[MENTION=3628]BeanMachine[/MENTION] requested,
I have a 100g Cadlights Artisan II with mixed reef. So breaking down the tank is not an option on my list. I have searched online from different reefing forums and found some good information, so I decided to do this on my own risk. Here is what I did to my tank a day b4 I nuked my shack to get rid of those wood eating bug termites. Just a side note, it worked on my case but it might not might for you. Therefore, just do it your own risk.
We decided to tent our shack on the weekend, which it took a day long than doing on the weekend. From Saturday AM through Tuesday AM. The fumigation arrived at around 10AM and we have to vacant the house. Before the walked through, I told the lead man that I have a fish tank and I signed a waiver for liability with the sale rep.
Here is what I did, once again it worked for me but might not be for your case. Please don't blame on me if a disaster happened to your tank for following my steps and advised!!!
1- Let the fumigation lead-man to know you have a live fish tank and you have signed the waiver of liability.
2- Fat up the fishes a day and night b4 the fumigation.
3- Fat up them again early on the fumigation day.
4- Did a small wc abt 10%.
5- Turned off the skimmer, lights, carbon reactor, and returned pump.
6- Drained my sump bone dried and covered it with pallet plastic wrap film.
7- Pallet plastic wrapped the whole sump every square inch.
8- Ran an air stone to the tank.
9- Pallet plastic wrapped the tank, 5x.
10- Carefully sealed the lip on the pallet plastic wrap with scotch tape 2x.
11- Prayed and hoped for the best.
12- De-tented on a third day in the AM. I was so freaking nervous and not sure what will happened to the residents of the reef and entered the house at around 9:00AM. The first thing I did was to check on the live stock. Wiped out the top pallet plastic wrap with a wet towel b4 cutting the plastic film to vent the air and to prevent any chemical might leaked into the tank.
13-After nearly 3 days of fumigation with no lights. Everyone was pissed off , scared obviously and I only lost a potter angel, a cleaner shrimp, and three nice frags: a sunset milli, a blue milli, and a highlighter green acro.
14- I did a wc immediately and got the skimmer and carbon reactor going quickly.
So a well planned can be worked with out having to break down the tank, but it was a nerve racking experience to go through. I was staying at a hotel nearby, but was thinking and hoping all the time that everyone from reef tank made it. The one mistake that I have made was after three days with no light, acclimation of the sps was not on my planning and checking list. I had all three 52s at on at my normal settings. Ended up I bleached some of the small sps colonies. They are coming back nicely now.
Here are few pictures.