Lovesalt Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 I'm away on vacation and I get a call yesterday that my tank cracked down the front and is empty. All the water is now in my basement and everything in the tank is dead. Fortunately Holly (gilandfin) ran over there and rescued a few crabs and maybe some zoas but mostly it's a total loss [emoji30]. Such an unexpected thing to happen. I'm pretty crushed, and I haven't even witnessed the devastation yet for myself. I'm really hoping my house doesn't smell like dead fish when I get home tomorrow. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milesmiles902 Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Ouch. Sorry to hear that. I hope that quite a bit of the zoa's were saved. They are hardy little things. You know...even some of the SPS can withstand being out a water for a while. Maybe than you think are alive. Gil&Fin did the right thing by going by. Just be positive. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vis Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 I'm so terribly sorry to hear that. That really stinks!! If I can help with a few frags when you are ready to start again let me know! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanmike01 Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 You mention unexpected, if I've learned one thing about this hobby it's that things will go wrong.... And only go wrong when you're not home, traveling, sleeping, anything other than when it's convenient and easy to catch. Sorry for you misfortune. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 When you get home if you want help getting it back up hit me up. I can come over and help out, donate some frags. Let us know what you need. One great thing about this community over the last 10 years I have seen is that we all support each other. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paratore Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Same here, I'll have a some frags to help get you back up and going! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpalma0628 Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 I'm sorry to hear that. I'm new to hobby and new to this forum but it's great to see such a good group of people always willing to help each other out. Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmcbane200 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 I don't have any frags to donate since my tanks pretty new but if there is anything I can help with shoot me a pm. That includes house work. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonny. Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Soooo sorry to hear that man. I'm new to the hobby and terrified of going on vacation. I'm in Eugene, I don't know where you are but if your close I can help you clean up. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 How completely devastating!! That's so awful. I am also happy to donate a frag or two. Heck maybe we can even do an auction to help you get on your feet again. That's an awful feeling when you aren't even in town. What a completely helpless feeling. Nice work Holly helping what you could. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timfountain Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Ah, cr@p, sorry to hear that. Hope it's not too bad! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bevo5 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Man - that sucks. The tank cracked down the front panel? That's rough - I wonder if a rock slide or something caused it? I don't know how big the tank was (and thus how much water we're talking about), but I had EXTENSIVE conversations with my home owners insurance company about covering water damage from the tank exploding and everybody I spoke to said it would be covered completely. They wont replace the tank or the inhabitants, but technically it's no different than a washing machine breaking or a hot water heater. They said it's treated as flooding from an appliance and that's covered. Might not be worth the increase in your policy rate, but if we're talking 10k worth of damage, it's something to look into. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Man - that sucks. The tank cracked down the front panel? That's rough - I wonder if a rock slide or something caused it? I don't know how big the tank was (and thus how much water we're talking about), but I had EXTENSIVE conversations with my home owners insurance company about covering water damage from the tank exploding and everybody I spoke to said it would be covered completely. They wont replace the tank or the inhabitants, but technically it's no different than a washing machine breaking or a hot water heater. They said it's treated as flooding from an appliance and that's covered. Might not be worth the increase in your policy rate, but if we're talking 10k worth of damage, it's something to look into. That is great information for all of us thanks for sharing! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 I think they call this an extreme low tide. Hopefully your house isn't too damaged:( I would imagine there will be a smell. Great time to call the cleaners:) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovesalt Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 So we came home and the basement isn't too bad. My awesome neighbor mopped up what he could and then put fans in the wet areas so they dried pretty quickly. Unfortunately my newly refinished hardwoods in my kitchen are swollen and cupped. Probably will need some work there. Holly did manage to save a few things for me so today I will round up a temporary system. We are just starting a remodel and once that's done I'm going to start again. Can't wait actually. Thank you for the kind words and offers. This is a great little community [emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 That's terrible! I'm sorry for the issues you're stuck with, but like many others have saud, if you need help let us know and I'm more than willing to give you some frags! Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil&Fin Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 I am absolutely amazed at how many things are likely to pull through. Like Susie said, there was a complete crack in the tank and ALL the water drained out. At best, there were some moist spots. As I recall, Susie said it happened sometime between the night before and the morning the neighbor came to check on things. It was at least 3 hours and more likely 12+ hours by the time I got there. The neighbor had taken the cracked tank outside where it was relatively chilly. I brought a bucket of saltwater with me. The damage was heartbreaking. All of the fish were on the sandbed, stiff as a board. Two of them were not completely dried out so I took them, which was silly really. The only thing in the tank that was moving was one huge blue legged hermit crab, which is actually kind of funny (if there is anything funny about this) because it is the one animal that Susie had complained about knocking over her corals. Anyway, I took almost all of the snails and the two hermit crabs. Susie had a number of anemones, but they were laying flat and melty on the rocks. I picked them off, one by one, and the ones that didn't disintegrate in my hand went in the bucket. The dried trumpet corals went into the bucket. All the zoanthids that were on a plug or could easily be removed from the rocks went into the bucket. I might have been able to pick a few off the rocks but I had no safety glasses and they were not looking good in any case. There were two