Rebuild advice

[stickx911]

So my 14g biocube crashed and I just gave up what livestock that I had left. All that remains is sand and some remaining cleaners. So I have 3 options, and I'm looking for advice on which way to go.

I won't be able to start anything until January, and I cannot afford to upgrade hardware, plus I like the small tank as I don't have time to invest getting a big one set up.

a. keep the tank on life support (heater, powerhead, and no light). Kill all the bad algae, but keep the good guys alive.

b. Dump it all. They have no value so drain the thing, vinegar bath and start brand new.

c. Sell it all, and wait until I can afford a new setup.

 

[nickg]

Leave it dark... do a 50% WC and let it sit...

 

[johniii]

Option a

Sent from my XT912 using Tapatalk

 

[picoreefguy]

i say start fresh. just give the cleaners to a friend and drain it dry out the sand and rock after rinsing them both well, run the tank with magicklean or vinigar to clean it and then start over.

 

[mikesmith34]

I'm with b on this one. As long as you rehouse the animals, start over. Personal choice obviously, I'm not a fix it kind of guy. I usually just go buy a new one or start from scratch.

 

[jdw]

I am with Mike on this, option B. one less thing to worry about during the holidays.

 

[snowmansnow]

total rebuild... dump it.. start fresh, go slow, do it right, cover your tracks, and end up with a very solid system.

 

[ringo®]

Do you know what the cause of the crash was?

 

[stickx911]

no known cause. I did a water change that day. that's all.

My guesses are:
-I was going a mg treatment for bryopsis so water change (I do 20% weekly-ish changes) threw off the number and the swing caused it?

-I washed my hands and somehow some chemical stayed on. I'm pretty careful imo, but you never know.

-dumb luck

 

[ringo®]

When it's a head scratcher on a small tank, I would probably scrap it.

 

[nickh06]

Sell it and go bigger! That's what I did and I haven't been happier.

 

[jdavid]

My nano just crashed for the first time ever. Stinks.

Luckily I didn't lose anything, snowflakes are fine, corals and nem aren't happy.

 

[stickx911]

good luck. it's not fun. In all my tanks I've had, this was my first crash. Granted, it was the first time I had so much sps in a tank, so I always thought it'd come some day.

 

[jdwells]

Any word on a decision yet? I'm with option B also.

 

[stickx911]

Right now it's sitting. But I think I'm going to clean out most of it but keep the sand live and let the tank sit for a couple weeks once rebuilt.

 

[jdwells]

Ok cool man. Good luck.

 

[motoman]

Option B.

How old was the tank when it crashed? If it was over two years old I would start fresh, use new sand/water etc. Its not that much work to get a 14g biocube going. It will be worth it in the long run. As far as upgrading, the only expenses are livestock and new sand... all of the livestock should be transferable to a new tank so its a win win.. just my 2 cents.