kristopherdb Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Well many of you probably saw my post last week to sell my beloved Red Sea 650. It is not really for sale, I was just a little upset as since our move into our new beautiful home in Oregon City I have lost every single last bit of livestock but for a few hermit crabs. Long story as short as possible is I paid a local business in the saltwater fish and pet business south of Portland to move my tank and set it up in our new home the day before we had to turn over the keys. This went completely as wrong as it could have, I lost everything and apparently even my live rock and water which I learned over the past couple of weeks. The store made me pay most of the move and offered me a $1500 store credit. I tried to replace the livestock I had left and the fish at this store had ich which stressed out and killed off everything else plus the very few things that had survived the initial screwed up move. It is gone, Saturday evening I noticed my goby was sideways on the bottom, this was about the 10th fish last week. Enough was enough I pulled out the biocube stuck all creatures big and small in it. They all looked bad, very bad but I was going to try to save them. The wife helped and we got them all in clean water about midnight, emptied 90% of the big tank and did a fresh 125 gallon water change, woke up to cloudy water in the biocube and a main tank that about 12 inches of water in it, it was to late I pulled out all the dead fish carcasses by the dozen, 6 or so shrimp, 5 beautiful rose and green anemones, a pair of platinum clowns, a pair of mated black clowns, a herd of skunks, my beautiful and huge dragon goby's, just about every angel you could imagine known to exist, my hawkfish, blennies by the dozen etc.... All down the toilet literally. I know they are just fish but I spent months and months collecting them all, making sure they were healthy, hand feeding most of them and witnessing probably the most amazing bonding of a clown and her anemone which was still special to me even after the first one figured it out. Well I had read about nuked tanks and thought that could never happen to me. It did! The money I have lost sucks, watching the skeletons of some of my most beautiful corals showing as the flesh was decaying was heart wrenching, I stopped today and spoke with Travis at upscales, got some salt, filters, filter socks, etc.. and the best thing we can think of is to let it cycle again and start over. My lesson learned, BE CAREFUL, do not assume everyone knows more than you do. Find friends or family that can hold your pets for weeks after a move unless all goes well (which I would assume it wont) have them watch or plan to coral and fish sit for a couple weeks. If everything goes ok then they will be home soon enough. However if disaster strikes then you have some time to recover. It was an expensive lesson, I hoe to save someone else the pain of flushing your finned friends down the toilet. RIP little buddies!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 So sad to read this Kris. I'm sorry for all your losses. I hope the rebuild goes well.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Sorry to hear about your terrible loss. This hobby can be so heartbreaking at times and no they aren't just fish or corals. They come into your tank scared and then learn quickly to come towards the tank because that means food. I have not had a major tank crash but did lose a lot of fish to marine velvet one year. I can say when I come home from vacation and see a white rtn'd acro or something that has died it does feel like a punch in the gut so I can't imagine the feeling of devastation you are feeling slowly watching your tank crash. I don't have much in my tank as it is only 20 gallons but would happy to give you a frag. Glad you're not giving up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 What exactly happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristopherdb Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 To cause the loss? I would say baking in 100 degree heat in a 55 gallon drums killed any nutrients in the water, sand and live rock. It was supposed to take a couple hours max, It took 12 hours before they were wet, chilling, with circulation pumps etc.. The equipment they brought needed super glue to work to get water in the tank. I could not turn on chiller until tank was full enough to hit overflow. If I had it to do all over again I would take 5 - 10 corals ask someone here to watch them for a few weeks at the most. Take pics, write everything down. At most you loss one batch or someone calls and says you need to come early. Much better than 100% loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bevo5 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Yeah that sucks man. Now I know which store to avoid, at least. So you've taught us all a good lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristopherdb Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 i wish I would have had another choice, moving a red sea the day before you have to move your entire house and turn over the keys is just a little stressful when they are supposed to be onsite at 8am and show up around 1pm. I got a call around 9am wondering when I would be at the store to pick him up because "how else would he get to the address" I have provided 5 times at least? He is not from this area and does not have a GPS so how was he supposed to find my place? For about 5 seconds I thought maybe I was crazy and then I realized I was just doomed with no other choice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodus Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Wow! That is horrible I would be so Pi$$ed off! While they are fish it still hurts to see some of the long timers go. Seriously, next time you do this inquire for help on the forum, there are so many of us here that can help you out. I know its a bit late now but if you do move again let us know, I will even personally drive up there and sit down with you to draw out a moving plan beforehand so you can have all your basis covered. I really hate to see things like this as well as others so just remember plenty of us are here if you need help. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 You shouldn't have to pick anybody up for moving services! I'm trying to think of a shop in south Portland... We have many reputable shops but can't think of one in s Portland. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristopherdb Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Not in south Portland, south of Portland and north of Woodburn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanmike01 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Man that sucks. Been there tho. A few years ago my father picked up a 210 with more corals than would fit into 3, 50 gal stock tanks. Within weeks everything was lost. It's a truly painful and heart wrenching experience. So sorry for your losses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristopherdb Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Find friends to hold your stash. Once everything is well then get it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Oh, ohhhhh.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Kris...man I feel for you...as you know this happened to me in the 250 cube back in May. Only thing I can offer is now you get the time to be meticulous and set up everything exactly how you want. I know this does not replace your losses but it gives you the start to excellence. I have been very slowly setting my tank up and getting the best of everything I want. No rushing here this time. Good luck in the future and shame on the store that did this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Really a bummer of a story but good info to share so we can all learn. If you can stomach it, let the rebuild begin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Not sure if I read that correctly but if you had fish with ich in a system and you plan to reuse any component it may be worth soaking everything in muriatic acid (it's my best friend for fast cleaning) scrap all the sand. You've hit bottom- starting with all brand new everything might be a safe route- sorry to read this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Reading this just makes me want to cringe. I'm sorry man that is terrible Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Moving is never fun, Took 18hrs to move a 200gal just 12 miles, just have to be prepared with new water, lots and lots of bags, buckets and extra hands never hurt, gl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristopherdb Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Which is what I paid a respected business to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fragged Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Well this sucks. Very sorry to hear. This is why I have fragged all of my corals and sent frags to friends.... Just in case something happens I can get them back. Wish I could do the same with fish but apparently it doesn't work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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