Disaster

[oceanrealm]

Where do I begin, on sat I did a waterchange and unplugged my float switch as I always do. My float switch is hooked up to a kalc stirrer. Yesterday I noticed that I forgot to plug the switch back in. Well I plugged it in and forgot to unplug it and had to run out. I came back to a tank with ph of 10 and white. I could not see anything in the tank when I put a flashlight in the tank I could see the fish breathing heavy. Did a quick 15 gallon waterchange and kept emptying the skimmer. From what I can see my sailfini is just about holding on and most of the corals became semi bleached or lightened in color.
Today I did another 20 gallon waterchange put a sock on, which I should have done yesterday. Any suggestions, or has anyone else gone through this. Im posting this so other people can learn not to make the same mistake. At this point the ph is normal and the tank is semi clody and fish are starting to come out.
My mystery wrasse died in my refujium , Most likely because he was confined to a restricted area. What really adds vinegar to the cut is when the person who was going to buy my mystery wrasse {not mention anyones name} says are you sure someone did not offer you more money.
Anyone have any suggestions .

 

[prattreef]

Wow, sorry to hear this. This exact same thing happened to someone else I know on the West Coast just a few days ago He lost most of his corals and a few fish. Most of the fish made it, his clams and an RBTA seem to have made it too. His course of action was massive water changes and carbon. Good luck.

 

[jhale]

this is strange the same thing, kalk accident, happened a few days ago to a friends tank on the west coast. He lost most everything in the tank

Large water changes are the best thing to do. If it were my tank I would make up some new water and transfer as much as possible to a holding tank. leaving the fish and coral in the tank is going to cause more stress as you correct the water parameters.

edit: randy and I know the same person on the west coast...

 

[m'akoyPINOY]

sorry to hear it too,goodluck!
lol on the msytery!!!

 

[oceanrealm]

thanks

Wow, sorry to hear this. This exact same thing happened to someone else I know on the West Coast just a few days ago He lost most of his corals and a few fish. Most of the fish made it, his clams and an RBTA seem to have made it too. His course of action was massive water changes and carbon. Good luck.

The claims are okay Im just wondering if I should keep the lights out a few days or keep that the same. I gather the corals were effected from the spike in ph plus the calcium level. which now the ph is normal.

 

[fernandokng]

Oh man, that's terrible. So sorry! Water change and carbon, as the other guys have mentioned.

 

[oceanrealm]

Yes what make matters even worse ,Today I received a pair of flame wrasses that were ordered yesterday prior to the incident. This is bad .

 

[NYPDFrogman]

That sucks!! sorry to hear your tank is awesome!
as far as the mystery send him the dead fish no charge!
if I can help dont hesitate to ask!

 

[fernandokng]

I'd set up a QT for the flame until you get your Display tank back in check. Worst come to worst, use a bucket as a QT, put a heater and flow in there, and they should be good for a few days.

 

[oceanrealm]

yes

That sucks!! sorry to hear your tank is awesome!
as far as the mystery send him the dead fish no charge!
if I can help dont hesitate to ask!

Frank thanks for the offer, your right about the mystery I may just do that lol .

 

[oceanrealm]

The corals are light in color but not bleached Im hoping they will recover.

 

[JBNY]

Ugh! Sorry to read this happened. When you get things back on track, I would recommend, if you do not have an AquaController, buy a pH controller and hook it to the top-off so it shuts down the top-off with kalk if the pH goes above 8.6 or some other "safe" number.

 

[oceanrealm]

yes

Ugh! Sorry to read this happened. When you get things back on track, I would recommend, if you do not have an AquaController, buy a pH controller and hook it to the top-off so it shuts down the top-off with kalk if the pH goes above 8.6 or some other "safe" number.

yes I have one and that is a good idea, will do that thanks for the advice.

 

[GreshamH]

Wow, sorry to hear this. This exact same thing happened to someone else I know on the West Coast just a few days ago He lost most of his corals and a few fish. Most of the fish made it, his clams and an RBTA seem to have made it too. His course of action was massive water changes and carbon. Good luck.

He also dumped Vinegar into the tank to lower the PH...then he did water changes with a GAC addition

 

[Zoous]

Sorry to hear this. Hope everything recovers soon.

 

[regal]

Ugh! Sorry to read this happened. When you get things back on track, I would recommend, if you do not have an AquaController, buy a pH controller and hook it to the top-off so it shuts down the top-off with kalk if the pH goes above 8.6 or some other "safe" number.

As a second line of defense, I was thinking about cutting off the main pump when the pH is above a certain level just in case my solenoid/float switch combination fails.

 

[QUESTIONMARC]

i have a frag and QT tank.. if you want me to hold anythign.. you are more than welcome.. sorry about your accident. Marc 347.614.1814

 

[oceanrealm]

Thank you very much for the offer . The problem everything is encrusted on the rocks. I will wait a few days and see what happens.

 

[mshur]

Wow, Sorry to hear this Tom...I hope corals will make it..If you need , i can always take some corals to hold in my tank..
I hate kalk reactors, this is not the first time i hear this happands..

 

[JLAudio]

Maybe running a diatom filter for the time being to clear out the water I do this when I first set up a tank. This might be a crappy suggestion and will not help with the ph but will clear out water so you can assess damage. Ironically I believe I bought mine from you. Just a thought for immediate action and perhaps a buffer?