Crypt Melt...Doh!

JoeD323 · 06-13-2012, 02:09 AM

I was doing maintenance the other day and didnt have enough water to complete the WC so I had to leave the sump turned off while I ran to get more. While I was out and about at the aquarium shop and all that, I totally forgot that the heater (inside the sump) was not connected to the tank for like 3 or 4 hours. I ended up running all my errands while I was out all over town and didnt remember the heater until I got home and put my hand in the water.

I didnt take the temperature, I just freaked out and plugged everything back in as quickly as possible but trust me...it was pretty cold. I lost a few dwarf cories and even the otos and shrimp looked stressed from the swing from 80*F to 70ish*F and back but none died. The whole thing sent the tank into an ammonia spike/bacterial bloom as a result of the exasperated fish and temperature swing.

Oh, and this is a primarily crypt tank. Did I mention that? No? Well, it is. Needless to say, the plants did not appreciate any of this at all. My entire stand of bronze wendtii has melted. I trimmed off all of the leaves to avoid the nasty mush floating all over the tank and trimmed back the weak looking lutea and spiralis leaves as well. The tank looks absolutely nothing like it did a few days ago. I am genuinely sad about this. I know they will grow back but I was so close to having this scape where I wanted it this week and now its been set back some time.

Does anyone have any advise on ways to speed up the bounce back? Increase CO2? Longer photoperiod? Up the dosing?

A longer photoperiod doesnt exactly sound right to me but this is my first leap into crypt only scapes and, although I've always kept crypts, the usual melt that came with the move to my home was never enough to ruin a scape lol This time its the centerpiece of the scape. I'll post pictures soon.

Thanks in advance,
Joe

JoeD323 · 06-14-2012, 10:32 PM

Nobody has any ideas on how to speed up recovery from crypt melt?

wastedtime · 06-14-2012, 10:46 PM

Here are some things I do:

1. Keep the rhizhome above the sand.
2. Prune the dead leaves off,
3. Root tabs
4. Leave it alone.

Crypts are hardy, as long as the rhizome isnt dead it will spring back. Just give it time.

JoeD323 · 06-15-2012, 01:53 AM

Thanks for the advice.

Joe

06-13-2012, 02:09 AM	#1
JoeD323 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ft Lauderdale Posts: 165	Crypt Melt...Doh! I was doing maintenance the other day and didnt have enough water to complete the WC so I had to leave the sump turned off while I ran to get more. While I was out and about at the aquarium shop and all that, I totally forgot that the heater (inside the sump) was not connected to the tank for like 3 or 4 hours. I ended up running all my errands while I was out all over town and didnt remember the heater until I got home and put my hand in the water. I didnt take the temperature, I just freaked out and plugged everything back in as quickly as possible but trust me...it was pretty cold. I lost a few dwarf cories and even the otos and shrimp looked stressed from the swing from 80F to 70ishF and back but none died. The whole thing sent the tank into an ammonia spike/bacterial bloom as a result of the exasperated fish and temperature swing. Oh, and this is a primarily crypt tank. Did I mention that? No? Well, it is. Needless to say, the plants did not appreciate any of this at all. My entire stand of bronze wendtii has melted. I trimmed off all of the leaves to avoid the nasty mush floating all over the tank and trimmed back the weak looking lutea and spiralis leaves as well. The tank looks absolutely nothing like it did a few days ago. I am genuinely sad about this. I know they will grow back but I was so close to having this scape where I wanted it this week and now its been set back some time. Does anyone have any advise on ways to speed up the bounce back? Increase CO2? Longer photoperiod? Up the dosing? A longer photoperiod doesnt exactly sound right to me but this is my first leap into crypt only scapes and, although I've always kept crypts, the usual melt that came with the move to my home was never enough to ruin a scape lol This time its the centerpiece of the scape. I'll post pictures soon. Thanks in advance, Joe

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06-14-2012, 10:32 PM	#2
JoeD323 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ft Lauderdale Posts: 165	Nobody has any ideas on how to speed up recovery from crypt melt?

06-14-2012, 10:46 PM	#3
wastedtime Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 417	Here are some things I do: 1. Keep the rhizhome above the sand. 2. Prune the dead leaves off, 3. Root tabs 4. Leave it alone. Crypts are hardy, as long as the rhizome isnt dead it will spring back. Just give it time.

06-15-2012, 01:53 AM	#4
JoeD323 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ft Lauderdale Posts: 165	Thanks for the advice. Joe