Disaster with Haste

[allenjj]

I have read so many times on this site and others, often comments from experienced reefers to NEVER perform tasks when you are tired or risk disastrous outcomes. Last night I needed to install a new light over my refugium since the previous fixture had expired. After visiting my LFS I purchased a coral life fixture but since it was getting late, used industrial velcro to quickly hang it so that it could light the refugium. Properly attached, this stuff is great at holding. In my haste and tiredness (having worked a 14 hour day) I must not have attached it securely enough. This morning I awake to the ORP on my tank at 109 with numerous snails upside down and my mushroom corals contracted. Quickly I removed the light from the water after killing the power and then proceeded to do a water change and bring all my pumps online to move water and increase the oxygen level. After changing 20 gallons out, I had to get to the office, and my ORP has risen to 165 and so was moving in the right direction. Coming home tonight, I did several more water changes and have the ORP now up to 295. I am not sure if some chemical from the light fixture entered the water, but I know that electrical current did which seems to have harmed many of the creatures I was entrusted to protect. I am hopeful that many will recover with some time, but the tank looks pretty sad at the moment. Good lesson to learn (unfortunately the hard way) that like many others you should never rush or do things when tired with your tank. This is my second crash (first was calurpa going asexual) on this tank in 3 years. I know better but thought it will be ok if I just do this quickly for tonight. Am glad if I had to learn the hard way it was before getting my new 180 tank fully running. Right now I feel that I let my charges down by not protecting them sufficiently. Hope that others learn from my mistake.

 

[Flashy2003]

Velcro to hang a light over water is not very smart.

 

[Imbarrie]

Velcro to hang a light over water is not very smart.

+1
Im not sure what your setup is but I have to agree.

 

[allenjj]

Your Right

If I had attached it properly it would have been fine but in hindsight you are right since I did not take the time to properly adhere the backing to the support before attaching the light. Haste and tiredness made a mess. Hoping that I havent killed most of the creatures.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Velcro to hang anything electric over water is nothing smart no matter how u have it attached

 

[andylee]

Wow, you guys really know how to kick a guy when he's down!

 

[Awibrandy]

Sorry you had to go through this, it can happen to anyone...

Guess you can add this one to "What not to do in your tank!" thread.

You are right working on our tanks while tired or on certain meds, or drunk is not a good idea.

 

[aznt1217]

It's okay common sense leaves us when we are in a rush... but I don't even understand how you'd Velcro a light.

Get a cover for your sump as well or at least the portion where the salt is. You don't want salt creep on the wires it can cause a few sparks (speaking from first hand experience).

 

[allenjj]

Stupidity in haste

Actually have a cover over the refugium. Was using the velcro which is 3 inches wide and a strip 14 inches long (note this is not regular velcro you buy at Lowes) to secure the light (light was 14 inches long) so that it could easily be removed for cleaning /maintenance and repositioned. Had I secured the backing strip to the brace properly it would have held perfectly. What I didnt do was roll the velcro backing strip in place on the brace to get out all the air bubbles and insure it was adhered properly. The velcro itself never separated from the two sections, it just wasn't adhered properly to the support. When the light hit the fuge cover, it deflected it enough to bounce (im guessing) into the sump area. ORP is now back to 325 and the corals are looking a little better this morning.