Disaster!!!...
- Thread starter meschaefer
- Start date
- Location
- Flushing NY 11355
Any idea what leads to the fire?
Matt, sorry to hear this. I agree your wife did the right thing, your both lucky she was home to put out the fire!
I cooked my rock by doing the following, 2 months on the balcony in the sun, freshwater plus vinegar bath for a month, lots of scrubbing then over a period of 2 months a ro/di bath, with many water changes and more scrubbing. then a month bath in new saltwater.
I cooked my rock by doing the following, 2 months on the balcony in the sun, freshwater plus vinegar bath for a month, lots of scrubbing then over a period of 2 months a ro/di bath, with many water changes and more scrubbing. then a month bath in new saltwater.
bad coffee
Inept at life.
- Location
- Location: Location:
Sorry to hear about your loss.
I'm going to guess that the maxijet's plug was corroded. Everyone take a look at your plugs. Over years and years of humidity, being dunked in saltwater, and being dripped on, they tend to oxidize. You can clean them off with some steel wool and rubbing alcohol. Or just buy a can of contact cleaner. All of my plugs and sockets get sprayed with cleaner/conditioner when they're unplugged. once the cleaner dries, I plug them back in.
I'm guessing the maxijet caught fire because the cable had the lowest flame rating. Kinda like paper will catch fire before your shirt.
B
I'm going to guess that the maxijet's plug was corroded. Everyone take a look at your plugs. Over years and years of humidity, being dunked in saltwater, and being dripped on, they tend to oxidize. You can clean them off with some steel wool and rubbing alcohol. Or just buy a can of contact cleaner. All of my plugs and sockets get sprayed with cleaner/conditioner when they're unplugged. once the cleaner dries, I plug them back in.
I'm guessing the maxijet caught fire because the cable had the lowest flame rating. Kinda like paper will catch fire before your shirt.
B
Matt, my condolences on your loss. My hat off to your wife for her quick thinking!
What exactly is it that you are trying to accomplish with cooking the rock? My lr was in pretty bad shape prior to the switch in Feb/2007; algea growing wild, and I'm sure tons of phosphate.
What I did: 1) got two 40g rubbermaid totes, 2 power heads, 2 heaters, and the two old "SeaClones" that had been laying around from when I first started into SW.
2) armed with wire brush, rocks in bucket w/tank water & totes ready w/tank water as well to receive the rock. I scrubbed the lr in the bucket, then rinsed them quickly under running tap water, and into the totes the rock went. Once all the rocks had been scrubbed - rinsed, and placed in the totes they were initially left uncovered a few days with the skimmers, powerheads,heaters running. Once a week I performed partial water change with RO/DI water. If I recall correctly this was done for a couple of months until the new tank arrived, and the MR family came over to make the switch.
My objective was to get rid of the algea, and as much of the phosphate build up of the past 6 years of tap water use. As of today, I have no algea. I'm not sure where the phosphate levels are since I have not been testing for them. I will try to do that later today. I have a small amount of red slime at the rear of the tank, but I believe that is due to lack of water movement in that particular area of the sandbed. And yes I will be addressing that shortly.
Not sure if this is of any help to you since I don't know what it is that you are cooking your LR for.:duh:
What exactly is it that you are trying to accomplish with cooking the rock? My lr was in pretty bad shape prior to the switch in Feb/2007; algea growing wild, and I'm sure tons of phosphate.
What I did: 1) got two 40g rubbermaid totes, 2 power heads, 2 heaters, and the two old "SeaClones" that had been laying around from when I first started into SW.
2) armed with wire brush, rocks in bucket w/tank water & totes ready w/tank water as well to receive the rock. I scrubbed the lr in the bucket, then rinsed them quickly under running tap water, and into the totes the rock went. Once all the rocks had been scrubbed - rinsed, and placed in the totes they were initially left uncovered a few days with the skimmers, powerheads,heaters running. Once a week I performed partial water change with RO/DI water. If I recall correctly this was done for a couple of months until the new tank arrived, and the MR family came over to make the switch.
My objective was to get rid of the algea, and as much of the phosphate build up of the past 6 years of tap water use. As of today, I have no algea. I'm not sure where the phosphate levels are since I have not been testing for them. I will try to do that later today. I have a small amount of red slime at the rear of the tank, but I believe that is due to lack of water movement in that particular area of the sandbed. And yes I will be addressing that shortly.
Not sure if this is of any help to you since I don't know what it is that you are cooking your LR for.:duh:
- Location
- Overland Park, KS
Matt -
I am so very glad that your wife was there to put out the flame. a neighbor of mine lost his house and everything in it to a fire that began in his tank system
I'm sorry for your loss and looking forward to your rebuilding -
-tahl
I am so very glad that your wife was there to put out the flame. a neighbor of mine lost his house and everything in it to a fire that began in his tank system
I'm sorry for your loss and looking forward to your rebuilding -
-tahl
Sorry to hear about your loss. Thats my biggest fear - a tank disaster leading to loss of tank or worse from a fire or tank busting. Now with my baby in the house I am trying to figure out the best way to safety and chlid proof all of my tanks ( 8 total but no SW at the moment ). As far as cooking your rocks, Im confused because isnt that what people refer to when they are curing the rocks? If so why would you want no light on them for so long? Wouldnt that kill off many wanted hitchhikers?
After reading of yours and the other disaster stories, maybe someone can start a stickied thread about tank safety ?
After reading of yours and the other disaster stories, maybe someone can start a stickied thread about tank safety ?
Cooking rocks is slightly different than curing. Curing involves the amonia/nitrogen cycle. When you "cook" rocks, you are keeping them in a light free enviroment. This kills off anything photosynthetic..i.e. algae.
The idea is that in a light free enviroment, bacteria will not have to compete with alage. High baceteria propulations will use up whatever nutrients are in the rock. When you return the rock to the tank it should be nutrient free, but still have healthy populations of pods, worms, sponges and other stuff.
Matt, just wanted to mirror what the others have said - thank god nobody was hurt, and your wife thinks quickly on her feet!
I don't have much in the way of SPS, but I can certainly contribute lots of Kenya, Xenia as well as some LPS frags. -Arkady
P.S. Make your wife read this thread - she should not feel guilty in the least, and maybe this will help her see that!
I don't have much in the way of SPS, but I can certainly contribute lots of Kenya, Xenia as well as some LPS frags. -Arkady
P.S. Make your wife read this thread - she should not feel guilty in the least, and maybe this will help her see that!
pnoyreefer
Pek-P3K LicK3I2
- Location
- Washington NNJ 07882
Sorry to hear about your loss and you and your family are safe.
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