HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 So after a JBJ 1000w heater took my 300g Cichlids tank up to 94 degrees and killed half the fish, I've never been able to recover. Half the fish were in trash cans while I drained the tank 100% and refilled it (it was milky soup), but even now, 3 months later, the tank still looks like shit. Everything is green and the amount of particulate matter floating around is overwhelming. I know this isn't a reef tank (hey it's brackish!), but advice would be much appreciated. The tank has a wet-dry filteration system (lots of filter floss) and a BRS reactor running a LOT of carbon. Before: running for 5+ years- there are dozens (probably 60+) happy cichlids constantly breeding in their spotless tank. After: three months later, everything still looks like shit Particulate matter EVERYWHERE Quote Link to comment
Addinali Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Harry thats the complete opposite of a nano reef lol . but I would say that sand is probably leeching something. 1 Quote Link to comment
plainrt Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Can't you take couple rocks out here and there and bleach them and return back to tank? 1000w heater lol. Can't you use like two 300w or 500w ? Heater controllers ftw Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Harry thats the complete opposite of a nano reef lol . but I would say that sand is probably leeching something. Yeah but I really like this forum... Given that the tank is 96x24 with a 5" deep sand bed, that gives me about 800lbs of sand. Can't really replace that Addinali, no? It was running perfectly- clear, no algae, healthy fish for 5 years before the heater killed it Can't you take couple rocks out here and there and bleach them and return back to tank? 1000w heater lol. Can't you use like two 300w or 500w ? Heater controllers ftw I've tried bleaching the rocks. Looks great for two weeks, but then returns to this. Upon reflection that wasn't a good idea, but that's was JBJ reccomended for me. The True-Temp Titanium Heater and controller Quote Link to comment
Addinali Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Yeah but I really like this forum... Given that the tank is 96x24 with a 5" deep sand bed, that gives me about 800lbs of sand. Can't really replace that Addinali, no? It was running perfectly- clear, no algae, healthy fish for 5 years before the heater killed it I've tried bleaching the rocks. Looks great for two weeks, but then returns to this. Upon reflection that wasn't a good idea, but that's was JBJ reccomended for me. The True-Temp Titanium Heater and controller That much sand could be hiding a lot of gunk. And as for the heaters 2 small ones are always better then a big one. lol I just read that to my self. 3 Quote Link to comment
smeagol108 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I love this. I used to run my 210 as a cichlid only tank and it was my favorite tank ever. Always spotless and clean. I'm sorry Harry. I would suggest trying to vacuum that sand as best u can, give the tank a total blackout for as long as u want. I would also think about trying to use those super super fine pads and replace as much as possible to see if u can get that particulate matter out. wish u luck. Beautiful tank regardless 1 Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 That much sand could be hiding a lot of gunk. And as for the heaters 2 small ones are always better then a big one. lol I just read that to my self. I've mixed it up and a ton of shit comes out, and then did a 50% water change. Still, no luck. Do the saltwater (Hanna, Salifert) test kits work with brackish water? Quote Link to comment
Addinali Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I've mixed it up and a ton of shit comes out, and then did a 50% water change. Still, no luck. Do the saltwater (Hanna, Salifert) test kits work with brackish water? What salinity are you keeping your brackish water at 1.015? Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 I love this. I used to run my 210 as a cichlid only tank and it was my favorite tank ever. Always spotless and clean. I'm sorry Harry. I would suggest trying to vacuum that sand as best u can, give the tank a total blackout for as long as u want. I would also think about trying to use those super super fine pads and replace as much as possible to see if u can get that particulate matter out. wish u luck. Beautiful tank regardless I'm using the InTank filter floss, which is pretty fine. I even hooked up my MP40w QD to it for a week and made some crazy ass flow to clean up the sand bed, but no luck. Vaccuming the sand with 100g water changes weekly- just has no effect What salinity are you keeping your brackish water at 1.015? 1.009 Quote Link to comment
Addinali Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I'm using the InTank filter floss, which is pretty fine. I even hooked up my MP40w QD to it for a week and made some crazy ass flow to clean up the sand bed, but no luck. Vaccuming the sand with 100g water changes weekly- just has no effect 1.009 At that low it would probably be off on the readings. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 At that low it would probably be off on the readings. So is there a brackish test kit? I want to know if the sand is leaving phosphate or if the nitrates are still sky high from the Cichlid soup Quote Link to comment
Addinali Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 So is there a brackish test kit? I want to know if the sand is leaving phosphate or if the nitrates are still sky high from the Cichlid soup The nitrate test would probably be right on the money. But the phosphate will be off a little. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 The nitrate test would probably be right on the money. But the phosphate will be off a little. Sweet I'll do Salifert Nitrate and Hanna Phosphate. Any other ideas? It's such a shame- was running amazingly for five years when the ancient heater kicked the bucket. Added the JBJ (since tank runs at 72 without heater) and BOOM kills the tank. Now it's an eyesore Oh the lighting is 8 24" ATI T5s Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 It's all JBJs fault lol Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 It's all JBJs fault lol I know, but they did give me my RL-45 with stand and skimmer for free in compensation. Very apologetic 1 Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I know, but they did give me my RL-45 with stand and skimmer for free in compensation. Very apologetic Nice!!! Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Nice!!! Yeah I thought it was pretty fair. It was a factory defect and they had no legal obligation to give me anything, so I appreciated it a lot. Plus they featured my tank twice on the JBJ Facebook page, so I guess it worked out for both of us 1 Quote Link to comment
CJJon Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Who cares about the tank. What is up with that stand?!? (I like it) Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Yeah I thought it was pretty fair. It was a factory defect and they had no legal obligation to give me anything, so I appreciated it a lot. Plus they featured my tank twice on the JBJ Facebook page, so I guess it worked out for both of us yeah thats an amazing deal you got out of it. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Who cares about the tank. What is up with that stand?!? (I like it) Got the whole setup in 2010 for $1000 on craigslist. Ad was "300 gallon tank- $1000- YOU MOVE IT" Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Where did you get your cichlids at harry? Quote Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Sell the cichlids, trash everything in it and start a 300 gallon reef tank. 9 Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Where did you get your cichlids at harry? All from assorted aquaculture facilities in homestead. All were bought small, like 2", and are now like 6" long! Sell the cichlids, trash everything in it and start a 300 gallon reef tank. That would be my dream Stella. It's already plumbed for it and has the lighting for it! 1 Quote Link to comment
Jorgieee Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Sell the cichlids, trash everything in it and start a 300 gallon reef tank. Yeah that sounds like an amazing idea lol, but I feel like harry would go crazy with his OCD. 3 Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Yeah that sounds like an amazing idea lol, but I feel like harry would go crazy with his OCD. Yeah imagine my RL-45 on a 10x larger scale... I'd go 1/3 clams, 1/3 anemones, and 1/3 LPS. No SPS 1 Quote Link to comment
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