Well, after selling my 90-gallon and combining several small tanks (rock, critters, couple of fish, etc) into a new 55, everything was going great. The new tank is about 4 months old (after cycling) and establishing itself very well. I was ecstatic about how great the tank was looking. I've taken my time, increased the MH lighting gradually, added only a couple of leather corals to get started on the reef end. Water has tested great, needed a slight adjustment which I took care of. The only thing lacking in the tank was a few more clean-up critters since the lighting caused a slight, but manageable algae bloom and a little more diversity in the DSB. I was all set to head out for the LFS for a new "something".
I've been in this hobby for many years and I KNOW that powerheads need a little extra security since the suction cups last about 5 minutes. However, I had overlooked this small detail. I spent all yesterday afternoon cleaning the tank, doing a water change, scrubbing around on some of the rock to rid it of algae since coralline is getting started. Tank was beautiful and I couldn't wait to get something new today. Not to be.
Somewhere in the night, a powerhead dropped from the side of the tank and literally created a blizzard of sand (I have a DSB). This morning, the skimmer was running over, the tank was so cloudy that all I could tell was that everything in it was covered in white and one corner of the tank was devoid of sand!
So, instead of adding something today...I have been blowing off excess sand from the LR with a small powerhead and brushing away the bits of algae that had made a home on the rock due to the new MH lighting. And, with the shreds of algae on the rock, the sand stuck like glue. Thank God I didn't have anything delicate yet.
I'm sure most, if not all of you, have had powerheads fly around in your tanks. What damage can this cause? And how can I rid the nooks and crannies of excess sand? The tank is clearing now...I've emptied the skimmer twice this afternoon and I'm waiting for everything to settle down for a couple of days before doing another water change. Any advice???
Thanks to everyone in advance :?
I've been in this hobby for many years and I KNOW that powerheads need a little extra security since the suction cups last about 5 minutes. However, I had overlooked this small detail. I spent all yesterday afternoon cleaning the tank, doing a water change, scrubbing around on some of the rock to rid it of algae since coralline is getting started. Tank was beautiful and I couldn't wait to get something new today. Not to be.
Somewhere in the night, a powerhead dropped from the side of the tank and literally created a blizzard of sand (I have a DSB). This morning, the skimmer was running over, the tank was so cloudy that all I could tell was that everything in it was covered in white and one corner of the tank was devoid of sand!
So, instead of adding something today...I have been blowing off excess sand from the LR with a small powerhead and brushing away the bits of algae that had made a home on the rock due to the new MH lighting. And, with the shreds of algae on the rock, the sand stuck like glue. Thank God I didn't have anything delicate yet.
I'm sure most, if not all of you, have had powerheads fly around in your tanks. What damage can this cause? And how can I rid the nooks and crannies of excess sand? The tank is clearing now...I've emptied the skimmer twice this afternoon and I'm waiting for everything to settle down for a couple of days before doing another water change. Any advice???
Thanks to everyone in advance :?
