Do I need to sterilize my tank?

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Chaz88

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 21, 2010
695
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16
Iowa
A couple of weeks ago my SW tank had a sudden catastrophic melt down. The tank has been established for about two years. It is, or was, a fish and live rock tank. About 10 days ago everything was normal and acting fine and over night the fish had white spots, glazed eyes, clamped ragged fins and less than two days later I had no fish left.

This is a 120g tank was lightly stocked and water tests and temperature were stable and healthy. I am still scratching my head about the sudden melt down.

My question is if I need to take it down sterilize and start over or let it run without fish for a bit and restock. If I take it down I might move the setup into my 150g or go without a SW tank for a bit. Is the live rock and sand safe to use or re-home or not?
 
Ptrick125 said:
I would start off by finding out what the problem was in the tank...
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I have not managed to pin down how the disease was introduced or if it was dormant what stressed the fish to make them susceptible.
 
What type of water are you using? - clamped fins sounds like chlorine or ammonia - white spots sounds like Ick meaning the rocks and sand are unsafe for the next 8 weeks. Cloudy eye is 100% stress related. Is it possible yours or where ever's RO unit failed? Did you forget to dechlorinate the tapwater during a w/c if using tap? If using tap did your municipality work on any underground pipes near you? And lastly if using Tap are your pipes old cooper showing a bluish whitish color?
 
Kevin8888 said:
nvm my post didnt make sence after re-reading yours lol since you say parms where fine
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I mean that you should probably try and find out what you had, some diseases are treated differently than others, and if it is preventable, you could prevent it.


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I use dechlorinated tap. No recent work on the lines. My pluming was galvanized but has been replaced with PVC many years ago. The 8 weeks sound about right to me. I will let it run a bit longer clean it and introduce a couple of fish and see how it goes.
 
Otherone is right about the 8 weeks for marine ich. However, if you don't have the proper RO water to cycle and cleanse the sand/rock correctly. I would personally just buy new dry sand and rock to ensure that you're getting it clean. Recycle the tank, and begin anew. With that being said I don't have tons of cash to throw around either being a college student. So my recommendation. Find someone with a stable RODI unit, whether it be you, a friend, or a LFS. Put all of your live rock into rubbermade containers and fill the container up with RO, drop your rock in. Leave it sit for 2 days, and cycle the water in and out of the container for 2 weeks. To ensure that any and ALL of the bacteria or even BB/growth is dead. Then restart the tank up that way...It will go through a whole recycling process all over again... But that is the only way that i could see fit for restarting without spending loads of cash.

The day before they died, did you do a water change? Or was anyone cleaning around the tank...febreeze..pledge...etc..?
 
Jrob said:
The day before they died, did you do a water change? Or was anyone cleaning around the tank...febreeze..pledge...etc..?
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No. I thought maybe one of the kids might have sprayed something. They did not and there is little danger of them cleaning anything unless I tell them to. This cost a lot to set up and replacing the live rock and sand is not in the budget, I am also in college (I started over 20 years late). I will look into the RO.
 
Run the tank empty for a few weeks to a few months with carbon. Have your powerheads pointed at the rocks and sand to stir it up and remove anything bad. Also before this do a complete water change. That in theory should clean anything bad out.

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