I came home early this morning from a week at the in-laws. I arranged with a neighbor's son to take care of my menagerie while I was away. Even though he has some experience, there were last minute changes that had me leaving before the guy was in town and staying longer than originally planned. I did leave him very detailed instructions and double checked everything was in order before I left. I also turned off the MH's to help keep evaporation down as I anticipated top-off would be the most likely area for failure plus it would help with the algae problem I've been battling. Anyway I came home around 4 am and went to sleep. This morning I checked on everything and all the animals were well and alive but I found that the water level in the reef tank was 2 inches too low! I checked the sump and found it nearly empty with the pump running dry and most of the live rock exposed. I checked the ATO resorvoir and it was filled. I unplugged the pump from the ATO and plugged it in directly and it was working so somehow the float valve ( autotopoff.com ) failed. I dont know what happened as it has always worked fine. I didnt find a snail stuck in there and the valve was moving freely when I pushed it with my finger. I dont know when this happened but it had to happen a few days ago due to the condition of the tank. I lost just about every stony coral - LPS and SPS - in the tank, including a really great monti plate that has survived and recovered every previous disaster. I havent yet seen my purple firefish, flasher wrasse and one of the nematodes gobies. The pistol shrimp was found dead. All the tubeworms in my sump and DT are dead. The softies - zoas, leathers, 'shrooms - are looking in bad shape but most seem to have survived, excpt for the my hairy mushroom and rhodactulus. I wont know the full extent of the damage until the lights are on for a few hours but it doesnt look good. I dont know if I should just take a leave from the hobby but my wife is pushing for it. I understand where she is coming from as I've spent much money and time on this tank and just now managed to get to the point where I was happy with the way it was running. I had some algae problems to tackle but the fish were and corals were all established and thriving. I used to ask how others would leave the hobby after something went wrong rather than just restart but now I understand. It is really depressing.
Tank disaster...
- Thread starter jejton
- Start date
- Location
- Throggs Neck, BX
Damn Jejton that sucks. I wish I could say, "Oh no don't leave, please stay" but sometimes people need a break. I think its safe to say that for many MR folks, keeping their tanks is very demanding. I think that since you were happy you should continue. Its not like you were miserable and then this happened. It's crazy that you lost that much water in a week. My tank sits for 8 days with no top off and only on the 7th 8th day does my sump become an airstone for my DT. What size tank do you have. Still sucks. Wish I have some sps's for you to restart the tank, just softies right now. I have some GSP cuts if you want.
- Location
- Brooklyn
Sucks man. I dont know what I would do if that happened.
I dont use ATO for that reason. The chance a failure is too high. I have my RODI setup under my sink and run a 25' tube from it to my sump. I manually flip the thing on then off when its full. I find it the safest.
My girlfriend is the same way man, she hates me spending al the money on coral and not her :biglaugh:
I dont use ATO for that reason. The chance a failure is too high. I have my RODI setup under my sink and run a 25' tube from it to my sump. I manually flip the thing on then off when its full. I find it the safest.
My girlfriend is the same way man, she hates me spending al the money on coral and not her :biglaugh:
You will get it all back. I dont have that much but you are welcome to frag anything that is big enough to frag.
Sorry to hear this. VACATIONS KILLL REEF TANKS:irked::irked::irked:
Im confident MR will come through for you
I'm not looking for money or trades. Just Good Kharma:chefico:
Sorry to hear this. VACATIONS KILLL REEF TANKS:irked::irked::irked:
Im confident MR will come through for you
I'm not looking for money or trades. Just Good Kharma:chefico:
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I have 2 kinds of monti I could hook you up with free. LMK I will be home all weekend working on the new tank and painting. I might have some other frags floating around for you also. I have red monti orange monti and brown with a purple rim you can have. I live in Bellport.
am new to this hobby and just been a member not long and i already met the coolest people here. i got my tank from leo, some mud from albano and live rocks from another member and plenty advice from everyone. it's great to hear how supported MR members are. sorry to hear what happen all i can say is: follow your heart. good luck
Thanks guys for the support. I think I'd like to give the tank a try still. Final count is one missing Nematodes goby ( though its gone MIA before ) and one missing Cyaneo flasher wrasse, presumed dead. The purple firefish reappeared ( was probably hiding in his usual spot ) and I even spotted the clown goby i forgot about. The pistol shrimp was a goner and just about all the stony corals are completely dead or on their way ( two nice monti plates, digitata that really took off from one tiny frag, sun corals, that beautiful candy cane/trumpet coral colony I had as well as the other smaller ones, milli's, frogspawn, torch, hammerhead ). Its depressing but I will try to stabilize the tank and get it in shape with water changes. I have a HD bucket mixing tonite for a WC in the morning. I think I'll do daily 5 gallon water changes until paramaters are back in shape and if its stable, I'll then start restocking. Quite a few people here and on RC generously offered frags to help out ( makes it easier to placate the Boss ). I was explaining to somone not in the hobby, what a wonderful community this is. I do want to replace the ATO though as I've read too many stories like mine. Any suggestions? I want to keep it under $100 if possible.
- Location
- Far Rockaway 11691
sorry for your losses
i lost one of my tanks couple of years ago on vacation with a JBJ ATO
i recently went on vacation for three weeks. but before i left i purchased a Tunze osmolator. and fine tuned my aqua controller junior. and all was well.....my tank even looked better since i kept my hands out of it
Spend the money on a TUNZE you wont regret it...
i lost one of my tanks couple of years ago on vacation with a JBJ ATO
i recently went on vacation for three weeks. but before i left i purchased a Tunze osmolator. and fine tuned my aqua controller junior. and all was well.....my tank even looked better since i kept my hands out of it
Spend the money on a TUNZE you wont regret it...
