tim

03/09/2006, 10:01 PM	#2
Zoalander Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oak Park Illinois Posts: 1,571	I'm glad you didn't quit and everything worked out. How old was the tank and what brand? __________________ Previously known as Vetter1980 Current Tank Info: 36x36x10 frag tank

03/09/2006, 10:05 PM	#3
wilkyz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 23	I guess it was about a year old. I bought it new. Itwas a AGA. The cause as far as i can tell is my removing the center brace. I had made a clear acrylic replacement to get rid of the shadow being cast by the halides when they're lit. I ended up removing that to a few months ago. Big mistake

03/10/2006, 12:43 AM	#4
Mike.B Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 548	So what exactly happened? Did the tank crack? How did the power go out, is your sump in the basement? kinda lost