How people crash their tanks ?
- Thread starter h2o
- Start date
- Location
- 11756
Never go on vacation and you take away about 95% of the tank crashing risk 
- Location
- long island
I total agree kris
Crashing is pretty simple just give up and not care about the tank
Crashing is pretty simple just give up and not care about the tank
- Location
- poughquag, ny
most peoples who's tank crash have been from heat, so id say a chiller is the way to stop that, but thats not fail proof either, myself, my tank crashed from a back syphon of kalkwassser, there's alot of things that can cause a crash, only way to totally prevent it is to not have a tank
- Location
- Staten Island
The average tank loss comes from lack of Oxygen .. Usually from tank heating up.. Other types are rodi auto top off float valve getting stuck, Kalkwasser overdosing, ?hiller staying on to long or not coming on...
This is why I don't run kalkwasser, chillers, or have to worry about heat..
I run a fan for heat..
Make my own rock for ph
Run a Socting Oxydator for close to 100% O2 levels
Oh yeah I have never experienced a tank crash in my 13+ years in this hobby and I vacation at least 7 times a year.. The key is simplicity.. and making hard things simple for you..
This is why I don't run kalkwasser, chillers, or have to worry about heat..
I run a fan for heat..
Make my own rock for ph
Run a Socting Oxydator for close to 100% O2 levels
Oh yeah I have never experienced a tank crash in my 13+ years in this hobby and I vacation at least 7 times a year.. The key is simplicity.. and making hard things simple for you..
I can remember one guy who crashed his tank by re-using sand from his old tank and not rinsing it thoroughly. I know a few people who bought buckets of "Live sand" from other reefers breaking down tanks only to have a crash because they didn't start new or rinse the old completely.
Before I even answer this I am going to knock wood...
ok then...
as stated above, many tanks crash due to lack of oxygen. Even if you have a heat issue, it is the reduction in oxygen that is causing the damage (warmer water has less oxygen in it)...as silly as it may sound, I keep a good old FW air pump (and air stone) in my sump (at the lowest water level point so that I am not shooting air bubbles all over the place, or allowing them to get into my DT). As long as there is power to the tank, I expect I will always have an adequate amount of oxygen in the tank. If there is a power outage, I keep battery operated air pumps in the cabinet of every one of my tanks (5 SW & FW) and change out the batteries twice a year. Ok, so I also have a whole house generator that is hooked to my tanks circuits, the fridge, my pond the furnace and the big TV (I had nothing to do with that last item...), but I have a LOT of tanks here!
Over the top?
Maybe yes, maybe no, but I sleep better
Another good suggestion is always having another REEFER to lean on when you are going away. Whoever is left in charge of your tank should be made aware to CALL YOU if they have a question, or they can contact your reefing buddy to help out.
Atop the General Discussion Forum is a sticky thread on what to do in the event of a power outage - but it can also be used for overheated tanks - cold tanks - good info to read through..just in case
Excellent question btw!!
ok then...
as stated above, many tanks crash due to lack of oxygen. Even if you have a heat issue, it is the reduction in oxygen that is causing the damage (warmer water has less oxygen in it)...as silly as it may sound, I keep a good old FW air pump (and air stone) in my sump (at the lowest water level point so that I am not shooting air bubbles all over the place, or allowing them to get into my DT). As long as there is power to the tank, I expect I will always have an adequate amount of oxygen in the tank. If there is a power outage, I keep battery operated air pumps in the cabinet of every one of my tanks (5 SW & FW) and change out the batteries twice a year. Ok, so I also have a whole house generator that is hooked to my tanks circuits, the fridge, my pond the furnace and the big TV (I had nothing to do with that last item...), but I have a LOT of tanks here!
Over the top?
Maybe yes, maybe no, but I sleep better
Another good suggestion is always having another REEFER to lean on when you are going away. Whoever is left in charge of your tank should be made aware to CALL YOU if they have a question, or they can contact your reefing buddy to help out.
Atop the General Discussion Forum is a sticky thread on what to do in the event of a power outage - but it can also be used for overheated tanks - cold tanks - good info to read through..just in case
Excellent question btw!!
Last edited:
- Location
- Flushing NY 11355
The first prize of people crashing their tank goes to this boy and that's how he crash his tank.
When your tank reaches temperatures your animals can not tolerate. I don't give a specific temp because some fish/coral can tolerate different temps.
Causes can be; lighting and ambient room temp, and not having anything to cool the tank down. Or timers not funcitoning properly.
- Location
- Montclair, NJ
Here is a list of my tank crashes:
1- Trusted one pump to circulate my tank. It failed and almost everything died while I was at work
2- TDS meter was not working properly and I kept doing monster water changes and killing my fish with regular tap water (chloramine most likely)
3- Did not have my battery backup online and my circuit breaker blew
You don't want to take anything for granted. Trust me. I wish I didn't speak from experience.
1- Trusted one pump to circulate my tank. It failed and almost everything died while I was at work
2- TDS meter was not working properly and I kept doing monster water changes and killing my fish with regular tap water (chloramine most likely)
3- Did not have my battery backup online and my circuit breaker blew
You don't want to take anything for granted. Trust me. I wish I didn't speak from experience.
First:
What is a Socting Oxydator?
Second:
As far as the battery back up air pump goes I am assuming that is senses a power outage and start pumping. So you would have it in your display tank hooked up but it wouldn't go on until it senses loss of power. Is that correct?
Third:
Cathy so you have an air stone in your sump? How do you stop the bubbles from the main tank?
Fourth:
Regarding having another reefer to lean on when you go out of town. I'm in Manhattan and willing to lend a hand if someone needed it.
What is a Socting Oxydator?
Second:
As far as the battery back up air pump goes I am assuming that is senses a power outage and start pumping. So you would have it in your display tank hooked up but it wouldn't go on until it senses loss of power. Is that correct?
Third:
Cathy so you have an air stone in your sump? How do you stop the bubbles from the main tank?
Fourth:
Regarding having another reefer to lean on when you go out of town. I'm in Manhattan and willing to lend a hand if someone needed it.
- Location
- Staten Island
that's the thing it doesn't use electricity,,lol..
- Location
- Staten Island
A reactor that uses either a 3%,6%,8%, or a 12% hydrogen peroxide solution and a ceramic catalyst in your display that keeps your O2 levels close to 100% as long as the reactor has solution in it.. Having levels that high on a cosistant basis also dissolves organics which will leave you with clearer water and higher orp levels.. It also takes the place of a ozone generator, this is why I got it.. You also won't really need a uv after using this for a while if your system is stable.. I stopped using mine a while back.. In my opinion the best insurance you can get, even better than having someone watching your tank, unless they can blow 100% O2 into you system,,lol..
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