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View Full Version : My 90 gallon, 6 months removed from an alk and temp spike


giants4pc
02/04/2010, 09:12 PM
Figured I would post a thread about my 90 gallon mixed reef that I feel has recovered rather nicely after a disaster last summer. While away, my alk spiked and my heater got stuck. For how knows how long, my temp was hovering at 90 degrees. Miraculously, I didn't lose any fish, but the corals took a beating.

The tank is an All Glass 90 with a 75 gallon sump baffled to house the filtration. I run 2 250 Reeflux 10k's supplemented with 2 110 watt super actinic vho's. I have 1 vortech mp40w for flow. There is probably about 60-70lbs of live rock. I do run a fuge with some chaeto and currently, I top off with limewater and use Drew's dosers to add alk and calcium. I run carbon and phosban 24/7 in reactors.

I guess I am posting more just to prove that it is possible to recover from disaster if we practice patience and stay dedicated. My picture taking skills are not good- neither is my camera.
Current full tank shot:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC04252.jpg
Side view
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC04285.jpg
Clams
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC04278.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC04279.jpg


Here are some before and after pics of what was nearly dead and now recovered:
Plate coral and galaxy - only actinics but you can see the bleaching
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC03826.jpg
Now:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC04284.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC04279.jpg
Monti cap 6 months ago
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC03637.jpg
Now
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/DSC04280.jpg

And...just for fun, this is what the tank looked like 2 years ago.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c35/giants4pc/july08.jpg

LS1 WS6
02/04/2010, 09:17 PM
Man you have some seriously nice coraline growth there! Glad everything is coming back good for you. How did the alk spike?

giants4pc
02/04/2010, 09:23 PM
Yah, it looks as though I have tremendously high phosphates, but that is just the pink look of my live rock. I think the spike was a result of a few things. I never could regulate it, and I was getting such swings when testing. It would range from 6 to 11 within a couple days. I also had an accident when setting up my Tunze osmolator and poured about 15 gallons of limewater in the tank - not good!!!

LS1 WS6
02/04/2010, 10:59 PM
15 gallons of limewater!!!!! wow, im suprised anything made if after that!

dubdlee
02/04/2010, 11:48 PM
Glad to see such great recoveries! lucky not to have lost more. Looks great keep up the great work!!

giants4pc
02/05/2010, 06:28 AM
Yah, the tank was a milky mess. Luckily I had 40 gallons of fresh water and did an instant water change. I think that helped a great deal, but the look was very disheartening for such a time.