Hi Everyone,

Yesterday I did waterchanges on my 2 tanks. Tank 1 is a 70 gal with a Red Oscar, small pleco, and a featherfin catfish. Tank 2 is 40 Gal with a small pleco, 5 neons and 5 glofish.

I did my usual weekly water changes- 60% on the 70 and 60% on the 40. Within 20 minutes the all tetras and the glo fish were dead?? The pleco in the tank was unaffected as was the O and pleco in the 70 gal tank. The featherfin in the 70 does not seem to be doing well... very rapid breathing, won't come out of his log. I'm worried..

Water reads-
0 nitrates
<20 ammonia

These tanks have been up for over a year without any problems. Weekly water changes and monthly filter cleaning. Filters on the 70 are an AC110 and an AC50. Filters on the 40 are an AC50 and an AC30.

Any ideas what happened? Water temps were fine also...

Hopefully the featherfin pulls thru as he and the Oscar were my first fish and also mine and the kids favorites.

Thanks for any help you can give

could the equipment you used for your water change have been contaminated since the last one with cleaning products or something?

Firstly, welcome to our community

Over a period of time your fish become tolerant to the water they are living in, water changes normally don't cause any problems whatsoever, they are necessary so keep on doing them. However, occasionally a water change can upset the balance of the water which can result in fatalities. Whether this is what your problem is, I really cannot say for sure. If all your water tests come up fine and there are no toxic elements present then it could be one of those fluke things that happens when the water chemistry changes.

I assume that you used a water conditioner to remove the chlorine/chloramine?

Thanks for the reply!

My first thought was contamination of some sort but all my equipment is stored safely away from any toxic stuff. There is really no chance it was contaminated...

Like i said though, they were dead in 20 minutes so that has to indicate some sort of poisoning?? Terrible

Should I bring the water somewhere to get tested? What type of tests can a LFS do that I can't do at home?

Thanks again for your help...

first of all....welcome on board...
now for your concern: how did you clean the filtering system???

this info is worrisome. ammonia at less than 20 is fatal...
rapid breathing mean bad water condition...
can you post nitrate level? pH?

wrong way of cleaning the filter plus large water change create
imbalance in your tank water.....and can stress your fishes.

OFL,

I've been out of conditioner for the past few water changes.

Would the Chlorine kill the small fish that fast??

I'll really be kicking myself if thats what did it. I'll head to the LFS on my lunch break today to get some.

Thanks for your help.

Paul,

Sorry, I had it backwards... ammonia 0, Nitrates less than 20

Paul,

I clean the filters with the water from the tanks. I did not clean the filters this time and it has been approx 3 weeks since they have been cleaned...

Thanks

GREENMTN wrote:

ha ha ha... you confused me.... if that is the correct reading... then
perhaps, your small fishes were shock of sudden water changes and had
cardiac arrest... i am not kidding... there was an aro fish in one of
the building i manage before.... one time a guest tap on the glass and
due to that tapping, the aro were spook and splash hard... in 10 minutes,
the aro is dead.....

I also alternate, never cleaning both filters at once...

Can anyone recommend a good conditioner?? What do you guys use??

Thanks,

Dave

GREENMTN wrote:

i'm sorry, i am not fond of using conditioner, but Prime by API
is known to be good....

PAUL wrote:



Does this mean i'm not a horrible fish keeper for not using conditioner the past few water changes?? Why do you not use conditioner? Well water?

Our water comes from a community well but I believe it is treated with chlorine...

Thanks again for all your help! You guys are great...