Noah story

[Lagavulin]

Well it was a comedy of errors. What started with a design flaw because I cut a hose too short for the return from my canister filter. So I pull from my main but return to my sump because the exhaust line was too sort to get it back up to the tank. This in effect defeats the “failsafe” of my overflow system in that if I suffered a pump failure, (or power for that matter because of course I now have a siphon).

Well I figure I’ll fix that soon. So I’m cycling my tank with LR and figure I’ll give her a water change. I, (meaning ME…Sir Dufus of Doltwood), unplug my return; look down at the canister and say. Hmmn…I better shut that off too…but wait I’ll just let her run a bit for some inexplicable reason, I mean for lands sake man…WHY? To get like 3 more minutes of input for water I’m changing out anyway?
So in walks my daughter with the big brown angel eyes and says “Daddy can you help me with something?” A few minutes later I’m saying “What’s that cratchty sound?” Holy $#!% it’s my external pump filling up with water and then…blink…Oh look at that the GFCI I put in does work. Well thankfully it could have been MUCH worse. The bottom of my stand contained most of the flood and since I was set up to siphon I got most of the water out toot-sweet. I did get water into my low pile carpet though with an unknown quantity UNDER the stand. I have no idea how long that might take to dry…if ever…Ah I love the smell of mold spores in the morning…
So a couple questions, anyway. As I said I was cycling so luckily I had no critters in there just LR. I had to mostly drain the tank because I now recognize ANOTHER flaw in my system is that if the GFCI trips it is behind the tank and I have to nearly drain it, (150 tank, BIG stand, sump, LR…you get the picture), to move it to reset the outlet.
Now I only had 20 gallons of replacement water made up and now about 100 gallons of deficit. I had none of that, ???, (whatever that stuff is to take chlorine out of water; no I don’t have an RO/DI unit yet…it’s on my list ok…right after I build my ark), so I was afraid to use new water.
Anyway I have most of my rock covered; I have turn-over with my closed loop. The problems are the exposed rock tops, (covered with wet paper towels now), and a bit on the low side of temp. I supposed I should just consider my cycle “wiped” and figure I am starting “anew” whence I get my tank refilled. Any thoughts or you could share a story of when you did something dumber than me so I can feel more superior…or less like the brain-dead goof that now posts before you…

 

[Trenchsoul]

Chlorine will evaporate in 24 hours. So if you leave it in a bucket overnight it should be good to go into your tank if your live rock is really exposed. To be safe I'd just fill it back up with RO and take it slow. Your pH could take a hit as well with that much water being taken out of the system.

 

[steve-s]

Chlorine yes, chloramines not so though. They can take 7-10 days to dissapate on their own, water movement depending. Best to use a water conditioner (aloe free) that will break the nitrogen/chlorine bond. Personally I would use Prime (Seachem).

Cheers
Steve

 

[Krish]

Well it was a comedy of errors. What started with a design flaw because I cut a hose too short for the return from my canister filter. So I pull from my main but return to my sump because the exhaust line was too sort to get it back up to the tank. This in effect defeats the “failsafe” of my overflow system in that if I suffered a pump failure, (or power for that matter because of course I now have a siphon).

