A cuke nearly wiped out my tank

[Richard Rajski]

Earlier this week I woke up to find all the fish in my reef dead.

After extensive detective work, I believe the cause was my black cucumber. It had crawled over the intake grill of my 1200 maxijet powerhead and the suction trapped it resulting in it releasing its toxins.

Curiously, all the corals, shrimps, crabs and snails survived. Is this the normal pattern following such an event?

On the fateful day I quickly removed all the dead fish and performed an 8 gallon water change (55 gal tank). I have subsequently carried out two more 5 gal changes with another due tomorrow. I've run a small internal filter with carbon which I've changed after 48 hours. Is there anything else I should be doing?

How long should I give it before putting fish back into the tank?

I don't think I'll be replacing the Black cucumber though!

Thanks in advance for any input on this.

Richard

 

[Roach]

I had a tiger tail die in my tank once. It wiped out a nice crop of Xenia but that was it. I think I got to it quick enough to save everything else...did a nice big water change and things were fine after that. I'd do a couple of water changes if I were you before adding fish again. I'm not sure what it is that they release or how long it leangers(sp) but water changes always help.

Sorry about your loss as well...that really hurts when something like that happens.

 

[erasmu]

I agree that some more water changes would be best. What test results are you getting now? Was there any measurable ammonia or nitrite? If so, is it back to zero? I don't think the toxins can be measured, but some of these tests will let you know what is still going on in the tank. Certainly you want to be back to zero ammonia and nitrite for some time before adding more fish. Go slow and you will be better off. (I don't know why it is so easy to tell someone else to be patient when I keep wanting to move faster with my tank? ) Good luck.

 

[Richard Rajski]

I've tested nitrate, nitrite and pH. They are all as they should be.

Did another 5 gal change today.

The corals, with the exception of my Xenia are looking fine. The xenia has stopped pulsing although as yet does not look as if it's going into 'meltdown mode'.

I think I'll give it a couple of weeks before I add fish again. It at least gives me the chance to plan the stock from scratch again.

Thanks for your support.

Richard

 

[wade1]

I had the same thing happen to me while transfering my tank contents a few months back... all fish excepting 2 clowns died when the cuke met the powerhead. It is a toxin elaboration and appears to be mainly nuero-active. I would also add a great deal of carbon to the tank along with major water changes. After a week or so, you can remove the carbon again.

Wade

 

[Richard Rajski]

>all fish excepting 2 clowns died when the cuke met the powerhead. <

Interesting your clowns survived, my two clowns were the last of the fish to die........perhaps they have a greater imunity for sone reason.

>It is a toxin elaboration and appears to be mainly nuero-active<

Any idea as to how long it persists in the water or is it fairly stable?

I guess I'll just keep up the carbon and water changes

 

[Mouse]

all fish excepting 2 clowns died when the cuke met the powerhead. <

Interesting your clowns survived, my two clowns were the last of the fish to die........perhaps they have a greater imunity for sone reason

Probably that they spend all day resting in the poisonous coils of an anemonie might have something to do with it.

 

[wade1]

If you recall or maybe you don't know, clowns are damsels. There is a reason people used to use damsels to kick off cycling in new tanks...

I imagine they are just more robust.

As for half life, I have no real idea. When my accident happened, I immediately dumped a whole box of carbon into the tank. Literally. But then, it was a holding tank while I was moving. That seemed to help immediately. I would imagine its not too long lived though, especially with our intense lighting schemes.

Wade