[hudy]

OK we got a huge ice storm and were out of power for 5 days my tank got down below 50 degrees all my fish died but snails and crabs lived through it... My question is how do I tell if the ammonia spike i have now is because of the dead fish that sat in my tank for approx 3 days or because my essencial bacteria died?? Does anyone now how could the bacteria can get without dying???!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!! Should I re-cycle my tank or just use chemicals to lower the ammonia?

[Ninong]

Your tank is quite capable of recycling itself. I assume you have already restarted all of your equipment, including the heater, and that the tank's water temperature is back to normal, right?

Remove any dead fish or any other dead animals that you can find and then do a substantial water change, say 50%. Then just sit back and wait for the tank to stabilize. Allow at least three or four weeks before adding more fish. There's no need to rush things. Check your water parameters every four or five days if you want to know how things are progressing. Regardless of what your readings are, it would be better to hold off for three or four weeks before slowing adding new fish.

[hudy]

Yes all equipment is running again. So you think that it'll need to be recycled? OK will do thank you very much

[Ninong]

The truth is that all tanks are continuously cycling. Your tank is just going to do what comes naturally. Because of the disruption, it has some catching up to do. Give it time to stabilize.

[zhenya]

Sorry for your loss, hudy.

I don't think you need to worry about your bacteria being lost, it isn't, I'm sure of it. However, waiting 3-4 weeks is the best thing that could be done at the moment, and doing a few water changes, of course. Bacteria isn't the problem at this point, the problem would be to wait out duying off from the live rock of various critters that lived within it and allowing the system to catch on again, like Ninong said.
Good luck with rebuilding and we are here for you if you need anything.

[hudy]

will these little guys be OK I think they are some sort of non-photosynthetic coral (A proper ID would be much appreciated )


OH YEAH THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!!

[wozza]

look like a cup coral of some kind.