Cave In

brians_224 · 07/07/2006, 08:46 PM

Thanks for your time.

I came home to find that my LR had caved in. I had stacked the rock to form a bridge. I'm afraid that my YWG and Pistol shrimp caused the failure. I'm preparing a water change to create a temporary spot to store the rock while I restack.

What are the chances that my shrimp and YWG got smooshed?

I hope they didn't. I really enjoyed watching them work together.

Sk8r · 07/07/2006, 09:07 PM

If you're making such a radical change in your tank, you might try working a strip of egg crate cut to size to fit under your rock. It may help in stability. Other reefers have been known to stick connected spars of plastic pipe into areas and build up around them to try to prevent reef-quakes.

Move things carefully: it's possible they're burrowed deep under that sand. A little sand-sifting may turn them up. Lift all rock straight up and carefully to avoid crushing them.

A sincere PITA, when rock goes down. You can also make little balls of reef putty [at your lfs] that can help stabilize the rock. Squish them with the next layer or arch, and they harden into something like plaster, socketing the next rock into firmer position.

07/07/2006, 08:46 PM	#1
brians_224 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brookfield, WI Posts: 1,172	Cave In Thanks for your time. I came home to find that my LR had caved in. I had stacked the rock to form a bridge. I'm afraid that my YWG and Pistol shrimp caused the failure. I'm preparing a water change to create a temporary spot to store the rock while I restack. What are the chances that my shrimp and YWG got smooshed? I hope they didn't. I really enjoyed watching them work together.

07/07/2006, 09:07 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you're making such a radical change in your tank, you might try working a strip of egg crate cut to size to fit under your rock. It may help in stability. Other reefers have been known to stick connected spars of plastic pipe into areas and build up around them to try to prevent reef-quakes. Move things carefully: it's possible they're burrowed deep under that sand. A little sand-sifting may turn them up. Lift all rock straight up and carefully to avoid crushing them. A sincere PITA, when rock goes down. You can also make little balls of reef putty [at your lfs] that can help stabilize the rock. Squish them with the next layer or arch, and they harden into something like plaster, socketing the next rock into firmer position. __________________ 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%.