Sad Day :-(

[redrf900]

I just lost ALL of my tiger barbs in one of my tanks. I came in at lunch to check on my buddies, and they were dead!!!AHHHH!!!
My 2 loaches were ok (for now) I JUST cleaned the tank last night.
My normal weekly cleaning, nothing out of the ordinary. I did a
50 % water change, added a little bio starter and am hoping for the best. All the dead fish looked perfect...no disease or anything
didn't have time to check water parameters...temp was fine though. maybe I disturbed an algae pocket under the gravel????
the loaches are breathing a little heavy, but look ok. they didn't want to eat either... I'm hoping for the best....ANY THOUGHTS?????SAD in PA.... Jimmy G

[Andy16]

Its not an algae pocket but anaerobic bacteria pocket. That ciuld be it. YOu should really test your water so you know if there was ammonia or nitrites present.

[redrf900]

THANKS!!!
I absolutely WILL do that when finished with work..Only had time to do a partial water change and remove the dead bodies... :-(
I have had these fish for 9 months and have not had any problems..

[Andy16]

Could also be high nitrates. Did you clean under any decorations the you usually dont? Dou you have sand or gravel? The bubbles usually form under sand rather then gravel, but it can still happend either way. Another thing is how big is the tnak?

[redrf900]

holy dual posts batman!!!( sorry)


34 gallon tank ( 29 gallon but 2" taller) I do have gravel and yes , I vacuumed under my centerpiece...That why I thought it was a bacteria pocket. I do vacuum under everything though....I would have thought the loaches would have been the first to go if general water parameters were off. Aren't they the most sensitive??? The barbs are usually pretty tough...I've accidentally left the heater off for a week on my other barb tank without any ill effects....

[Andy16]

When you get the chance you should really check the parameters. There are many more knowledgable people the know way more then i do.

Can any1 help out?

[yashinfan]

50% water changes are a little much, but if you do it every week and this has been the first time with ill-effects I guess you could scratch that off. But for the future 20% is just fine.

[Slappy*McFish]

Did you remember to dechlorinate the water?..sometimes people might forget. Sounds like chlorine/chloramine poisoning, but could very well be hydrogen sulfide poisoning if you disturbed a anaerobic pocket of gravel.

[yashinfan]

Or a drastic change in pH?

[redrf900]

Just a follow up...My loaches are doing fine. They are back to their normal happy selves. All water parameters are fine...ph, nitrites and nitrates.....Could it have been that the barbs ate some of the anaerobic bacteria that I disturbed???If the water itself was poisened by (WHATEVER), then why didn't it affect ALL the fish??? I'm thinking they ate some of the stuff I stirred up when cleaning.. The loaches are picky and won't eat anything unless they REALLY like it....sound possible???remember water parameters turned up ok, BUT...that was after a 50% water change when I saw my 5 tiger barbs go belly up. Jimmy G

[Andy16]

I dont know about the barbs eating anything bad. I really dont know what could have happened now.

[Slappy*McFish]

It is very unlikely that the barbs died from eating anaerobic bacteria loaded detritus...more than likely it was hydrogen sulfide poisoning.