Flood

[AlexKilpatrick]

Ok, through some dumb siphoning n my part, I accidentally siphoned about 60-70 gallons onto the floor. It isa tile floor, so it cleaned up pretty easily. However, now I have to do what is essentially an emergency 50% water change.

I won't be able to make that much water until tomorrow. I'm running a preety big powerhead (RIO 1200) in the tank to keep the surface moving and to keep the water circuulating. I think the temp will be fine.

Is there anything else I need to do? Anything to worry about with this big of a water change?

Thanks!

Alex

[jaded]

can buy some RO/DI from the lfs and make the water??? is this a reef tank? do you have exposed LR or corals? are you running a sump or fuge... or both?

[AlexKilpatrick]

I have RO/DI, that's why I can't replace the water until tomorrow. It will take that long to make it.

It is a reef tank. There were a couple of rocks exposed, but I moved them.

I have a sump, but no fuge.

[jaded]

I think if i were in the same situation I would buy the RODI water so I could replace the water immediately... why take the chance?

Is the sump setting dry or is the water in the sump stagnant? Do you have bio filtration in the sump (bio-balls...)?
If so do you have a PH in there too?

Im surprised that there hasnt been more responses to the question... but in theory I cant think of a reason why you couldnt wait as long as the water is moving and is getting airated.

[captexas]

I think as long as you have some water movement and gas exchange with the powerhead you added, you should be fine. You have already taken care of the other concern of having rock/corals exposed to the open air. I would keep any halides off until you get the water back up as they would cause temperature problems for now. The percentage of water change should be ok as long as you do your best to make sure the pH, temp, and salinity of the new water matches what is in the tank now. If you are using Oceanic salt, it doesn't take long for it to mix so you wouldn't have to wait until tomorrow. The

[::pete::]

At what rate is your ro/di?

[CD]

BTW Jaded - it's a 180G bowfront with sump, so that amount of "new" water should be OK, shouldn't it? As long as the PH/SG/etc. is close? He's mentioned to me that the tank is not heavily stocked with corals, but there is an anemone and a Powder Blue Tang. I mention the PBT because I thought they were fairly sensitive fish, right? Personally, I'd go buy some RO/DI right now also, but that's just me.

Alex - River City Aquatics has RO/DI water. I'd offer to just bring you some over, but we've used all of ours filling up the 210G over the last few days. Sorry that happened, and keep us posted :(

Wendy

[AlexKilpatrick]

My RO/DI is theoretically 100 GPD, so I should be able to do the water chage tomorrow morning.

I have no problems with buying RO/DI, but I would have to buy (and lug around) 60 gallons of it. That's a little too much for me to handle.

This has got to be a lot less stressful than shipping. The only difference from the fish and coral perspective is that there is a little less water movement. I don't think the really are going to get stressed because the water level is low.

In fact, this much of a water change will probably have a great beneficial effect on the tank, as long as I keep the salinity and temp as close as possible.

Thanks for the responses. I will post tomorrow after I get everything back up.

And btw, tile floors are two big thumbs up. I probably had an inch of water on the floor, and no real problems. Shop vacc'd it right up.

[::pete::]

Alex
Get a barrel and make the water up and have it on hand. If this were the case you would be half way there. It will not go bad if it is closed with a lid on it.

[AlexKilpatrick]

Oh sure, rub it in, Pete. :cry

If I had water already made, I wouldn't be in this pickle right now.

But it is all a moot point. If I dump 60 gallons on the floor again, my wife is going to kick me out of the house.

[AlexKilpatrick]

Oh, I wanted to mention what I did to cause this calamity, just in case anyone else can learn from it.

I was a technique to vacuum my tank where I would take some flexible tubing and run it down through a piece of PVC pipe. This lets me hold the flexible tube down on the bottom Then the other end of the flexible tube goes down to the sump, but through a fine net. The net catches all the gunk, and I can vacuum for as long as I want. What happened was that I stirred up the tank a lot. I left the siphon in place for a while, letting it suck down the stirred up gunk. I went upstairs to do some work. Nervous yet? I had done this several times before, and had no problems.

What I did not anticipate was what would happen if the sump return pump stopped. I guess I splashed a power strip or something, and the GFCI tripped. The pump stopped, but of course the siphon kept going.

I happened to come downstairs and see the floor completely full of water, and the tank about half full. When I walked across the floor, little waves came up. It was probably about a half inch of water. It ttok me a while to realize what was happening. I stared at the overflowing sump, trying to figure out where the water was coming from.

This is by far the worst flood I have ever had.

[jaded]

I can't speak for you, but the tank should be ok. I know my wife would have my, my... well, my everything in a vise if I flooded our place. At least its tile!!!

Good luck with that and ~pete~ please let me know where I can pick up some of these plastic barrels that havent been ruined with chemicals please..

[Tim Marvin]

You'll be fine.