How long has your SPS reef gone crash-free?

[Mr_Quality]

Definition of crash: Any event, including cyano or hair algae outbreak, that resulted in more than 25% loss of corals.

[Mr_Quality]

I ask this because of an experience-based theory I have, and an informal poll I gleaned from talking to hobbyists in my area. I don’t know of anybody who has been able to sustain an SPS reef tank for more than 3 or 4 years. Many folks simply upgrade their tanks to a larger system within that time frame before it crashes, and others do in fact crash.

I have heard various crash theories, some of which are have an almost religious following. Examples include the Congregation of Bare-Bottom Reefers and the Temple of the Heavy-Metal Rockers. I don’t wish to debate theories but would like to collect the data, so if you did vote, please describe the tank(s) that you are refereeing to.

Thanks,

[Steve C.S.]

My tank just crashed on the 3rd of March. It is a 24"cube that I downsized from a 90 gal a little over a year ago. The crash was due to a pump failure and not water problems.
Steve

[imbuggin]

last time 7 years. Now I will not say and curse myself!

[Mr_Quality]

Originally posted by imbuggin
last time 7 years. Now I will not say and curse myself!

7 years before it crashed or 7 years before you broke it douwn for another reason?

[imbuggin]

Originally posted by Mr_Quality
7 years before it crashed or 7 years before you broke it douwn for another reason?

7 years till it crashed. I added some "black reef sand" about 1-2 lbs (not much to a 300 gallon tank). The next morning everything was dead. After some research I found out the sand was not at all marine reef sand. Instead it was mined in Illinois and plastic coated for black color. Needless to say I was not happy and had to litigate against the manufacturer. Yes, I did win, but it still sucked.