Hugo's tank dilution?

[danieldm]

Hey Gang-

Taking into account what Eric stated in his postings...I think it would be hard to come up with any scenaro that would cover this being a mechanical problem with his system, or a even a human error. Eric stated that he routinely checked SG, and his refractometer is accurate. I racked my brain on a long drive today, and with the facts as stated by Eric I can't come up with any plausable scenario.

It seems to me that the biggest fact that people seem to be choking on with the criminal scenario is the fact that it was commited during broad daylight, that the perp didn't know when someone would be returning home, how did they know where he lived, etc.

A long time ago I worked for a private investigator that was a retired officer. Based upon what I know, which is fairly limited, it would not have taken very much work to have figured out the routine of the Borneman household. So the perp would easily know how long the house would be vacant. There is so much public information available about Eric, that it would have been easy to BS my way by any nosey neighbors. In regards to finding out where he lived...he's in the phone book, including address.

The logistics of this would have been fairly easy, what I can't get over is the method used. A lot easier ways than a massive WC.

 

[liquid]

The logistics of this would have been fairly easy, what I can't get over is the method used. A lot easier ways than a massive WC.

That's exactly what I come back to as well. If my primary goal were to nuke someone's tank, why on earth would I do a massive waterchange w/ freshwater? That would take entirely too long. You'd want to get in and out and the easiest thing to do there would be to throw some chemicals in the sump and run.

Shane

 

[dizzy]

Eric writes:
"Now, let's say for some reason the skimmer gushed water out of it (the effluent drains into a gravel bed outside the shed) - the only way water could possibly exit that fast and even with the valve completely off and totally flowing over the top would have a hard time pushing out 300-400 gallons of water in that time given the set up. The sump would run dry since the top off would never keep up. The most freshwater it could have made was what? 15 gallons? Not 400. The tank is around 700 total gallons. Only a handful of people have ever been to our house, most of them out of town guests - not that we are "unlisted" or anything. I'm certainly open for suggestions as to how 300-400 gallons of water miraculously disappeared from the tank in 6 hours or so if you have any ideas. I also hate to think that anyone could be so cold. I would rather have my tires slashed and a brick thrown through our windows. This was life that was lost. This was my pride and joy. But, Dick Perrin of Tropicorium had his tanks poisoned. I have heard the same type of thing reported more than once from store owners. I have even admitted numerous times of my own idiocy when I mess up a lost a specimen, and have had power outages and overflows, and all sorts of wipe-outs of sorts, but nothing - nothing that comes close to what happened here. "


If there really is a perp it should be a fairly simple matter to establish a short list of the most likely suspects. This could almost be classified as a "hate crime", due to the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Kalkbreath]

Do we know what the auto top offs replacement water source is?(Eric stated he has a 32 a day RO unit but is it direct connect)
If Eric did 600 gallons of water exchanges in the days following this event.
Then he has considerable water make up abilities from somewhere.
He stated that the auto top off seemed to be working.
If it had been replacing skimmer water all day , it could work correctly and if the skimmer was ejecting water the refill would have done its part correctly in refilling
If Eric's RO unit is connected to this auto top off.......then how does he process make up water? A second unit?
Could the culprit have used this alternative fresh water source?(that would explain how the fish and some corals survived the chlorine)The container used to mix salt water, where is it?. Where did the 600 gallons of new seawater come from?It would be impossible to reballance the system to correct salt levels by only doing multiple fifty gallon exchanges. ( a ten percent exchage each time would yeild 12 times=600)
So I bet there is some vessel availible which houses several hundred gallons. Could someone have done a water exchange from this source prior to Eric.
Did this source have yet to have had salt added?
If the tank was cloudy and a water exchage seemed needed?
Where did Eric drain his tank when he did the corrective exchanges?Would he have drained into the same grass and into the same french drain to the curb or into an in house sink.
Could the original fresh water exchange have been drained into the same place.
Is this why no puddle was found inside or outside?

 

[Anonymous]

Do we know what the auto top offs replacement water source is?(Eric stated he has a 32 a day RO unit but is it direct connect)
If Eric did 600 gallons of water exchanges in the days following this event.
Then he has considerable water make up abilities from somewhere.
He stated that the auto top off seemed to be working.
If it had been replacing skimmer water all day , it could work correctly and if the skimmer was ejecting water the refill would have done its part correctly in refilling
If Eric's RO unit is connected to this auto top off.......then how does he process make up water? A second unit?
Could the culprit have used this alternative fresh water source?(that would explain how the fish and some corals survived the chlorine)The container used to mix salt water, where is it?. Where did the 600 gallons of new seawater come from?It would be impossible to reballance the system to correct salt levels by only doing multiple fifty gallon exchanges. ( a ten percent exchage each time would yeild 12 times=600)
So I bet there is some vessel availible which houses several hundred gallons. Could someone have done a water exchange from this source prior to Eric.
Did this source have yet to have had salt added?
If the tank was cloudy and a water exchage seemed needed?
Where did Eric drain his tank when he did the corrective exchanges?Would he have drained into the same grass and into the same french drain to the curb or into an in house sink.
Could the original fresh water exchange have been drained into the same place.
Is this why no puddle was found inside or outside?

