Finally have some answers!!!

[skyedolphan]

First off Let me start by saying Hi to all the newbies around!!! My name is Dawn and I have been in this insane hobby for over 15 years. App 11 months ago I had a MAJOR set back in my tank where I lost over half my fish, 90% of all my SPS, zoas and app 6 large leathers. After doing all normal testing and nothing out of the ordinary showing up ( I had been working on eliminating phosphates in the system already) I was stumped as to what the heck happened.( Literally woke up to large SPS sloughing their skin) I started the normal course of action with consecutive 50 gallon water changes back to back for about 9 days, averaging 100 gallons a day.In the last couple months things have finally started to turn around. I have been able to add some basic corals with a very good survival rate, I have also added a few fish and have about a 70 % survival rate after the first 3 days.( added 6 chromis lost 4) added dragon wrasse and cleaner wrasse lost the cleaner, another wrasse and am drawing a blank on the name, added a sailfin tang and he is doing great ( 3 weeks now) some of the SPS that I thought I had completed lost are now regrowing on the rocks, atlantis meteor shower, green chalice, superman danea, orange danea, orange cyphastrea, pink cats paw, LJ tri acro and orange monti.
I am still having problems with this freaken green algea that grows like cyano ,comes up like a carpet and holds oxygen bubbles in it !! still have not got a handle on that.( suggestions welcome LOL )

Anyway here is what I found out earlier this week. One of the foster girls I had living with me from February 08 to Jan 09 had gotten angry with me in January and before she ran she dumped bleach into the tank !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now how much bleach she dumped I do not know, why she would ever consider doing this I have no clue as she always stated she wanted to go to school for marine biology, and had always shown an interest in the animals and life in the tank, she had grasped the concept that EVERYTHING in the tank was a living being, she is no longer in the program and I can't confront her and process this action with her. Learning this information helped in the fact that at least now I know why things happened ( some of the animals had been with me over 12 years) but I have a hard time grasping that a 17 year old could do something soo very malicious.
That is the end of my tale. I know I have been absent from the forum for quite some time and felt that I needed to update my friends as to what was going on. the tank is on rebound and I am slowly rebuilding the corals and animals. Fall is here and I am hoping to be able to start going to the meets again and enjoy some time with other that love this insane hobby!!!

 

[BrianMac]

Dawn,

WOW, what a tool. At least you now know what happened. I know you were thinking of getting out of the hobby because of the issues.

BTW: It's great to hear from you!

 

[afboundguy]

Welcome back! Glad to hear you figured it out... That was a horrible thing that child did to the tank, it's too bad you can't find out why she did it. Good luck and keep us updated!

 

[delta]

Oh man that just stinks ::

LMK Once things are stable I can throw some things your way.

 

[Jim Tansey]

I hope that young girl at such a tender age gets the support that she needs, it must be very difficult to grow up without a family, I wish I could help her.

Jim

 

[Behrmon]

Hi Dawn.

 

[Kenny B]

Thats just foul and vindictive whether the girls life is tough or not. Sorry if this sounds harsh but after you took the time to educate her on the organisms to do that is inexcuseable.

 

[Kiah]

Hey Dawn,
Nice to see you are back. She must have been very angry and I'm guessing that she did not fully understand the consequences of her actions. There is something very irrational about teenage girls - I'm sure you've noticed . Death is death but maybe it wasn't real to her. It is unfortunate that you did not have a chance to process the results of her actions with her - she really needed to see it.

Anyways - restocking you know where I am, anything you want is yours.

All my best

 

[JayM]

Dawn, not that I have much left after my little recent setback, but anything you want a chunk of, crank up the wagon c'mon up, and bring buckets.....

 

[smartfish]

It is unfortunate that the ones you try to help sometimes are the ones who do not appreciate it. It is a huge undertaking bringing anyone into your home. Though your good intentions should be acknowledged. I respect anyone who is able to do this.
This child is obviously troubled and you will never know why she may have done this. The disfunction this child grew up with still follows her. Though in time she may realize how horrible of a thing it was that she has done.
The only important thing you can do is move on from this knowing that you did your best. Unfortunately you were the victim but do not let this one situation sway you or your family from doing the right thing for someone else who may need your help.
There are a lot of children that need people like you. That care enough to expose them to a family environment so they can grow and learn to have their own family one day.
I commend you!!

 

[gobie1313]

Welcome back dawn, you must have some sense of relief knowing what was causing your problems. Too bad about the young girl. Did she end up telling you what she did?
How did u figure it out?

 

[marco67]

Hi Dawn,
Glad to see you are moving forward.

I feel for ya, that must be a tough one. Finally an answer at the cost of the feeling of betrayal. Some people are just plain rotten!

 

[Flame Angel]

What a story. You will just never know what goes through the heads of some people and you will waste more time trying to comprehend them.

Stinks that this had to happen, but that is probrably how this person figured they could hurt you the most. It is usually the apprentice like in star wars that will do you in the end.

Must have been just enough bleach to not set of a smell and enough to do the damage. Is bleach heavier than water? Must have laid low in the tank. If only animals could talk.

Makes you want to set up a web came on the tank for future issues.

I only hope this works out for you in the end now that the damage has been done.

Good Luck!

 

[pillowfish]

Oh Dawn that just plain stinks to hear!! But at least you know it wasn't something you did or wasn't doing and you have an answer. Can't wait to see you at the meetings again!

 

[skyedolphan]

Thank you everyone for your kind words
i am hoping to be able to process this with the child as she has come to visit 3 times since she left although not once since she has left the program. Time will tell.. I am sure that as with most of my previous foster children she will come back someday, most seem to as we are the only family they respect. although that is not the case with this child, she has a very supportive bio family so who knows.
I do wish I could set up cameras on all aspects of the system lol but with 2 main tanks and 3 other bodies of water covering 3 different areas and floors it would be way too complicated ... I just take comfort in the fact that it seems to be a one time deal as never in 9 years of accepting others into our home ( and we have had some very tough kids ) has anyone else ever done this. It is a learning experience and I am sure it will keep me on my toes in the future...
and again thank you everyone for your offers of help and understanding..

 

[deb b]

That is just awful Dawn! If you ever come through the NH Seacoast area let me know I can pass a few corals your way.

 

[Jennifer]

Wow that is crazy Dawn.

If I had something to offer I would.
I am just rebuilding from my disaster, was hoping someone would throw something my way. :.

 

[ReeferMedic]

Great to see you back Dawn! LMK when you are taking new frags.

 

[reefkeeper2]

Good to hear from you Dawn. Wow ,what a tale. Hope the kid gets the help she needs. I bet I can scrounge up some frags for you when your ready.

 

[MikeG]

Wow Dawn, what an aweful thing to go through. I am just restocking as well but if there is anything I can do to help, let me know.