Help, sprung a leak, forgot to turn filter back on, crashed cycle?

[BabySinclair]

Hi!
First off, thank you in advance for your help and attention, it is much needed

On March 5th I decided to clean my canister filter on my main Lotl tank and do a water change on a separate cycling tank as well (I just had a tooth pulled and couldn't feel squat - not even my bad back. So it seemed like a good time to do it lol). Anyways, I rinsed the first set of course/medium pads(yes with tank water), then I replaced half the carbon and then put in a new/rinced envelope of Purigen (never tried it before) When I was done, My dumb arss forgot to turn the valves back on from when I disconnected the canister filter. With all the dental work, And pain killers. I just wasn't thinking. And I keep the canister spray bar under the surface of the water for the sake of my Lotls, so I never hear running water either.
So last night I was laying in bed, while on my tablet, lurking this very site.. All of a sudden I felt a couple tiny drops of water on my face. Well, I was pretty sure it was Speapy Time Tea I drank before bed, So I knew darn well that I wasn't hallucinating the fact it was Actually raining in my bedroom. ( Tho I often think I do live under rain cloud ) and then all of a sudden a full on stream. I quickly shut off he valves (but had actually unknowingly turned them back on) and unplugged the pump. I tightened everything back up and made sure it was running properly, or so I thought :angry: (didn't t sleep a wink, prolly won't tonight either....) When I got everything back together nice and snug and tight, I guess I put them back into what I thought was the ON position.
So while The pump had been on and plugged in, as well as my UV light... I had no circulation going, and I'm sure all my bacteria is dead. For at least 24 hours, my Bb's were left to suffocate and die inharmful UV light. Did I crash my cycle?!?!??!? Is it salvageable? And next week I was going to do a deep sand cleaning

I'm running a
40gal aquarium
Sun sun canister filter for up to 100 gal.
Media: sponges, ceramic, bio balls, carbon and Purigen.
Ammonia .35ppm
Nitrite 3.0ppm
Nitrate 60ppm

Day befor I messed up everything was at
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-20ppm

The first thing I did was a 30% water change and dosed with Seachems Stability and shut off UV filtration.
I plan to test and do the same thing tomorrow as well, and until parameters are in check.
Should I take out the Purigen while the cycle re-establishes?
This is my first time using Purigen as well... So please forgive my ignorance.
All of my tanks are on the second story of my house. I'm already cycling a 55 gal, I don't want to have to cycle the 40 gal as well :nono: my legs would be lookin good when I'm done though lol

Can any old timers out there tell me to handle this? I've never been in this situation befor I've never had a cycle crash, just do what your supposed to and all will be well. I mean heck, I have home made back up power supplies for the power outages! There is simply No device to combat stupidity!

For my water changes I use a combination of 3 day aged water and if needed, I'll also use API tap water conditioner. Soon to be going to Seachems Prime.

Btw, the Lotls don't seem to be affected by any of this except that they are hiding a Lot more than they used to.


Oh yea, Spelling errors are my gift to you, Enjoy

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Hi!
First off, thank you in advance for your help and attention, it is much needed

On March 5th I decided to clean my canister filter on my main Lotl tank and do a water change on a separate cycling tank as well (I just had a tooth pulled and couldn't feel squat - not even my bad back. So it seemed like a good time to do it lol). Anyways, I rinsed the first set of course/medium pads(yes with tank water), then I replaced half the carbon and then put in a new/rinced envelope of Purigen (never tried it before) When I was done, My dumb arss forgot to turn the valves back on from when I disconnected the canister filter. With all the dental work, And pain killers. I just wasn't thinking. And I keep the canister spray bar under the surface of the water for the sake of my Lotls, so I never hear running water either.
So last night I was laying in bed, while on my tablet, lurking this very site.. All of a sudden I felt a couple tiny drops of water on my face. Well, I was pretty sure it was Speapy Time Tea I drank before bed, So I knew darn well that I wasn't hallucinating the fact it was Actually raining in my bedroom. ( Tho I often think I do live under rain cloud ) and then all of a sudden a full on stream. I quickly shut off he valves (but had actually unknowingly turned them back on) and unplugged the pump. I tightened everything back up and made sure it was running properly, or so I thought :angry: (didn't t sleep a wink, prolly won't tonight either....) When I got everything back together nice and snug and tight, I guess I put them back into what I thought was the ON position.
So while The pump had been on and plugged in, as well as my UV light... I had no circulation going, and I'm sure all my bacteria is dead. For at least 24 hours, my Bb's were left to suffocate and die inharmful UV light. Did I crash my cycle?!?!??!? Is it salvageable? And next week I was going to do a deep sand cleaning

I'm running a
40gal aquarium
Sun sun canister filter for up to 100 gal.
Media: sponges, ceramic, bio balls, carbon and Purigen.
Ammonia .35ppm
Nitrite 3.0ppm
Nitrate 60ppm

Day befor I messed up everything was at
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-20ppm

The first thing I did was a 30% water change and dosed with Seachems Stability and shut off UV filtration.
I plan to test and do the same thing tomorrow as well, and until parameters are in check.
Should I take out the Purigen while the cycle re-establishes?
This is my first time using Purigen as well... So please forgive my ignorance.
All of my tanks are on the second story of my house. I'm already cycling a 55 gal, I don't want to have to cycle the 40 gal as well :nono: my legs would be lookin good when I'm done though lol

Can any old timers out there tell me to handle this? I've never been in this situation befor I've never had a cycle crash, just do what your supposed to and all will be well. I mean heck, I have home made back up power supplies for the power outages! There is simply No device to combat stupidity!

For my water changes I use a combination of 3 day aged water and if needed, I'll also use API tap water conditioner. Soon to be going to Seachems Prime.

Btw, the Lotls don't seem to be affected by any of this except that they are hiding a Lot more than they used to.


Oh yea, Spelling errors are my gift to you, Enjoy

Fire it back up and do not obsess. In many of our experiences a state of "benign neglect is healthier for your critters. Keep and eye on the pH and the Ammonia. Do treated water changes if they spike. DO NOT do a complete tank teardown- that is worse.

With that biofilter system you have, that spike you reported is really normal for this situation.

 

[BabySinclair]

I actually did exactly what you said. Ended up doing two water changes in two days, after that the tank was great! Tho, I had to add more plants because of the nitrates. It's all balanced out now. Now I have an Ocd style check list do do when I do tank maintenance lol
And I won't be doing any more tank maintenance after dental work LOL

I think instead of an "easy button" I need a "smart button"
I still can't believe I did that! I've been keeping aquariums since I was 10. Doh!!!



_________________________________________________________
When asked: Why?
Because I couldn't stop at just one dammit!!!