Like the saying says… “Shit Happens” and when its related to aquariums, that “Shit” is usually wet, AND when its a 180 gallon aquarium and pumps that move approx 1000 gallon/hr, its usually a BIG WET MESS…

So today I made my first and probably not last totally stupid mistake in this hobby (actually is started a few weeks ago but ‘exploded’ today).

About 3 weeks ago while tightening the hose clamp that sits on the mag drive pump in the sump that feeds the skimmer I overtightened that sucker and it broke (the clamp).

Not having more clamps I put on 2 zip ties on there as tight as I could pull them and they seemed to hold quite well.

Shortly after that (no more than 5 or 6 days) I went to Home Depot and bought 3 hose clamps, which have been sitting in my garage for about 2 weeks.

Last Friday I decided to work from home in the morning. When I had some idle time I went and sat in front of the aquarium and sucked in the beauty of the tank under the actinic lighting, before heading out to the office for the rest of the afternoon. So far so good.

SO…. I thought to myself perhaps I could reduce the vibration from the mag drive pumps… and opened the stand and proceeded to lift the pump by the hose and shake it around a little bit (I’m still tying to figure out what the hell I was thinking).

Then all of a sudden… geyser of water coming up from the pump! YIKES - fortunately I was fast to react and flip the switch to the power strip and stop the flow but not before making a nice mess under the stand and some on the floor.

SO…. In the 1/2 panic of the moment I ran to the garage to get the wet vac, and the door slams shut behind me. LOCKED of course. So there I was locked out of the house, but fortunately with my cell phone on me. I dreaded the decision to call my wife and let her know what had happened and tell her why I need her to rush home… but after a painful 15 seconds which seemed like 15 minutes I called her.

SO… I proceed outside the garage and realize that the front door is unlocked, as I went to get the mail earlier. WHYYYYYY I thought to myself! Why did I call her !?!?! I called her back and canceled the rescue call, but got some on the phone for working on the aquarium without towels and stuff, and my explanation of I was just tugging on a hose didn’t seem to have any effect - hahah - talk about feeling like and idiot.

Anyway, long story short, I cleaned up everything, replaced the zip ties with the hose clamp, and went out to lunch with my wife, and proceeded to the office for the remainder of the day.

All in all, it wasn’t a big deal, but MAN what a mess and stress!

The moral:
1. Never trust a zip tie to do what a hose clamp should.
2. Never leave for tomorrow (or 3 weeks) what you can do now.
3. Never lock yourself out of the house
4. Same as #3 but add “when you do something stupid”
5. Love, kiss and appreciate our wives/husbands/significant others who love us and support us in our craziness

- Stumble it!

 

Filed under: aquarium, funny, humor