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thedude
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 12:40 AM
Hey guys,

Well as you all know I scrambled for close to two weeks to keep my SPS dominated reef alive during a spout of no air conditioning and did it sucessfully with no casualties but my new problem I was not so lucky.

I'm a college student and had to move apartments. It wasn't really that big of a deal and I had the coolers and battery powered pumps to keep everything alive. That's what I thought at least, but I was very, very , wrong :( .

12pm: Disassemble aquarium completely and move it, fish and corals into a cooler, liverock into a rubbermaid vat.
2pm: Aquarium in place at new apartment, transfer process begun.

Well this is when things started to go to hell in a handbasket. I get everything in and squared up around 6ish I'd say. This is completely plumbed with every pump cleaned out with a strong strong vinegar bath and RO/DI rinse. So I went to eat thinking thank god that's over with for a little.

Come back at 8 to see that an 8 inch acro colony in my little 30 gallon cube is 75% gone from RTN. I fragged it and tried to save it but alas, no chance. I immediately start water change water but everything began to go downhill. I'll save you all the grisly details but as of now, I'm still not sure 3 days later if ANYTHING will survive. Confirmed casualty list follows:

8 inch gold with green tips acro colony, including it's host crab and christmas tree worms.
6 inch ultra croacea I grew from a little 2 inch guy
3 inch ultra croacea
Potter's Angel
Chalkbass
Yellow Assessor
All of my stony corals that I can tell so far. I had a collection of blue torts, a yellow tort, and a bunch more that I had taken the time to find and buy/ get shipped to austin.
Blastos and Lords are the only thing that I think have a fighting chance.
Also my favorite 4+ inch emerald crab that I've had for over 1 1/2 years.

I must say it's a sad, sad, day in my reefkeeping world and it makes me wonder if having an SPS tank in college is truly feasible.

"The worst part of my day, was walking into my room in the dark, and only smelling dying acropora."

thedude
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 12:49 AM
Wow after reading my own post it really started sinking in what all I lost. I hope so much that some of this stuff comes back from the dead.

christerrell2k3
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 12:53 AM
****, im sorry to hear that. Dont give up on it just yet

gjuarez
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 01:03 AM
sorry to hear about your loss. What do you think caused this? Did you have a DSB?

bprewit
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 01:06 AM
I am sorry to hear about your tank! I know all to well what its like to have a tank disaster and it really really sucks. If there is anything I can do to help let me know. I wish you the best of luck and hope things turn around and get better.

thedude
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 01:18 AM
NO sandbed period. I ran a barebottom tank with starboard. I'm pretty sure the stress of moving coupled with that big acro fouling the water casued it.

gjuarez
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 02:03 AM
Wow. I am stunned. First thing that came to my mind is that you disturbed the sand bed and it had fouled the water. Now I learn that you didnt have one. Even more confusing. Either way, I wish you the best of luck as well and I hope your livestock gets better. It must be very discouraging after loosing your expensive torts. Dont give up. things will get better.

JeffCo
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 08:58 AM
Man, I hate reading posts like this, the same type of thing happend to me awhile back, it's really discouraging when you lose your livestock, but just keep trucking on. Maybe it was a salinity or temp change?

Flobex
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 09:17 AM
oh man!!! that stinks hardcore!!!! im o sorry, and i just hope things will get better. if i had any corals, or anything i would love to give them to you, but i dotn have my SW tank yet :-/

seamonkey2
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 09:34 AM
sorry to hear John, you'll bounce back


Jose

Reef69
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 10:39 AM
Sorry to hear your stuff died, but next time have a friend hold your corals while you do the transfer, and yes, its possible to have a tank while in college. I have 3 and upgrading, 2 our friends have 2 beautiful tanks plus one on its way..all of us in college. Dont let a bad experience spoil it man, it happens to the best...good luck

bigdscobra
Fri, 19th Aug 2005, 10:55 AM
That sucs don't give up. Iam in college too and only have one year left so we will see when I move out really not looking foward to moving the tanks eather, or maybe I will just have to upgrade :skeezy

fishypets
Tue, 23rd Aug 2005, 08:37 PM
Sorry to hear that man. Send me a p.m. when everything stabilizes. I have some acro and tort frags I could donate.

Clint

jaded
Tue, 23rd Aug 2005, 11:10 PM
Really sorry man... bummer!!! I hope this turns out to be better than it looks right now!!! I'll pray for this to turn out to be temporary bleaching

thedude
Wed, 24th Aug 2005, 04:55 PM
Update:

Thanks to all you guys for your support. So far it looks like the only survivors will be some zoos, blastos, and acans. I'm not going to yank the acros yet but I don't see any living tissue left on any of it.

Thunderkat
Thu, 25th Aug 2005, 12:02 PM
That is why I am a big fan of the soft corals, all those SPS are way too delicate. You probably did everything ok, it is just the stress involved that probably killed them. I know you seem to like the SPS, if I had any I would give you a frag. (I do have some spare green zoos if you need any to help you get started again).