Almost a disaster

Yesterday, we were cleaning up the house because we were having family over to celebrate my daughters 8th birthday. I heard a fizzle sound coming from my tank area about 2 pm so I went to check what I can see but didn't see anything. Later in the day about 5 pm we could smell like if something burned or like if somebody was welding something. We just figured my neighbor was probably working on a project in his garage and whatever he was doing was carrying over through our open windows.

Then my daughter runs over to me about 6 pm telling me something smells awful by the fish tank. I went to see what it was and the smell was really strong. I checked and saw the main pump was going but my skimmer was off. I knew then the old Rio pump finally went out after all these years. Then with a room full of family I realized I didn't see the fishes acting like their hungry selves. So I decided to feed them to see if they would eat because their ALWAYS hungry but when I drop some food none of them made an attempt to eat. I knew then something was wrong and told my bro-in-law lets go to LFS to get some fresh salt water to do an emergency water change.

I returned to see my fishes swimming around but gasping and my yellowtail damsel was nose down on the rocks not really moving. I did a FAST water change of about 60% and while syphoning the water you can smell the water of the burn smell. Once I did the water change I noticed the fishes seemed more active and my YTD was now laying low on its stomach but moving its fins. In my opinion I figured I saved all my fishes BUT I doubt the YTD will survive by morning and actually was about grab him with the net when my daughter noticed the flame angel going behind it and not biting it but bumping the fish like telling it move so you can get better. I decided to give it a chance and figure it will be dead by morning.

This morning I wake up and all the fishes are swimming around happy as can be and the YTD was right there with them swimming around like if nothing ever happened. My daughter told me the flame angel saved the damsel by trying to help it. I know it sounds funny but it's what happened. I didn't scoop it up with net because the flame angel was encouraging it to move which is was just little by little.

So today I ordered another pump and will called it from Marine Depot and got the skimmer up and running again just with those darn micro bubbles going into the tank like it was to break in again. I figure it will break in about a week or so.

So now I'm going to replace all my pumps every 5 years or so because this one lasted me about 10+ years but I don't want this to happen again. I'm just glad I took a few days off from work for my daughters birthday. I can only imagine what if?

 

Cool.

 

Wow that has a better ending than the usual RIO fire story. So glad to hear it. Thank the stars!
Or perhaps it is karma for taking days off for your daughter's birthday

 

I agree with matt, karma. That's a crazy story. I'm guessing rio pumps are known for this sort of thing?

 

congrats on everything making it through and to the angel for saving the damsel so glad it turned out the way it did!

 

I don't understand what happened besides the pump dying.
Yeah lucky. I had a power strip catch on fire because my skimmer was shooting out water.

 

Glad it turned out ok but what exactly was the issue so I can learn. As I was reading thought you were going to say stray volts in tank but not the case. What was in the water that needed to be changed? Sorry if dumb question.

 

Too be honest, I'm not really sure.

I'm guessing the pump burned out and when it did it must of released something into the water since the pump is inside the water???? You can smell it and once my hands were out of the tank my hands had that burn smell.

I'm not sure if it release a shock to the tank or if it released something but it did do something to the water chemistry. Once I did the water change the fishes started to come back to themselves again.

I read reviews on Rio pumps on Amazon & Marine Depot and it looks like they have a life span about 5 years. The pump I had must of been over 11 years old. Now I plan to replace them every 4-5 years no matter if they are still working great. I can always use them to pump fresh water into the tank when I'm doing a water change.

 

Good reason not to skimp on electrical thingys in a box of sw.
I would add some fresh carbon if you haven't already.

 

I didn't even think of that???? I will do it today!