My reef collapsed...

Soooooo... I get home from work, go down to say hi to the fishes, and lo and behold my reef has collapsed. Looks like the goby, who has been working underneath my base rock for about 6 months now, finally got the whole thing to shift and sink. Corals all flipped upside down, can't find one of the tangs, rock resting on the glass (NO breakage!). Spent 2 hours putting things back in some kind of order, found my tang, blew the sand off the corals, may lose the colt- it looks like a broken branch. Now, I have not "hardwired" any of the rock together, as it's mostly plate-style and sort of fit together nicely. The sand bed, when it's not getting moved around by the goby and the clown, is about 2 inches. Here come my questions:
1. Since I've had my hands in the tank for the better part of 2 hours, a water change should be in order. Resecure the rock before or after the water change? Percent water change? (110 gal tank)
2. If I do a major reef reconstruction, should I move the residents out for awhile to avoid further stress?
3. Should I find the goby as new home, as this will probably happen again?
Any other tips or advice would be helpful. Thanks!

 

There's a few things you can do for the goby. (i did it today) pull some of your base rock out and manufacture about 1 inch tall legs under it so it's stable and up off the bottom of your tank about an inch. This way your goby can tunnel around under you base without reconstructing your whole tank haha. or you dig some sand out and push you base all the way to the bottom of your tank then push the sand around that rock then reconstruct. This way your goby cant make giant tunnels and wreak havoc on your entire tank.

 

I like that idea! PVC? (for the legs)

 

Wow, i bet your were in shock and horror when you saw that! I'm glad it didn't turn out to be more serious (broken glass, etc.) K+ to you. I like the PVC leg idea, too.

 

U shoulda put your base all the way to the bottom of the tank, then put your sand. and if you're sure it's gonna stay the same then epoxy the LR together. everything will be firm and your goby won't be a problem.

 

Wow, i bet your were in shock and horror when you saw that! I'm glad it didn't turn out to be more serious (broken glass, etc.) K+ to you. I like the PVC leg idea, too.

It looked like a hurricane had come through, on a small scale!

 

Wow, thank god the glass bottom didnt break. The chit would have really hit the fan. That is one of my fears b/c I have a 12"+ Eng. Goby that does the same thing. Luna

 

Thats rough. K+

 

yup, rock first, then sand.

 

Luna- I never thought about the bottom! I guess I should be looking for a leak-%$##@$*!!!!