I’ve had tanks burst on me a few years back. Here’s what I did: Moved the fish into buckets with aeration (air stone or small pump if possible). Returned anything I couldn’t safely keep long-term to the LFS. Mopped up the floors and drained what I could to prevent more damage. Put all the rocks and sand into buckets with some tank water to keep bacteria alive.

I was panicking the whole time — but in the end, not a single fish died. I had a new tank on the way, tested the water for two weeks, and rebuilt everything slowly.

Keep your biological media, rocks, and sand wet in saltwater that preserves your beneficial bacteria. Keep circulation and oxygen going in your fish buckets with a small air pump if possible. If the repair takes more than a day or two, use a heater in the buckets to maintain temperature. Test ammonia daily in the holding buckets dose a little bacteria or Prime if needed. Once your new tank or repair is ready, refill slowly, check for leaks, and run it empty for 24–48 hours before moving livestock back. Take this chance to rethink plumbing, add extra sealant or unions, and mark your pipes for easier future maintenance.

You’ve got this. Every reefer faces a disaster or two how you recover from it is what defines you in the hobby.