DEATH OF A REEF TANK...
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want2bsleepy
Active Member
We have been blessed to not have a major crash in our 6+ years of saltwater aquariums. We did have a minor crash in our biocube causing our soft corals to melt down to almost nothing, but the fish and anemones survived, and after 6 months the corals have their color back and are growing again. We have four tanks, one of which is a frag tank. Whenever I frag a coral I make sure that it ends up in at least two of the tanks, in case of the dreaded crash. I figure if I at least have frags of everything then we wouldn't have to start with nothing.
pirate2876
Valuable Member
Lost all SPS in a tank switch. 100+ pieces. Lost them again when we moved houses. Another 100+ pieces.
swk
Well-Known Member
ugh don't tell me that lol. I have one, if not both of those exact scenarios coming up...
rovster
Well-Known Member
I never had a 100% crash but 95% of acros all at once, look at my white acros....
Among them my first super pack from Adam...
My tank has since come back and has been through a bumpy road, still growing unfortunately with very few of Adams little colorful gems....
The big colony on the bottom I think is the only one I still have from the original pack...#17 actually lol...
The best lessons are the ones hardest learned. I probably went all in too soon to fast with that first crash, boy I'd love another go at that original pack after all the hard lessons I've learned lol....
Among them my first super pack from Adam...
My tank has since come back and has been through a bumpy road, still growing unfortunately with very few of Adams little colorful gems....
The big colony on the bottom I think is the only one I still have from the original pack...#17 actually lol...
The best lessons are the ones hardest learned. I probably went all in too soon to fast with that first crash, boy I'd love another go at that original pack after all the hard lessons I've learned lol....
brotherd
Community Member
HowSometimes it's really all about the silver linings. I mean, I'm not the worlds most emboldened optimist - trust me, but in the wake of a devastating circumstance, I think if we can find just one flake of positivity, then at least we can't consider it a 100% failure. I have often considered the “first crash” an essential rite of passage in every reefers journey. Whether by malfunction, equipment failure, direct human error, the result of pests, or some other quirk we never discover, this crash will be a turning point for you, I guarantee. I see it as an almost well earned catharsis to expel all the crap you piled in your tank before you had any idea of what you were doing. For me, it was Flatworms back in about 07. Up till that point, I would put any frag in my system, no matter what it was, without consideration of any sort. Like an empty bellied hobo at a free buffet, I nabbed as many frags I could get, and threw them all in that tank, as fast and recklessly as possible.
Now I’m not poised to have a debate about the quality of life and whether or not we should eradicate any particular species simply because they do not fit into our aesthetic construct anymore. But, the serendipitous beauty of the crash can be, that in one heartbreaking moment, all that “whatever” coral: the "brownesque” monti caps, the green and brown digita, the ugly polyped Millie, those dormant duds your patience ran out on ages ago, the five different tables that all somehow look exactly like the red planet! - quintessential "newbie stuff", all haphazardly placed without any consideration or notion of future development, just filling in space rather than complimenting each other in any way - all that crap is all gone now! What you are left with is a clean slate, which can be a very beautiful thing, and with any luck, a bit more wisdom in your brain than you had the first go round.
A “total loss” brings with it a new found sense of selectivity. Whether, you are aware of it or not, at this point, you have developed some idea of what you like and what you don’t, and probably have a better understanding of simple growth patterns and structures as well. There’s a real good chance that unless you’re nostalgic for it, you wont be re-aquiring the majority of the “whatever” corals you lost. It’s time to move on and stay positive. The worst is definitely over. You may also consider a full re-scape. This is perhaps the best excuse you’ll have for some time to reconfigure your aquascape. Get creative! Build elaborate sprawling pillars, or keep it simple and take a minimalist approach. Whatever you decide to do, now is the time, I promise, your fading memory of the old tank and subsequent crash will become distanced even further as you completely re-envision and recreate, whats in front of you. Your spirit will begin to lift and sadness will soon be replaced with enthusiasm. But, now is really when the fun begins, because as I said, you are a lot more keen on what you like and what you may not be so into. It’s time to put your polished exclusivity to practice, and I promise you, that you will build for yourself a new reef, far beyond the aesthetic potential of the crowded, “wall of coral” like vision of your very first iteration. You will choose and place coral with a more precise concept of what you like and want to see. More importantly, you will most likely know very well what you do not want to see, and this may be the key to enjoying your reef for all its worth. And let’s not forget that starting out a new reef is often the most exhilarating stage of all. You get to experience all of that one more time, and take it from me, It’s pretty awesome.
