Good luck. You'll be back on your feet and 100% again sooner than you think. Your tank may have required 7 years of development before the crash but this time it will only take a fraction of that time.

About ten years ago I took a job on the road and had to sell all of my tanks. The jerk I sold my main reef to 1) took a job on the road himself, 2) had his power shut off due to not paying his bills, and 3) totally stiffed me on payment. It took me a while to decide to get back into the hobby again but now that I am back I can tell you to keep your head up. Things move much (MUCH) faster with each new setup.

i've got to say that buddy pine is a real trooper, he's currently in the planning stages of an upgrade, bigger and better, can't wait to see some pics after the new setup is a year old!

Buddy Pine

I am sorry for your loss. Man that sucks. Your tank looked amazing! I am glad to see that you are starting again. I cant imagine how hard it must be for you to do so. Good luck and keep us posted.

I just ran across this thread after doing a search for threads about power outages. I just finished reading the whole thing. This should still be nominated for thread of the month. What a saga!! That was a beautiful octo. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with the new set up. Like has been said, now you can improve it and avoid mistakes you made before. Let the journey begin!

Vessxpress1, this thread was Thread of the Month in August's Reefkeeping Online. That is why so many people found it in the first place.

WOW i just registerd here and this is the second thread i have read...
Amazing tank and the very best of luck starting again.

aquarius77,

[welcome]

i feel for you ....i had a crash while on vaca last year....i think i will give my tank away before i go away again.....at least i might get some frags back...such a lovely octo....and tank...its gotta hurt....so sorry

why do **** like that always happens to dedicated people~?~!!?

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8152553#post8152553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by venwu225 [/i]
[B]why do **** like that always happens to dedicated people~?~!!? [/B][/QUOTE]

I think its because we care enough to post it as it happens to teach lessons to everyone. :(

Starting over
 

Since you enjoyed your octopus, would it be a positive move to consider building out a tank to house one? I found the thread looking for information and experience as we are building out a tank to house our first cephalopod (we keep primarily seahorses now) so my suggestion comes from our own enjoyment of planning a new tank. Nancy has suggested the primary forum for information (TONMO) and you might find a special enjoyment that encourages your restart.

"D"

thats really cool

I'm tagging along to this thread- I'm looking forward to the large in-wall octopus tank- ;)

But seriously I'm excited to see what lies ahead for your tank- and will be anxiously waiting for updates- so don't leave us hangin! :bum:

Wow I was just reading along this thread very intently - your octopus photos were fantastic, then to find it turns into a horrible tank crash, it's very depressing to read about, let alone how bad it must feel experiencing it!

Its very nice to see you're back into it though - perhaps an SPS reef/octotank could be a cool future goal.

And you photo skills are top notch, I loved every one of them! :D
Good luck I hope you will once again grace the threads with some more stunning pictures. If you get another octopus Pheonix would make a cool name. ;)

Its been a while since the original poster replied - any updates?

LOL no tank sitter LOL funny how people posted that you would need a sitter too. I get a sitter even if it is only half a day.

I think I am being smited from above for my less than sympathetic reatcion.

Power is out all over Seattle area (Sammamish is where I live). The Power went out the day I left for Haiwaii on Thursday. The power is expected to be out through the weekend.

Luckily I have a generator, which I have used about 12 hours in 2 years. This morning the tank got down to 69 degrees! All the backflow into the sump from shutting on and off teh generator to refill it delcalibrated the heater, and the fire in the living room was left off. Now i just want to fly home to protect my tank! I don't think it will be too bad though. So now I have a lack of gas issue. Luckily my sister's boyfreind is bringing some from Seattle. Argh, and I think I need to have him change the oil in the generator. Sitter is at work till a bit later, so I hope the tank temp is back to normal.

Man this is stressful even with 1 pet sitter and 2 helpers!

Sorry about your tank, must have been one of the most depressing things. My mom has not been exactly sympathetic with this whole situation, and boy did that frusterate the hell out of me...

Good luck in the future.

[quote]Sorry about your tank, must have been one of the most depressing things. My mom has not been exactly sympathetic with this whole situation, and boy did that frusterate the hell out of me...

Good luck in the future.[/quote]

Well said.

All I can say after finding this thread is crap that sucks. I would cry I think..

Hit me up for frags when you are ready for some more.

Man I am speechless right now.... You sir have my deepest sympathy... I have been reading posts to better educate myself, but today while browsing i came across this thread and have been captivated and depressed all in the past 30 min. I have read every reply, and cant tell you how happy i am to find out that you did not give up after the terrible "MELT DOWN" That you have endured. Also all of the support that fellow enthusiasts have given is simply great.. I too would like to send you some frags if and when you are ready for them... KEEP THE HOBBY ALIVE!! GOOD LUCK!

It's been a while since i've posted, in return I really really appreciate who've responded and update everyone on where i stand. For those who i've neglected of not having a tank sitter, I did not have anyone access to in the beginning (ATO was one of the reason but accidentally failed). So I've decided to sell my 180 gallon system.


Removal of the 180 gallon system:
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/manny240Z/fishroom-before-1.gif[/IMG]

New Miracles 270 gallon Strafire:
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/manny240Z/270g-3.gif[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/manny240Z/270g-1.gif[/IMG]

130 gallon sump:
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/manny240Z/130g-sump.gif[/IMG]

Partial equipment:
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/manny240Z/Equip-1.gif[/IMG]

Acquired frags, temporarily in sump:
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/manny240Z/130g-sump2.gif[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/manny240Z/130g-sump3.gif[/IMG]

Newly acquired livestock: "CATFISH"
[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h220/manny240Z/270g-5.gif[/IMG]

Welcome back and Congratulations on your new Reef System!

Can't wait to see it up and running! :D

Boyd

Buddy,

Why did you sell the 180? From the look of it, the 180 might have been the perfect sump ;>). Please do post pictures as the new system becomes a reef.
"D"

i'm totally impressed you jump back and upgraded. i cant even imagine that happening to me and i feel for you, but now the hobby and 'addiction' can be revived and jump start a whole new adventure. i'm definitely tagging along for this one. that new tank looks amazing.

That's going to be a great setup. What are your livestock plans, other than the newly acquired catfish? ;)

It's going to be dominantly SPS. And a few interesting Zoanthids, LPS and Ricordeas.
As for fish, it will be a selectively number of Tangs, Anthias, Wrasses and others.