The Saga of Matt's 2005 Saltwater Reef Aquarium
- Updated: April 13, 2006
- Post By: Matthew Hengst
Back in 2005 when I had a little more of a home based existance I set up the salt water tank I'd wanted ever since I was a kid.
This is the last sequential picture I have before the disaster.
One day in 2006 I left for work and everything was fine. When I got home 10 hours later I could tell right off something was amiss. The tank was right across from the front door and instead of the explosion of color the tank had been that morning it looked like everything was missing and there was a strong smell in the apartment.
Down in the sump I had a heater running. I'd just bought whatever the aquarium store had and that ended up being a glass rod heater. It had cracked electrocuting the tank and killing everything except for the hermit crabs
All the coral was dead, all the fish were dead. Most of the remains had actually dissolved already.
I tried to start it up again but only half heartedly. I put in a metal heater, cycled it for a while, and tried reintroducing a few things but they failed. Eventually I drained it and sold it several years later.
I loved having the tank. It was a dream come true setting it up and despite all the work it brought me a lot of joy. Sadly my life circumstances have changed to where doing another isn't really an option but maybe some day.
I always loved clown fish and really wanted to keep some. However 2 mated pairs both failed quickly. Best guess (other than maybe they'd been moved too quickly once arriving at the store) was the water flow in the tank was too strong.
I also had a few invasions
These things showed up when I dropped the rocks in and reached epidemic levels at times.
I honestly don't remember what exactly didn't work well. I believe it had to due with the baffles coming unstuck. Not long after I ended up getting a storebought one I liked a lot better,
Tank Progression
September 2nd, 2005 |
September 21st, 2005 |
September 26th, 2005 |
October 6th, 2005 |
October 21st, 2005 |
November 6th, 2005 |
April 13th, 2006 |
One day in 2006 I left for work and everything was fine. When I got home 10 hours later I could tell right off something was amiss. The tank was right across from the front door and instead of the explosion of color the tank had been that morning it looked like everything was missing and there was a strong smell in the apartment.
Down in the sump I had a heater running. I'd just bought whatever the aquarium store had and that ended up being a glass rod heater. It had cracked electrocuting the tank and killing everything except for the hermit crabs
All the coral was dead, all the fish were dead. Most of the remains had actually dissolved already.
I tried to start it up again but only half heartedly. I put in a metal heater, cycled it for a while, and tried reintroducing a few things but they failed. Eventually I drained it and sold it several years later.
2011 when I sold the remains |
Tank Inhabitants
Bubble Coral early on |
Bubble Coral later |
Pulsing Xenia when added |
You can see how much the Xenia had expanded |
Brain Coral |
I always loved clown fish and really wanted to keep some. However 2 mated pairs both failed quickly. Best guess (other than maybe they'd been moved too quickly once arriving at the store) was the water flow in the tank was too strong.
Yellow Tang |
I also had a few invasions
These things showed up when I dropped the rocks in and reached epidemic levels at times.
Tank Setup
After talking with the aquarium store I tried to make the sump myself.Sump Mark I |
Sump Mark I Installed |
I honestly don't remember what exactly didn't work well. I believe it had to due with the baffles coming unstuck. Not long after I ended up getting a storebought one I liked a lot better,
Sump Mark II Installed |
Taking the rocks home from the store |
1 comments
This is SOOOO COOOOOOL!!!
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