It's not as bad as it looks I promise
Ultimately, your first, second or even third crash, no matter how extensive and horrible it will feel like in the moment, and may in fact be the worst thing you and your reef ever experience together, in the end, is truly an essential building block to future successes. Whether learning the importance of proper QT protocol or just having a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t, or perhaps being driven to join a forum or two to seek advice. I promise you that there will always be some good that comes from a crash. We just may need to look for it a little harder sometimes.
So whether you’ve already been through it, or that impending crash is on its way, try to remember through the heartache and duress, that loosing a tank is not the end of the world. Heart and potentially wallet breaking indeed, but not a reason to give up on the hobby at all. A good crash puts you in the driver seat of a brand new experience.
Done both. Still trying to find my way back.
dodgerblew
2500 Club Member
Beautiful tankI never had a 100% crash but 95% of acros all at once, look at my white acros....
Among them my first super pack from Adam...
My tank has since come back and has been through a bumpy road, still growing unfortunately with very few of Adams little colorful gems....
The big colony on the bottom I think is the only one I still have from the original pack...#17 actually lol...
The best lessons are the ones hardest learned. I probably went all in too soon to fast with that first crash, boy I'd love another go at that original pack after all the hard lessons I've learned lol....
HolisticBear
Valuable Member
There was a thread titled 'is patience the most contriversial topic'. The postmortem for many crashes is the acceptance that a lack of patience was the root cause and the XYZ was just the needle that broke the camel's back.
When I recall my first tank ages ago and the problems, it's clear a lack of patience was my problem. It's probably impossible to have enough patience on your first tank, only acquired thru pain and experience. I see it on R2R, the high energy excitement of a new reefer, warned to go slow, and 3 months later, a bunch of stuff dies. We warn them, but don't judge them, because we (or I) did the same thing our first time.
When I recall my first tank ages ago and the problems, it's clear a lack of patience was my problem. It's probably impossible to have enough patience on your first tank, only acquired thru pain and experience. I see it on R2R, the high energy excitement of a new reefer, warned to go slow, and 3 months later, a bunch of stuff dies. We warn them, but don't judge them, because we (or I) did the same thing our first time.
OP
OP
I never had a 100% crash but 95% of acros all at once, look at my white acros....
Among them my first super pack from Adam...
My tank has since come back and has been through a bumpy road, still growing unfortunately with very few of Adams little colorful gems....
The big colony on the bottom I think is the only one I still have from the original pack...#17 actually lol...
The best lessons are the ones hardest learned. I probably went all in too soon to fast with that first crash, boy I'd love another go at that original pack after all the hard lessons I've learned lol....
I remember it. Looks like you've moved well past that one, and then some. looks amazing man thanks for sharing!
OP
OP
Want to talk about the ultimate tank crash...
It's been a great opportunity to start over, as Adam said, the way I want to do it after learning all the tricks and what I like.
For anyone interested,
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-silver-linings-tank-thread-or-my-180g-build.289234/
Good lord my friend. I am at a loss for words. I can't say how I'd be after a disaster like that, but I am certain it would be somewhere between bonkers and bananas. truly inspiring thread though. if we were keeping tabs on damage and sub sequent resilience, you would be the winner and then some
PedroYoung
Valuable Member
Thanks for that, I've learned a lot. I'm "branching out" (hah, pun intended) and trying my hand at Acros. My next buy is going to be a BattleBox. Just getting up my nerve.......
cnseekatz
Well-Known Member
Word to the wise. Do not suspend any equipment with an electrical plug anywhere above the rim over your sump. I don't care if that MP10 controller is screwed, glued and bungeed to the wall... it will eventually find a way to fall. If it ends up in your sump, this is what you get.
OP
OP
Word to the wise. Do not suspend any equipment with an electrical plug anywhere above the rim over your sump. I don't care if that MP10 controller is screwed, glued and bungeed to the wall... it will eventually find a way to fall. If it ends up in your sump, this is what you get.
Ugh man Im sorry to see it, but thanks a lot for the advice. Thats the kind of thing you'd always think would never happen, till it does.
OP
OP
Anytime my friend. I can build packs of hardy, to ultra hardy sps no problem without compromising quality in any way
OP
OP
How many people here has had a tank crash due to Reef Crystals mix it self, as it was contaminated from the factory???
vetteguy53081
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JimFuller
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Or as we say in RC Model Airplane flying "There are two types of flyers. Those who have crashed and those who will crash."
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