300g disaster - picking up the pieces

[HARPO]

Last week our 300g FO broke , after only 4 months of use. First we discovered the center brace had separated by one inch from the front of the tank which was now bowed out... we called the store and the manufacturer who told us to empty it and bring it in for repair (yeah, right away! :x ) but "not too worry, after all the glass is 3/4 inch thick".... A few hours later the front glass cracked under the pressure, spilling out all 300 gallons. We had time to remove the rock and fish, the latter were taken to the LFS (who sold us the tank) to keep until we can house them again.
They are doing well in their own 100g with lowered salinity (due to marine velvet outbreak).
We want to bring them home, so we have ordered a new 240g acrylic from West Coast Aquariums, but it won't arrive for three weeks. In the meantime we thought we could purchase a temporary 60 gallon to keep them in until the new one is set up and cycled. Here are the concerns:

1) We treated the 300g with copper (for marine velvet) for four days before it cracked. We have the "live" sand in a bucket (damp) and the "live" rock in another with circulating water from the original tank. Could we still make use of the sand and rock in the 60g ...knowing that not much will be "live" about it anymore... is it at least safe to re-use, or not? If safe, could we eventually use it again in the new 240g and re-establish life in it, or is it "done" after brief copper treatment?

2) If we purchase a temporary 60g and use water from our very healthy and established reef tank as starter (and the above sand and rock, if safe), would the tank still go through a lengthy cycling period? We could do a large water change in the reef tank, keeping 30 to 40 gallons of the reef water for the 60g.

We miss our fish. And we are sueing the manufacturer and LFS for building and selling us an unstable, unsafe aquarium. So, we need to get our fish out of the LFS asap.

thanks for any pearls of wisdom you can offer.................
BILL & THERESA

 

[EmilyB]

The copper issue is one thing. But I wouldn't use anything from that tank because of the disease issue too, even if this is just for another FO tank. In fact, I'd just let it sit, for a LONG time....and grow good stuff, if it can.

I don't know how many fish you are talking to put in that 60g, but if you have a healthy reef, get some sponges into the sump to gather you some bio media.

Also, the copper problem can depend on what type you have used. For example, I tried to treat a tank with rock at one point with Cupramine. I could not keep the levels up, and the particular fish in question died anyway. Whatever levels of copper were there afterwards were quickly removed with Seachem's copper filter thing :roll: (if they were there at all) This is not an expert opinion, by any means, just based on very limited experience with copper, which I will NEVER use again anyway.

 

[Cakepro]

Holy cow...what a nightmare! I can't imagine what you've gone through, and am so sorry for what you've experienced.

The live sand and rock should be kept in a container of seawater with circulation and aeration. You can not add any inverts at all, even snails, because inverts cannot tolerate copper and the rock and sand are now contaminated with copper, and will continuously leach it into the water. The sand, if you re-use it, would likely have all kinds of dead nasty stuff in it and I would think you'd be better off putting it in the yard or something. I doubt your rock would go through a cyclic event, and if it does, it would most likely be very mild and short-lived. I would put the live rock and your fish in the 60 gallon, toss the sand, and plan on putting fresh sand and rock in your new tank.

I wish you the best of luck with your lawsuit! I can imagine you lost your carpet or have some sort of floor damage as a result of so much seawater flooding the room.

~ Sherri

 

[Gabe3eb]

Dunno about all of the physics involved or a great solution. But lawsuits are rarely friendly. I would get those fish out of there very soon though. Not that they would want to further harm them or your property in anyway, but for the whole reason of having to actually go into the store after a lawsuit has been filled against them and have them carefully fish out your several fish. If you have a friend, or another LFS to do bussiness with, possibly you should consider that option. Never nice to have to deal with a bussiness like that who has already wronged you with a lawsuit pending. Just my .$02. But I was very sorry to hear about your tank. That is just too bad, i can't imagine. It is good that you are still interested is keeping tanks after that nightmare! GL to you,
gaber

 

[HARPO]

Thanks, for the input, we very much appreciate it. Would there be anything to gain by fresh water dipping the rock, and then place it in a fresh batch of salt water until the 60g. is ready? Realizing the 240g. will have to fully cycle for some time, the fish will have to stay in the 60g. and be introduced back into the 240g. a few at a time, over a span of time.
Can't begin to tell you what a nightmare this has become. This large 300g. tank was manufactured in Al Hambra Ca., by a company called AQUAQUARIUMS. We were told it was fully warranted. After talking to the company owner, he was well aware this particular tank had a few flaws, end glass was not cut right, which caused them to use extra silicone in the corner joints. The center brace was cut short, obvious by the gap from where it broke loose. The right overflow box is taller than the left, causing a lack of flow at the left side. He refuses to replace the tank, but wants to simply replace the front glass. After all we have lost here he expects us to rent a trailer, drive the tank 160 miles where he can pick it up. He will inspect it, drive it back to the LFS so we can rent a trailer again drive 160 miles (each way) and pick it up. NOT HAPPENING.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

:-(

 

[slojmn1]

So sorry to hear of your disaster. I am glad you were able to save everyone, despite the disease. Seems to be sound advice on the rock, sand, and copper issue.

 

[Anonymous]

Man, soory to hear about that How many of what kind of fish?