Hurricane Katrina Tank

[FarmDog]

Least of my problems is this tank....but I want to do what I can. If you can help me with advice I appreciate it.....my family is fine and your prayers should be with those MUCH worse of than myself. I'm just bored and thinking about whatever I can to avoid job thoughts, shcool for kids, ect.

Live 24 miles north of New Orleans, 225 reef tank. Still no power 9 days later.

Went back three days after ALL hard corals and fish dead. Generator power on skimmer, external filter and power head. Took all soft corals that were alive out of tank. All that's left is rock (300 lbs) and polyps that were on the rock (half tank has colored zoes, these have constricted and still look alive.

I had about 12 diff species of hard corals, they were the first to go.

225 tank, 55 gal sump, 1900 watts of light various tank specs.....
Been back twice and ran skimmer CS8-3 Euroreef, and turned on heads.

I know I need to change water...but no water or power still, 9 days after storm.

Questions.....

How long with my rock and sand live?
Is there anything I can do or is it hoplesss...I'm going back today (I'm about an hour north in Mississippi right now) besides running skimmer and filter? I'm going to change water when I can, but I'm waiting on a shipment of salt Petsolutions....that won't get there since we have no mail delivery. Looks like zoes and rock still alive but barely. Crabs and critters I never knew were there are dying now. Depressing.....but I got my health and my family is safe.

Side bar.....went back in town yestersday...looks like a war zone...but not what national media is portraying.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Jimmy

 

[FarmDog]

PS....the smell is almost unbearable!!! Guess I have to waite till everything dies off.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that.

Remove anything is that not going to make it out of the tank, and only keep those in very good condition. Sand and rock will be fine as long as the amonia is not too high. The fact that the smell is bad means that things are dying off in there, so get rid of anything that won't make it as soon as possible.

If you can find people near where you stay (MI?) to coral-sitting for you that will be great. You then will need to bag the healthy corals/livestocks and move them to a currently running tank. No matter what you do, there will be some risk involved. See if there is any local reef group that can help you out on this.

In the mean time, good luck in your job and kid's school.

 

[Anonymous]

I wish I would have seen this sooner. lareefclub.com. Lots of people doing coral sitting and heloing out.