Tank crack!!! Had to move the gang too early

[kathywithbirds]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I'm going to kill me a cat.

The 5g is no more, my cute tiny little princess cat knocked the whole thing over, there's a crack near the bottom, it was leaking pretty good. Thank goodness nobody got hurt, I saved it as it hit the floor. I have no idea how the *^%(()%&&)#&^%%B!!!!!! cat did this, I just heard "MOMMY MOMMY EENIE HURT THE FISHIES!!" and managed to scoop the tank up, it hit carpet, but still.

I had to move everyone over to the 37g too early, I mixed in all the existing water from the 5g (most of it was saved, although the carpet's pretty wet) and put all the LR from the tank in. The goniopora is already back to Tim, I don't want to put it in jeopardy with a new tank situation.

Can anyone advise? Here's what the situation is now: the 37g cube was re-set-up 2 or 3 days ago with new substrate, aragonite, about 1 inch, smoething like 40 lbs rock, 20 to 25 of it live, rest is "dead" rock. I put in cooked table shrimp a day or so ago, it got icky but I didn't see any levels rising, everything is 0. I scooped out the icky shrimp as I wasn't sure what to do with the cycle now. I put in a decent amount of this stuff the LFS sold me that has "good bacteria" in it. The one guy I like said he's put in fish the same day with this stuff, but advised me to "do it right" and do the cycle adn all. But now I'm stuck and I don't want Spot and the wrasse to suffer!!

The fish are a domino damsel adn a 6-line wrasse. There's a decent covering of algae on about 5lbs of LR that came from the 5g tank. Will they survive? How can I mitigate a cycle for them to make it less stressful? I know fish are hardier than corals, there is some GSP on the LR from the 5g I'd like to save... it's already poked out it's polyps though, seems OK, and one of the miniscule feather dusters is still there, poking out it's fronds.

[lcstorc]

Just keep a close eye on your levels and do water changes as needed. Did you get your skimmer yet? If so, use it. It will get a lot of the yuck out of the water.

[kathywithbirds]

I don't have the aqua c remora yet that's coming in the mail, but I have the Lee's counter current running, I'm so glad I did that, I just wanted to see it run.

I'm considering going to the LFS and asking if they sell pods. Would they help? Maybe some good algae from their tanks/fuges (they have fuges, i've seen them).

[vdituri]

Here's some karma to help you through. Wow!

My instinct would be to do 5 gallon water changes a day at the first sign of ammonia or nitrite, but hopefully someone with more years under their belt can sign in soon.

[lcstorc]

You could add some macro for nutrient control. I would think it would help some. The most important thing is to keep tesing and do water changes as necessary. LR is good. Be sure not to overfeed and run your skimmer wet. Get the Remora on there as soon as you get it.

[Woodstock]

It is a very good thing you had somewhere to put them!! Keep an eye on the ammonia level.

[DrHank]

Don't add pods. Don't add anything. Do as Lynn said! Test your water daily. Do water changes as necessary to keep ammonia down. The fact that your 37 gallon didn't show an ammonia spike with the shrimp is a good indication that you may have enough bio activity to carry through the cycle (if it does cycle).

Feed sparingly (I'd feed once a day). Remember that a fish's stomach is about the size of it's eye. Don't overfeed. Both the six line and the damsel will pick at the rock. You would be surprised how much food is in the rock.

Remember go slowly and don't panic. Everything will work out.

[CATALYST]

I know this may sound wacky...
You could get a cheapy 10 gal from the pet store and put all of your critters in it. Change the water like everyday in the little tank until the larger tank cycles. Then add your critters a little at a time. I survived a month of this when I had to fix the ich my fishes had. It's easier to do water changes on the smaller tank. You could add some biospira or other bacteria to the large tank to help out too. Then when you're done with the smaller tank you could use it for quarantining new critters.

[kathywithbirds]

OK, great advice, thank you!!!!
I ordered some Chaetomorpha, I plan on getting a 10g tank (good idea for QT and acclimating, maybe a possible sump later, just might be a good thing to have. I'll put the algae in the 10g and maybe portion it out a little if needed. Again, might be good to turn it into a sump/fuge eventually. We'll see how it goes.

I shall sit on the tank, test, and feed once a day. The guys are eating well, piggishly as usual, the teeny featherdusters are out and the GSP is poking its polyps out. There's a trace amount of nitrates, 0 on ammonia and nitrites. I think this is good. Maybe there's enough bioactivity (my word for the day from Lynn) that there might be a small cycle if any. Hopefully. Fish seem OK, swimming all over checking out the new digs. The rock is pyramid shaped, with a "parking garage" underneath -- the larger rocks are istting on 4 medium ones so there's empty space underneath. Mike's good at this aquascaping thing.

I feel better, not freaking anymore.

[rebekwl]

Sorry to hear about your predicament Kathy!! I hope you get through it being able to keep everything alive!! Good luck!

[DrHank]

Kathy, you will probably be better off to just keep the two fish in the 37 than to try and use a 10 gallon tank. I can't tell you how many tanks that I've cycled in with damsels without loosing a fish. Water testing and changes as ammonia and/or nitrite rise is the key. If you're worried about the six line take him out and return to the LFS. You can always get another once the tank is established.

Don't set up another tank. All you'll be doing is doubling your work. Don't worry the 6 line is the only fish at risk and the risk is minimal as long as you check your water daily and have fresh saltwater made up to do water changes. You'll do fine!

[Dentoid]

Two tanks cracking in the same day! Mercury must be in retrograde!

[adc702]

I'm sorry to here that. I know exactly how your feeling rt now.

[kathywithbirds]

I'm telling you!!!!

Doc, not putting fish in 10g. I MIGHT put the macro algae in it for future reference. It's just a decent thing to have in an emergency like I had. I like to have stuff in hand JIC.

[lcstorc]

I think it would make a great sump for the tank or maybe even a sump/fuge combo. If you were to set up the 10 it would just subject the fish to a tank that is not cycled at all. At least on the tank they are in there is live rock a skimmer and has been up for at least a short time.
I think you will be fine but are likely to need several water changes in the next week or two. I was up to 50% twice a day when I put fish in an uncycled QT tank.