Heater Went Out While Cycling

J

jciwlsn

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Feb 25, 2003
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Hi,

I've been reading your forum for a couple of weeks now and it's great. You're all so helpful!

I set up a 30 gal. tank with 4" of Aragamax (told not to rinse), few days later added 20 lbs. of live rock, threw in 1/2 jumbo cocktail shrimp, and was told not to run the Remora C (which the LFS said that was all I needed for the tank). The tests were coming out OK, amm was highest at 1.0 then dropped to about 0.7 (sorry I bought the Red Sea test kit). So, two days ago the Tronic 150W heater for some reason shut off during the night and the temp went from 78 to 72. The GFI didn't trip, the lights still went on. Is the live rock still live????

Please help!!
 
Should be okay. Bacteria will slow down in lower temps, but they shouldn't die off. If it were my tank, I would go get 2 heaters, each about 3/4 what you'd need in one heater, and run them both. This way, if one dies, you're still okay.

We had to replace the heaters in our 180 2 days ago--the heaters came on, but they never got more than about 72-74. We didn't lose any fish, corals, rock, ect. The tank was on the cool side for 2 days. A slow temperature change isn't usually a problem--it's the big sudden spikes that cause the most concern.
 
That's a relief! I knew I should have bought 2 heaters.......

BTW, should I take the shrimp out and replace with another larger piece? I was going to buy the remainder of the live rock sometime this week. When are water changes necessary, after the tank has cycled?

Thank you!!!
 
If you can take the smell, you can leave the shrimp in there for the entiretyy of the cycling.

Water changes aren't needed until the ammonia and nitriates hit 0. Then do a big change, large enough to drop the nitrates to aceptable levels. Since the bacteria live attached to some kind of media (rock, sand, etc--pretty much everything in the tank). Then you're ready for stocking!
 
Ok, I'll just let the shrimp hang in there. The smell should be Ok, although not sure how the 2 cats will react.......

180 gallons, huh? Must be beautiful.

Thanks again!
 
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