I might be loosing the whole tank tonight

[Elementalj]

I've got faith in the op. I'll say a little prayer for the lives lost, and for the ones possibly saved. A reminder as to why I've always wanted a cuke, and never got one.

 

[Ljaus]

Sorry for you losses, I hope all is not lost and the rest make it through

 

[Chris Adams]

Feel for you Paul. Always tough when something goes wrong quickly. Sounds like you have a handle on it
At least you know what happened.

Keep us posted

 

[redfishbluefish]

Thanks again folks for the warm words.

Here's the final assessment.

My red and black cucumber committed suicide in one of the MP40's, releasing it's entrails to the tank.

The following shall be remembered as upstanding members of the community......

One Yellow Tang
One Scopus Tang
Two Pajama Cardinals


The following survived this poisonous attack:

Two clown fish
One Diamond Goby
One Melanurus Wrasse

All corals appear back to normal.

What has been done....a change to fresh carbon (3 cups), running the skimmer wet, a 50 gallon water change.

I'm making more water and will do another 50 gallons in 2 or 3 days, as well as change out the carbon again.

On a positive note, I thought I had lost all fish when I made this discovery.

Other than short four fish (and a cucumber), tank appears back to normal.

 

[Brew12]

Thanks again folks for the warm words.

Here's the final assessment.

My red and black cucumber committed suicide in one of the MP40's, releasing it's entrails to the tank.

The follow shall be remembered as upstanding members of the community......

One Yellow Tang
One Scopus Tang
Two Pajama Cardinals


The following survived this poisonous attack:

Two clown fish
One Diamond Goby
One Melanurus Wrasse

All corals appear back to normal.

What has been done....a change to fresh carbon (3 cups), running the skimmer wet, a 50 gallon water change.

I'm making more water and will do another 50 gallons in 2 or 3 days, as well as change out the carbon again.

On a positive note, I thought I had lost all fish when I made this discovery.

Other than short four fish (and a cucumber), tank appears back to normal.

I'm sorry for the losses you had but that is a fantastic job on the recovery! I only hope I can have the presence of mind that you displayed in taking so many correct actions if I ever face a situation like this!

 

[dbl]

Sorry this happened Paul but I have to agree with @Brew12 on this one. You seemed to have handled this as well as you could have and without seemingly panicking (at least expressed here). A great lesson for all of us...don't panic, stay calm and work through the issue at hand. And oh, maybe double think adding a cucumber.

 

[4FordFamily]

My oh my this thread horrifies me. I'm sorry for your loss my friend.

 

[melypr1985]

A great lesson for all of us...don't panic, stay calm and work through the issue at hand. And oh, maybe double think adding a cucumber.

Truer words! Great advice to any who read this

 

[Weeble10]

Sorry for your loss, but glad you have a few survivors! Be sure to give your pumps a good scrub.

 

[Amy Dawson]

How'd you make out?

 

[Bruce Burnett]

I read a long time ago that a single cucumber could cause disaster in a tank so I never tried one.
I am glad your losses were not worse.

 

[Pole04]

Wow this is terrible. It seems quite a few people have learned a lesson here. I am sorry for your losses but glad you were able to salvage as much as you did.

Marking cuke off my want list for my future tank.

 

[Kengar]

Maybe the importers shouldn't import/sell the cukes......

 

[Purpletank]

Wondering how you fared.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I still feel cucumbers are a nice addition to a tank. Please still consider one if that is something on your wish list. The demise of mine was most likely from things I did. First off, I've had two cucumbers....a tiger's tail, that I eventually gave to my son, and this red and black, that I had for about seven years, without incident.

The reason I could have been part of the problem is that I purchased a diamond goby about two months ago. Both the goby and the red and black are sand sifters. Up until the goby, my sand was always blotchy with detritus and algae.....nice food for the cucumber, which he was constantly working on, leaving those little clean pellets of sand. Within two days of getting the goby, my sand was as white as the day it was put into the tank. With the sand now very clean, I think the cucumber was starving, and in search of food when it found it's way up into the powerhead.

I believe that if I hadn't picked up the goby, my cucumber would still be alive and happy eating and living in my dirty sand.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Wondering how you fared.

Post #64 above has the outcome of my tank......lost four fish; four fish survived.....tank appears to be back to normal (by fish behavior and coral appearance). Running carbon, wet skimmate and 50 gallon water change helped clean it up.

 

[dburkart]

Paul,
So sorry for your losses, it is good you were able to save what you did. Sounds as though you did a great job in saving the inhabitants you have left.

 

[Pole04]

I still feel cucumbers are a nice addition to a tank. Please still consider one if that is something on your wish list. The demise of mine was most likely from things I did. First off, I've had two cucumbers....a tiger's tail, that I eventually gave to my son, and this red and black, that I had for about seven years, without incident.

The reason I could have been part of the problem is that I purchased a diamond goby about two months ago. Both the goby and the red and black are sand sifters. Up until the goby, my sand was always blotchy with detritus and algae.....nice food for the cucumber, which he was constantly working on, leaving those little clean pellets of sand. Within two days of getting the goby, my sand was as white as the day it was put into the tank. With the sand now very clean, I think the cucumber was starving, and in search of food when it found it's way up into the powerhead.

I believe that if I hadn't picked up the goby, my cucumber would still be alive and happy eating and living in my dirty sand.

Problem being a I have a sand sifter goby on my wish list as well.
I wonder how one would fare in a display refugium once the tank has time to mature. Would they out compete pods for food? There is much less chance it could get into trouble there, and it would have its own sand to tend to.

 

[aaronn]

I had the same thing happen to my cucumber a couple years ago. No ill effects to other inhabitants but the cucumber found his way into mp40 . I would use a mesh cover on the mp40 if I got one again. We should view cucumbers the same as anemones. If you are not running a cover they will eventually find their way into the powerhead.

 

[dburkart]

I have a gold head sleeper Goby that does a fabulous job of siting the sand in my tank, he is always working at it. The downside is I have to blow off my corals but I think it is a good tradeoff.