He said that he dumped in tubs of salt to correct the imbalance.

 

[Anonymous]

There is so much public information available about Eric, that it would have been easy to BS my way by any nosey neighbors.

Yep.. - And BS'ing a neighbor turns that neighbor into a most excellent witness.

 

[StevenPro]

There is a likely suspect that the police were informed of that happens to live in the same town, been to Eric's home on several ocassions, and also recently found out they are the subject of a lawsuit in which Eric will be testifying for the opposing side.

 

[Anonymous]

Can't you guys let this go? Your not going to figure it out for him, and even if Eric has a suspect in mind, this is the United States of America where your innocent until proven guilty. The courts don't convict on peoples speculations, they convict on evidance.

 

[Anonymous]

And what the heck does this subject have to due with this forum anyways?

 

[dizzy]

Sounds like you might have found the motive. Getting the proof is the next challenge.
Mitch

 

[Anonymous]

i personally think all of this speculation on a public forum is in poor taste, at the best, given the circumstance


it will all be clear, and i'm sure eric will end up posting whatever the result is, when he's ready-until then, out of respect for eric, i'd suggest not speculating further-it can't be that pleasant for him to read all of this (if he is)

just my .02

 

[Anonymous]

i personally think all of this speculation on a public forum is in poor taste, at the best, given the circumstance


it will all be clear, and i'm sure eric will end up posting whatever the result is, when he's ready-until then, out of respect for eric, i'd suggest not speculating further-it can't be that pleasant for him to read all of this (if he is)

just my .02

Here here!

Glad some one else agrees.

 

[dizzy]

i personally think all of this speculation on a public forum is in poor taste, at the best, given the circumstance

Public forums are full of speculation. And often in poor taste as well. I don't think you can control it. Actually Steven's last post was very helpful for me. And if Eric didn't want people to speculate then why did he post about it in the first place?

 

[Anonymous]

why don't you ask eric ?


(this is exactly what i'm talkin' 'bout).

 

[Anonymous]

i personally think all of this speculation on a public forum is in poor taste, at the best, given the circumstance

Public forums are full of speculation. And often in poor taste as well. I don't think you can control it. Actually Steven's last post was very helpful for me. And if Eric didn't want people to speculate then why did he post about it in the first place?

something existing or not being easily controlled doesn't = in good taste

it's like saying everyone cheats, and it's tough to catch 'em, so i'll cheat too

 

[Anonymous]

and maybe he just needed to 'vent' or explain why he may not be as 'active' as he was , pre the event, in corresponding about the hobby for awhile ?

i don't think his intent was for speculation as to who, motive, and all the other 'water cooler type gossip' being bantered about here.

but now i'm also speculating as to his thought processes, so i'll quit while i'm behind

 

[Anonymous]

OK, can we put as much effort now into finding out who shot JR?

 

[Kalkbreath]

I think many hobbyists and industry can learn a great deal from a situation like this:
First, dont place all your eggs in one basket.
Several smaller tanks are insurance that a single tank cant provide.
Next, Auto top off is a poor substitute for hands on daily envolvement.
Thirdly, store owners should protect against culprits.
I have hidden cameras as well a live web cams to monitor what is happening and what happened days ago.
Dont under estimate what can happen.
This "who done it"debate is more about all of us reefers save guarding our reefs then this discussion is about Eric or his tank.
I never intended this dialogue to be disparaging. Only enlightening and a wake up call to all.
As a token of condolance,Mr. Borneman is free to come by my store and have his pick of corals to restock.

 

[dizzy]

and maybe he just needed to 'vent' or explain why he may not be as 'active' as he was , pre the event, in corresponding about the hobby for awhile ?

i don't think his intent was for speculation as to who, motive, and all the other 'water cooler type gossip' being bantered about here.

but now i'm also speculating as to his thought processes, so i'll quit while i'm behind

To a large extent Eric has made himself a very willing public figure. He lives his life like an open book. People do this and they often paint themselves in only the colors they want people to see. People have this surreal opinion of what someone is like based on the personality that comes out when they sit down in front of their keyboard. Well we all know that the internet allows a mouse to roar and the strong can sometimes appear meek. The thing is that if you live by the sword you die by the sword. If you're constantly hamming it up for the cameras to promote yourself, then you also risk having them turned on you in your more private moments. I believe I was able to recognize the primary suspect from Steven's description. We all know there are two sides to every story and hopefully things will be sorted out in the judicial system. I hope it was just a mechanical failure that killed Eric's corals, but if it was an intentional criminal act I hope that comes out too.
Mitch

 

[Anonymous]

and this pertains to this forum how?