Reef Emergency - Sw Fwlro

[mav8989]

Help!

I have a 14g Nano Reef -- this morning I awoke to find a funny smell near the tank! I couldn't for the life of me see what was wrong until I stuck my finger in the water - it was up to 89 degrees F.

The tank is cycled - just recently. Readings are Am=0 NitrITE=0 NitrATE=5 --- Didn't have time to check remaining SW parameters.

There is a single clown in there, and a couple of turbo snails. There is a significant investment in Fiji Liverock - which is fully cured and has good signs of life, corraline algea, some hitchhiker corals and mushrooms growing now.... The clown is looking good, just a little more docile then usual - he did take his morning food. The snails are not moving much, I'd assume because their activity and life span are directly related to temperature.

I only have one fish now - as I planned a long process of adding 2 more in order that I don't get a spike, etc....

There is a slight greying of some of the life on the liverock.... Nothing is flat out "dead" though. Yet

I redirected the powerheads more toward the surface, figuring that moving the surface would cause a gradual but faster dissipation of heat.

I looked at my heater, and ran the knob up and down -- it properly triggers on at around 89-90 degrees (where the temp unfortunately is) and remains OFF when properly set to 80 degrees, which is where I run my tank.

When I went to bed last night the temperature was 81 degrees, I get a one degree swing when the compacts are on during the day. (1 actinic and 1 10,000k)

All that remains on for part of the night are two .75 watt LED moonlights, which give off no heat. So I know this is not attributed to lighting - because the temp sky-rocketed at night! The house is kept at 72 at night and the aquarium is closer to a return and no vents, which cetainly wouldn't heat it like that anyway.

I had to leave for work - and spent my time in a panic wondering if this was just too much heat and if I will suffer for it today...

I'll be swapping out the heater today at the LFS after work just to be safe ---

Can anyone from experience tell me if this incident is REALLY BAD NEWS - I'm afraid that I might get a dye off on the LR that will cause a huge spike and mini or full cycle.

Thanks!

 

[ox5477]

I couldn't tell you what the results could be from this slight "poaching" of your tank, but good going pointing the power heads towards the surface. that would be the first thing to suggest to help remove some heat, also would say to use a fan to blow across the surface as well. You have a good amount of evap prob but thats good as the evaporating water is taking the heat away. It was prob a defective heater as from what you described, not much else I can see that would of caused this.

You mentioned a "bad smell." Did this smell like a natural odor, like rot or decay, or did it smell like buring metal/plastic. If its the later, I would check out all electronic components as maybe something is overheating or shorting and this can cause alot of heat, not to mention, possible electricution for the fish and for you when you perform maintenance. Good luck.

 

[mav8989]

Thanks for your help - I at least feel like I've taken some decent steps to start... The smell is between "seaside" which is normal - and the stentch of live rock that is uncured - but closer to seasside. It isn't the smell of death - but it's not a "normal smell". No smell of plastic or rubber burning - all the pumps and the add-on powerhead are in good order.... So I guess it must be the heater - maybe the thermostat stuck.... I'll try adding another fan into the hood for now -- one of those little computer fans - 12V deals....

I've just never had a spike in temp like this in saltwater and was hoping someone would say, yeah, that happened to me, don't sweat it! Of course, even if someone is to say, yeah - everything is going to die, I would have a headstart on trying to minimize that!

Thanks!

 

[Colin_T]

The heater malfunctioned and should be removed ASAP to prevent it cooking the tank again.
Increase surface turbulence to maximise oxygen levels in the water.
Don't feed for a couple of days and monitor the water quality.

 

[mav8989]

It's going to be a long day at work - I'm dying to get home so I can go to the LFS to swap the heater - they have a 90 day in-store swap - no questions asked - and then the mfg's lifetime warranty kicks in. I'll follow the warning on feeding and keep the surface moving to keep the oxygen level up - saltwater is hard enough at 80 - I can't imagine how little oxygen it can carry at this temperature....

Thanks!

 

[SkiFletch]

And be prepared for some serious snail attrition. They do not like temps that high. Agreed on the heater, ditch that thing PRONTO

 

[mav8989]

Thanks all...

Will report back on outcome in a day or so - just for the sake of people searching threads in the future....

 

[mav8989]

Well it was obviously the heater - no repeats with the new one... As far as my desperate questions regarding permanant damage.... Well believe it or not all seems well. There was an ever so slight dye-off of some algea here and there, but no damage to the corraline algea and all the other life on the liverocks --- The clown is fine and pretty active... still fasting him another day... The snails finally "came back to life" last night and resumed their activity.... The water is holding at 80 degrees.

Thanks to all who responded....

and the morale of the story uses a fine term provided by Ox5477.....

Nano Reefs FOWLR tanks do have a chance of surviving a brief "poaching"..... !!!!!

 

[Colin_T]

hmm poached fish and rock, never tried it myself but sounds tasty

 

[mav8989]

Everything seems to still be okay...

Add salt and pepper to taste

 

[Colin_T]

and a little bit of garlic and ground ginger. Then fry in butter to seal in the flavour