Aquarium STRESS!!

Matt Rogers · 12-23-2003, 07:41 PM

Hello, my name is Matthew Rogers and tonight I succumbed to A.I.A.A. - Aquarium Induced Anxiety Attack!

[smiley=uneasy.gif] [smiley=worried2.gif]

It all started on my drive home. A black cat crossed the street in front of me right near my house. Apparently that meant something.

I get in, looking forward to taking it easy after a stressful day at work, and look at my tank.

Something wasn't right.

I noticed one of my corals had tipped slightly and wedged itself between some rocks. Well, I thought, I'll just move that front rock a bit and put the coral back.

OOPS!

The whole damn deck of cards came tumbling down. A BOULDER AVALANCHE!! Coral was pressed against glass by rocks! Frags flying everywhere!

I let out a weird scream! [smiley=shocked3.gif]

OH NO!! My perfect natural looking rock formation gone like that!

I panic, then I run for the buckets...
I start removing rocks, corals, down to the remaining foundation.

I reach for the bottom... ACCKKKK... major water displacement - water pouring over the sides of the glass!! [smiley=cry2.gif]

I am REALLY FREAKING OUT!

I grab the siphon and pour water in the buckets, not before getting a lot all over the wall!

I make more weird noises... jeez I'm a freek! I am losing my MIND!! [smiley=dizzy.gif]

Then I start putting rock back, some fall against the glass... the anxiety worsens... I start thinking the glass will crack!

I try to calm down, but then I notice after I stack most of the rocks, I put the ugly ones in FRONT!! More rocks fall! The water becomes very cloudy!

I START SWEARING LIKE I HAVE FREAKING TOURETTES!!
[smiley=furious3.gif]

I want to run outside screaming and chew the trees down with my TEETH!!

But then I tell myself panicking is not helping and only making it harder.. I take a breath and I actually LOOK at what I am doing.

Eventually it started to look right, and I got it done without killing everything and myself.

Thank you for your time, this has helped.

[smiley=uhoh.gif]

matt

Phil5613 · 12-23-2003, 08:27 PM

Matt I would gladly become your aquarium stress sponser! No put the lr down breath deep LOL! Honestly it happens but we try to not let it happen often, I was wedgeing a hammer coral in the 125 that I had and started a major rock slide. While hangig over the tank both arms in the tank water dumping on the floor the step stool I was standing on slides! Now using my head on the lights over the tank for balance both arms still in the tank I start hollering for help from wife or child, upon entering the room they can't stop laughing (no digital camera THANK GOD!) and can't stop laughing to help. So now I am mad at the tank,the hammer coral ,the stepstool,family and self but must ACT calm and speak calm or die and rot on the top of my tank. tank survived and everyone was healthy so amen brother. Remember go slow and let it grow but not during a rock slide!

12-24-2003, 01:32 AM

And don't forget the TNM. Tank Night Mare.
While you sleep you think you hear something coming from the aquarium area and start to think. was that a pump? was that water slashing on the floor etc... until you have to get up and go check to see if everything is ok.

Jason McKenzie · 12-24-2003, 07:10 AM

I feel for you Matt.
I'm always very hesitant to start something in the Aquarium, knowing it will lead to more and more. I've had several LR avalanches they are not fun at all.
My next Reef I think the PVC frame work under the LR will be a must.
Glad everything is fine.

J

Matt Rogers · 12-30-2003, 06:59 AM

Thanks guys!
Looks like there is a common theme with rock stacking! heh.

Well everything seems to have recovered except for my tree coral that was pressed against the glass by a rock. It seemed ok at first, albeit small, but then one morning when I came in, I found it in pieces on the bottom! It was completely severed at the base! I found this kinda odd.

I am thinking it was a bit damaged by the super glue and days before I saw it shedding the side off with the glue. Then I guess when it took a big hit, it just followed the cut. I guess!!

Anyway, it looks like I have two tiny trees now, hopefully they will rebound under the new halide bulb I just got and maybe another tree will grow out of the stump that is still on the rock.

Back to stress, any more stories to share?

Phil5613 · 12-31-2003, 09:10 AM

Here is another fun story:
I had a DAS ( Dutch aqaurium Systems) with an old h39 filter ( won't own another DAS but another story in another thread) I had built a spray bar return and bumped the return pump to a mag 5 it was working great! then as i alwas do i decide to break something that was working. i figured if i took the 90's out put 45's in and replace some of the pvc with clear hose i could increase the current in the tank. While i was at it i might as well drill more holes in the spray bar to handle current. project is done, great flow and walk away happy 5 min later kids announce the tank has snow in it! I come into the room can't see into tank millions of micro bubbles! The pump with no back pressure is now draining the air stone powered downdraft skimmer in the h39- bubbles into the tank and away from the skimmer. All hardware supply stores are closed its lateand i used scraps to do mod. what to fix first and what is best answer? Long story short (i know finally) I cut some pieces of the tubing and cover some of the holes of the spray bar until I can get to hardware and pick up more pvc and re drill spray bar. A valve was not the answer because there is no room under hood

Jason McKenzie · 12-31-2003, 10:01 AM

I think everyone is getting tired of my leak story but here goes.
Leak 1 5:30am Sunday morning. I hear a pop that wakes me up from a wonderful winter sleep. Ear poised to listen for what caused the pop. Nothing... As I slowly drift back to sleep.. Drip. drip. dripdripdripdrip. That sound like water dripping on the carpet. Wife Screams "The Aquarium!!!" I'm instantly in a heighten state, with adrenalin ramped up to peak levels. naked I'm assessing the situation. The back seam has split. Water is flowing at an increasingly faster rate. Wife comments on how unattractive a 33 year old fat guy running around trying to catch water in cupped hands naked is.
Well all the inhabitants found homes in buckets and a couple of 10G. The new tank arrived a week later and all was fine.......for 3 months until the second leak.

karlas · 01-01-2004, 04:20 AM

breath and count 123, breath n count 123, breath n count 123
haha just tryin to make ya fell better

reiple · 01-01-2004, 06:39 AM

it's very hard to laugh at these experiences when you've had it yourself. I guess we are all survivors!

Phil5613 · 01-01-2004, 08:29 AM

Wife comments on how unattractive a 33 year old fat guy running around trying to catch water in cupped hands naked is.

WAAAHHOOOO! Naked reef keeping I am in!!
signed the overweight 35 year old,
Phil