nice-sized ricordeas and I think two smaller ones. Into the bucket. There were a couple of small birdsnests and a digi, too. Maybe a couple of more small things that escape my memory now. I brought them home and set up a 20 gallon to put them in. I did a little culling (the fish and an anemone I think) and put the rest in with just a heater and small pump to keep the water moving. Within an hour or two the water was fouled, so I pulled out a couple of trumpets (which were really bad off) and changed the water. I did this six times over the next 24 hours, then did a reality check and threw out almost anything that did not have a chance. So here is one of the lessons I learned--Be discerning when deciding what to save and what not to. I erred on the side of keeping anything that might possibly be saved. That was to the detriment of those things that were likely to live because the disintegration caused the water to foul something awful. I did not test ammonia, but I imagine it was through the roof. Another lesson learned--If there is any way you can keep a spare 20 gallon (at least, depending on your DT size), heater, and pump, do it. We always think of a spare tank as a quarantine or hospital tank. But if I didn't have that 20 gallon to set up in a pinch, either all of those things would have died or I would have put my own tank at risk from the die-off. What was left went into my frag tank. The two large ricordeas and two of the three anemones were gone within a the day. BUT, many things survived! Both hermit crabs, five out of seven snails, one of the three anemones, a small ricordea, and--fingers crossed--all of the zoanthids. Last lesson learned--If there is an emergency with your tank, let your fellow reefers know. There are many that can/will help. Look at all the reefers above that have already offered to donate frags! It's things like this that really bring out the best in us and in a world that sometimes seems like everyone else is out for themselves, it is refreshing to be part of a group that rises above that. Now I better go before I get too sappy. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Wow Holly you went above and beyond! Very impressive and great advice there! Hermits are pretty hardy. When we set up the Pioneer tank it was originally planned for 2 weeks prior but that fell through but unfortunately the live rock and some hermit crabs sat for 2 weeks and they did great. Zoas are amazing too. Some people ship them in just paper towels. I'm glad that all was not lost! This is a great community! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovesalt Posted April 5, 2016 Author Share Posted April 5, 2016 Holly is my hero and my new best friend!!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovesalt Posted April 5, 2016 Author Share Posted April 5, 2016 I am absolutely amazed at how many things are likely to pull through. Like Susie said, there was a complete crack in the tank and ALL the water drained out. At best, there were some moist spots. As I recall, Susie said it happened sometime between the night before and the morning the neighbor came to check on things. It was at least 3 hours and more likely 12+ hours by the time I got there. The neighbor had taken the cracked tank outside where it was relatively chilly. I brought a bucket of saltwater with me. The damage was heartbreaking. All of the fish were on the sandbed, stiff as a board. Two of them were not completely dried out so I took them, which was silly really. The only thing in the tank that was moving was one huge blue legged hermit crab, which is actually kind of funny (if there is anything funny about this) because it is the one animal that Susie had complained about knocking over her corals. Anyway, I took almost all of the snails and the two hermit crabs. Susie had a number of anemones, but they were laying flat and melty on the rocks. I picked them off, one by one, and the ones that didn't disintegrate in my hand went in the bucket. The dried trumpet corals went into the bucket. All the zoanthids that were on a plug or could easily be removed from the rocks went into the bucket. I might have been able to pick a few off the rocks but I had no safety glasses and they were not looking good in any case. There were two nice-sized ricordeas and I think two smaller ones. Into the bucket. There were a couple of small birdsnests and a digi, too. Maybe a couple of more small things that escape my memory now. I brought them home and set up a 20 gallon to put them in. I did a little culling (the fish and an anemone I think) and put the rest in with just a heater and small pump to keep the water moving. Within an hour or two the water was fouled, so I pulled out a couple of trumpets (which were really bad off) and changed the water. I did this six times over the next 24 hours, then did a reality check and threw out almost anything that did not have a chance. So here is one of the lessons I learned--Be discerning when deciding what to save and what not to. I erred on the side of keeping anything that might possibly be saved. That was to the detriment of those things that were likely to live because the disintegration caused the water to foul something awful. I did not test ammonia, but I imagine it was through the roof. Another lesson learned--If there is any way you can keep a spare 20 gallon (at least, depending on your DT size), heater, and pump, do it. We always think of a spare tank as a quarantine or hospital tank. But if I didn't have that 20 gallon to set up in a pinch, either all of those things would have died or I would have put my own tank at risk from the die-off. What was left went into my frag tank. The two large ricordeas and two of the three anemones were gone within a the day. BUT, many things survived! Both hermit crabs, five out of seven snails, one of the three anemones, a small ricordea, and--fingers crossed--all of the zoanthids. Last lesson learned--If there is an emergency with your tank, let your fellow reefers know. There are many that can/will help. Look at all the reefers above that have already offered to donate frags! It's things like this that really bring out the best in us and in a world that sometimes seems like everyone else is out for themselves, it is refreshing to be part of a group that rises above that. Now I better go before I get too sappy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimusprime3605 Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 Susie, I have a green men that I bought from you several years back, that has split several times since then. I put your name on one of them...LMK when you are ready and I will personally deliver it to you!!! Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovesalt Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 Getting excited to start back up! I'm almost ready to bring my new tank home. Since I'm starting from scratch I'm planning on starting a thread for the new build. Stay tuned!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboys Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I have some nice zoas you can grab when your ready. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashy Fins Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 How devastating. :( Holly, you are a treasure. I'm amazed you were able to save anything. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joestotz Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Wow sorry to hear that! Let me know when your back up and running I will donate a couple of frags 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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