My unintentional science experiment

ScottT1980 · 08-19-2004, 12:18 PM

I woke up Sunday morning to find my tank at 97 degrees F. Apparantly, my 500W heater temp. sensor worked its way out of the water and was measuring the air temperature instead, thus causing the tank to overheat, and get real hot really quickly.

Anyway, I freaked, but I am assuming it hadn't been on too long. So here I am, 4 days after the fact, had a few SPS bleach (monti. cap, and acro sp.), I had a sinularia melt and a mushroom leather melt. Other corals still appear to be recovering (primarily zoanthids and my star polyps), but other than that, everything seems to be doing fine. A couple of big water changes still in store, and hopefully things will be back to normal...

I miss my stable, healthy tank. I haven't had that in about 4 months...

So regardless, we all know SPS are heat sensitive, but I would have never thought sinularia and leathers would be the more sensitive softies...

Just thought I would share...

Take er easy
Scott T.

Witfull · 08-19-2004, 12:23 PM

sorry to hear scott. in late spring i just unplug my heater, its not needed untill late late fall in this house. the coolest i have seen the tank fall to is 77.5* with out it.

Tarasco · 08-19-2004, 01:20 PM

That sucks. When I had my fish fry a year ago, I lost a couple of leathers and shrooms as well. All my LPS died. Didn't have any SPS, though. I don't know how long the heater went bezerk, somewhere less than 36 hours. It took about a month and a half for my GSP to make it back. Not fun.

Craig Manoukian · 08-19-2004, 01:56 PM

Real bummer Scott, must be very disappointing.

Not to hijack, but got home from our house boat vacation and salt water had dripped on to my surge protector for my 20 gallon and it shorted the thing turning the whole tank off. No lights, skimmer, or circulation for maybe two days.

Well I smelled the water and everything seemed cool except no Cleaner Shrimp, softies were closed, and my Damsel had labored breathing. I quickly got things turned on and did a 2.5 gallon water change.

To my surprise everything was fine the next morning and the only thing I lost were two large Limpets. Everybody is doing well and I just added a small Flasher Wrasse. Couldn't believe my water parameters were perfectly stabilized after 48 hours.

Hope you have some of my good luck on your recovery!

Curtswearing · 08-19-2004, 02:38 PM

Scott,

You will probably need to target feed the SPS for a while. They normally get almost all of their food from photosynthesis and now the dinoflagellates aren't around to feed the coral. When the heat-stress enzyme causes corals to bleach, they don't typically fully bleach so there is a small chance of revival.

Sorry bud. Hopefully, you'll have a survivor or two.

ScottT1980 · 08-19-2004, 02:44 PM

I certailny feel pretty lucky, as most SPS, all LPS and most softies made it (thats what makes me think I caught it fairly early). I did notice some color remaining in my bleeched corals, so I will certainly try to target feed and see what happens. Thanks guys...

Take er easy
Scott T.

Woodstock · 08-19-2004, 04:01 PM

I'm glad you noticed it when you did! That could have been a catastrophie for sure!

Gina · 08-19-2004, 06:34 PM

Hope the rest of your corals do ok and recover quickly!

Montanareefer · 08-19-2004, 07:34 PM

That is why my heater always stayed unplugged in the summer time even with the A/C running.

08-19-2004, 12:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,485 View Gallery Karma Komment	My unintentional science experiment I woke up Sunday morning to find my tank at 97 degrees F. Apparantly, my 500W heater temp. sensor worked its way out of the water and was measuring the air temperature instead, thus causing the tank to overheat, and get real hot really quickly. Anyway, I freaked, but I am assuming it hadn't been on too long. So here I am, 4 days after the fact, had a few SPS bleach (monti. cap, and acro sp.), I had a sinularia melt and a mushroom leather melt. Other corals still appear to be recovering (primarily zoanthids and my star polyps), but other than that, everything seems to be doing fine. A couple of big water changes still in store, and hopefully things will be back to normal... I miss my stable, healthy tank. I haven't had that in about 4 months... So regardless, we all know SPS are heat sensitive, but I would have never thought sinularia and leathers would be the more sensitive softies... Just thought I would share... Take er easy Scott T. __________________ My Tank

08-19-2004, 01:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tarasco Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	That sucks. When I had my fish fry a year ago, I lost a couple of leathers and shrooms as well. All my LPS died. Didn't have any SPS, though. I don't know how long the heater went bezerk, somewhere less than 36 hours. It took about a month and a half for my GSP to make it back. Not fun. __________________ Mike "I saw what the governor makes. That's like four hands of blackjack." -- Charles Barkley on why he wasn't seriously considering becoming the Governor of Alabama

08-19-2004, 01:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Real bummer Scott, must be very disappointing. Not to hijack, but got home from our house boat vacation and salt water had dripped on to my surge protector for my 20 gallon and it shorted the thing turning the whole tank off. No lights, skimmer, or circulation for maybe two days. Well I smelled the water and everything seemed cool except no Cleaner Shrimp, softies were closed, and my Damsel had labored breathing. I quickly got things turned on and did a 2.5 gallon water change. To my surprise everything was fine the next morning and the only thing I lost were two large Limpets. Everybody is doing well and I just added a small Flasher Wrasse. Couldn't believe my water parameters were perfectly stabilized after 48 hours. Hope you have some of my good luck on your recovery! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

08-19-2004, 02:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,597 View Gallery Karma Komment	Scott, You will probably need to target feed the SPS for a while. They normally get almost all of their food from photosynthesis and now the dinoflagellates aren't around to feed the coral. When the heat-stress enzyme causes corals to bleach, they don't typically fully bleach so there is a small chance of revival. Sorry bud. Hopefully, you'll have a survivor or two. __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

08-19-2004, 02:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
ScottT1980 Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,485 View Gallery Karma Komment	I certailny feel pretty lucky, as most SPS, all LPS and most softies made it (thats what makes me think I caught it fairly early). I did notice some color remaining in my bleeched corals, so I will certainly try to target feed and see what happens. Thanks guys... Take er easy Scott T. __________________ My Tank

08-19-2004, 04:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,502 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I'm glad you noticed it when you did! That could have been a catastrophie for sure! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

08-19-2004, 06:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hope the rest of your corals do ok and recover quickly! __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

08-19-2004, 07:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	That is why my heater always stayed unplugged in the summer time even with the A/C running.

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