- Location
- BROOKLYN/PARK SLOPE
sad to hear your story. if you were happy go for it one more time.
- Location
- Montclair, NJ
That stinks Eric. I went through the same thing when I had a pump failure. Almost all of my fish were dead when I got home from work and that was after spending an hour feeding the fish in the morning before I left. I cant even tell you what I felt like taking each fish out and piling them into a bucket. It was difficult but I was talked into keeping the tank. I learned from the mistake and have made adjustments to avoid the problem again in the future. I'm glad I decided to re-stock.
You are passionate about your animals and I think you will be much happier starting again. Shoot me a PM with anything you might need help with.
You are passionate about your animals and I think you will be much happier starting again. Shoot me a PM with anything you might need help with.
Thanks everyone for the encouragements and offers. I will definately take you up on them.
Dom - Its strange but people outside the hobby - fish or reptiles - dont understand us. I just look at them and say its a mental illness and can only be understood by those of us with it. Even though I dont cuddle with my snakes or am delusional to the point that I think my lizards are ' friendly ' and like to play with me, I still get attached and upset when one dies and take it very personal, especially if it was my fault.
ecvernon - Its funny you say that about the JBJ as that was unit many people were suggesting I buy instead of the autotopoff.com unit since it works with an optical sensor and not a float valve. I still have no clue whats wrong with the valve but will write to the company after the weekend. How much did the Tunze run you and is it an ATO or a vacum lift pump that you just set on a timer?
Dom - Its strange but people outside the hobby - fish or reptiles - dont understand us. I just look at them and say its a mental illness and can only be understood by those of us with it. Even though I dont cuddle with my snakes or am delusional to the point that I think my lizards are ' friendly ' and like to play with me, I still get attached and upset when one dies and take it very personal, especially if it was my fault.
ecvernon - Its funny you say that about the JBJ as that was unit many people were suggesting I buy instead of the autotopoff.com unit since it works with an optical sensor and not a float valve. I still have no clue whats wrong with the valve but will write to the company after the weekend. How much did the Tunze run you and is it an ATO or a vacum lift pump that you just set on a timer?
- Location
- Hudson Yards
I too would recommend going with the Tunze Osmolator. It's got an optical sensor and a back up float switch to prevent the possibility of over flowing. The sensor triggers a smal pump in a reservior of RO water. It also has a control box that lets you know when the water in the reservior is too low. A very reliable unit that can help ease the anxiety of leaving your reef and going away on vacation. Marine Depot and Aqua cave have them for under $200. It would be worth the extra $100 IMHO.
The JBJ auto top off in my opinion is garbage!!! Mine went on me three days before I was supposed to go on Vacation.
I went with the autotop off by Aquahub.com . It's a Diy type. They do have snail and slosh guards http://www.aquahub.com/store/product15.html to prevent these types of unfortunate events.
The Tunze is great also. I have never head anything bad about it.
I went with the autotop off by Aquahub.com . It's a Diy type. They do have snail and slosh guards http://www.aquahub.com/store/product15.html to prevent these types of unfortunate events.
The Tunze is great also. I have never head anything bad about it.
Jejton, I am so sorry to read of your misfortune! I believe I understand how you feel as it has only been a couple of weeks since I lost almost all my animals due to a HEATER malfunction.;(
Hope you are not blaming yourself for what happened! If we are to blame ourselfs; it would only be for trusting that the equipment we purchase to aide in the keeping of our glass cages are well made and therefor infallible.
I really don't know if there is such a thing as a 100% guarantee on any ATO. I've only had experience with two, the AquaHub.com DIY one - sucked. Kept going out on me. Aquahub replaced parts on it a couple of times and this last time I replaced the relay and it is still not working.
The other is a used one that I got from another member here: Reef Fanatic ATO kit. It's been working good so far, but it has only been a couple of months. The only complaint I have with it is that it doesn't have ability to shut off if and when the sump runs dry.
I don't have much that can be fraged, but you are more then welcome to come look and see if there is something you like that could be fraged. I have a couple caps that perhaps you'd like a frag off of.
In the mean time keep your spirits high knowing that you have done and are doing the very best you can!:hug:
Hope you are not blaming yourself for what happened! If we are to blame ourselfs; it would only be for trusting that the equipment we purchase to aide in the keeping of our glass cages are well made and therefor infallible.
I really don't know if there is such a thing as a 100% guarantee on any ATO. I've only had experience with two, the AquaHub.com DIY one - sucked. Kept going out on me. Aquahub replaced parts on it a couple of times and this last time I replaced the relay and it is still not working.
The other is a used one that I got from another member here: Reef Fanatic ATO kit. It's been working good so far, but it has only been a couple of months. The only complaint I have with it is that it doesn't have ability to shut off if and when the sump runs dry.
I don't have much that can be fraged, but you are more then welcome to come look and see if there is something you like that could be fraged. I have a couple caps that perhaps you'd like a frag off of.
In the mean time keep your spirits high knowing that you have done and are doing the very best you can!:hug:
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- Location
- Rego Park, Queens
Don't give up on the Monti's.....all you need is a tiny patch of live tissue, and they grow back. My plate coral dies every year, just about, at the end of the summer....I break off all the dead pieces, and then it regrows from the remaining live part...just as well, because otherwise I'd have no space left in my tank.
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