Crash happening on skimmer less 55g

[Katrina71]

Look, all you can do is damage control. Don't let it stress you too much. Seriously. Been here too. Most things do recover in 6 weeks. Don't let it overwhelm you.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Thank you. Making the WC is tough. Should I continue or switch to weekly now?

The high parameter is still ammonia. I’m not worried about phosphate. WC will reduce it down but not at the 10 gal per time rate. I know it will fuel algae and will balance back out. What I want to avoid is an anemone die off which will fuel the rollercoaster of bacteria infections to the other anemones.

I have lots of experience with anemones, and 10 years of reefing with SPS, but never experienced a system wide crash before.

bump for more feedback from my usual anemone forum hangout experts. Thanks:
@OrionN @dbraun15 @D-Nak @Taylor t @lpsouth1978 @reeflover @Eagle_Steve

 

[chizerbunoi]

Magnifica, Sebae, condi, Mertensii and most BTA appear fine. Unknown about rock flowers. that’s the slimmer on the front for easy access to poly pad change outs.

Gigantea, LTA, Haddoni have gaping mouths. Some RBTA appear to be deteriorating as per pic #2. Typical deflation cycle. No pancake symptoms yet.

 

[ApoIsland]

Glad most of that stuff is going to pull through. Personally i would keep doing the daily 20% water changes until those bta and flower nems look better.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Sounds like a plan.

 

[chizerbunoi]

I measured with the WC of 10 gals and that equals 35-40% of the water volume. So I probably only have a water volume of 25-30 gals. The anemones are discharging after lights out. Perhaps due to stress and not from a spawn. The skimmer broke in now and is pulling out lots.

I think I found the saddleback clownfish.

 

[sfin52]

If you can use a siphon tube and house to stir the sand bed. The bubbles should travel up the hose and out of the tank. I wouldn't siphon water out at the same time.

 

[Katrina71]

Keep changing water if you are getting ammonia. Imo

 

[chizerbunoi]

The tank started to stink very badly. Then I found the remnants of the fish carcass. And the smell is going away. I think the tank is now on the road back to recovery.

Thank you everyone for your help in saving my tank. I really appreciate this community.

 

[Katrina71]

Congrats! You and your tank just survived your first crash.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Well just an update. Things are now back to normal. I do miss the female saddleback but I’m sure the other inhabitants don’t. She was the boss.