Well I figure I’ll fix that soon. So I’m cycling my tank with LR and figure I’ll give her a water change. I, (meaning ME…Sir Dufus of Doltwood), unplug my return; look down at the canister and say. Hmmn…I better shut that off too…but wait I’ll just let her run a bit for some inexplicable reason, I mean for lands sake man…WHY? To get like 3 more minutes of input for water I’m changing out anyway?
So in walks my daughter with the big brown angel eyes and says “Daddy can you help me with something?” A few minutes later I’m saying “What’s that cratchty sound?” Holy $#!% it’s my external pump filling up with water and then…blink…Oh look at that the GFCI I put in does work. Well thankfully it could have been MUCH worse. The bottom of my stand contained most of the flood and since I was set up to siphon I got most of the water out toot-sweet. I did get water into my low pile carpet though with an unknown quantity UNDER the stand. I have no idea how long that might take to dry…if ever…Ah I love the smell of mold spores in the morning…
So a couple questions, anyway. As I said I was cycling so luckily I had no critters in there just LR. I had to mostly drain the tank because I now recognize ANOTHER flaw in my system is that if the GFCI trips it is behind the tank and I have to nearly drain it, (150 tank, BIG stand, sump, LR…you get the picture), to move it to reset the outlet.
Now I only had 20 gallons of replacement water made up and now about 100 gallons of deficit. I had none of that, ???, (whatever that stuff is to take chlorine out of water; no I don’t have an RO/DI unit yet…it’s on my list ok…right after I build my ark), so I was afraid to use new water.
Anyway I have most of my rock covered; I have turn-over with my closed loop. The problems are the exposed rock tops, (covered with wet paper towels now), and a bit on the low side of temp. I supposed I should just consider my cycle “wiped” and figure I am starting “anew” whence I get my tank refilled. Any thoughts or you could share a story of when you did something dumber than me so I can fell more superior…or less like the brain-dead goof that now posts before you…

Hmmmmm...ummmm....uhhhhhhhhh....(LOL)

 

[fleetbox]

cycle should be OK. sand/ substrate is where most of this happens anyway so as long as it is still wet. You will have a huge amonia nitrite spike with the water level that low. I would replace water with tap and not worry too much about it. Run carbon, phosban, and could put in some water conditioner. Skimmer will skimm the heck out of it so really no need IMO. Expect some hella algea at first but will go away with water changes.

What are you going to kill with the tap anyway? nothing that matters. will save much more by getting some water in there.

 

[Lagavulin]

I took 1/2 day off. Got the prime, some power heads, and two heaters, (I have a pretty good seawater mixing station now...'cept for I still need a RO/DI unit) and got the water back in. All in all I got off light.

Oh by the way I put syrup and butter on this pancake on my head 'cause I thought that might really work better since I couldn't get the rabbit to sit still but I really don't see where it's helping much. I guess you get good advice and some not so good on the boards...sheesh.

 

[clayswim]

Where in WA are you? Some pet stores will carry mixed saltwater for sale, and the Seattle Aquarium sells it really cheap.

Fleetbox, just curious; why did you say the majority of the cycle happens in the substrate, and there will be a huge ammonia and nitrite increase?

Clayton

 

[Krish]

I guess you get good advice and some not so good on the boards...sheesh.

LOL...They say, "When you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" ....Well, I just had to say something Sorry... I didn't have much advice for you so I figured why not atleast give you a rabbit with a pancake on his head"

 

[fleetbox]

Where in WA are you? Some pet stores will carry mixed saltwater for sale, and the Seattle Aquarium sells it really cheap.

Fleetbox, just curious; why did you say the majority of the cycle happens in the substrate, and there will be a huge ammonia and nitrite increase?

Clayton

I am just guessing that the rock is not cured and dumping like crazy. Not enough water to "spread the love", as far as the spikes. The substrate also holds a lot of nitrates etc. Kinda like when a tank has zero water changes for 6 months and you do a 50- 75% water change. Devastates almost everything in the tank.

Everything happens in the substrate and the rock. I am not completely sold on the idea of our rock being the most efficiant converter. Bio balls do a much better job and win out over the rock. Sand would be my guess as the best converter (W/O bio balls) as it gets a little better flow (stirring it) and huge surface area for the bac to grow. I would imagine that the beginings of a cycle start there.

It seems to make sense that these things would happen. I am no rocket scientist and could very well be way off on this. Read about it many times but never experienced it.

 

[fleetbox]

a rabbit with a pancake on its head

LOL...They say, "When you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" ....Well, I just had to say something Sorry... I didn't have much advice for you so I figured why not atleast give you a rabbit with a pancake on his head"

I thought it was funny.