Water Change, Fish Now Dying

[tinytnt]

HELP!! Yesterday morning, I did my normal 30% water change, and suddenly my fish are dying!! Yesterday evening I lost 1 upsidedown catfish and my black molly. Today when I get home from work, two more are dead... my other upsidedown catfish and a single molly fry (about a month old, in floating breeder.)

What the heck's going on?!? I didn't even change that much water!! Checked ph and nitrate parameters, everything's fine. So WHY are they dying?!?

[budrecki]

Please give numbers for nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia.

Did you remember to add water conditioner?

[naps]

HELP!! Yesterday morning, I did my normal 30% water change, and suddenly my fish are dying!! Yesterday evening I lost 1 upsidedown catfish and my black molly. Today when I get home from work, two more are dead... my other upsidedown catfish and a single molly fry (about a month old, in floating breeder.)

What the heck's going on?!? I didn't even change that much water!! Checked ph and nitrate parameters, everything's fine. So WHY are they dying?!?
Did you check ammonia and nitrite?? We need to see all of your test results and tank specs to help. What did you use to dechlorinate/condition the water?? Help us help you...;)

[tinytnt]

I use API Stress Coat "fish and tap water conditioner." I don't know all about the chemicals and stuff, but my ph tested 7.4 and ammonia nh3/nh4 was between 0 and 0.25. That's what it always is, and always has been, with exception of when I first cycled a year ago. I just noticed that the temp is up a bit cuz it's been so hot here... normally keep it between 77 and 79, it's at 81. Tank specs are in my signature. Thanks. :)

[budrecki]

Is it possible you got some sort of a contaminant in the tank? Maybe hand lotion or soap on your hands? Glass cleaner, anything? I would do another massive water change, like 80%, and do it again tomorrow.

All you parameters are good, so it doesn't seem like a water quality issue, but that is a lot of death in a short amount of time.

Keep us posted.

[naps]

Is it possible you got some sort of a contaminant in the tank? Maybe hand lotion or soap on your hands? Glass cleaner, anything? I would do another massive water change, like 80%, and do it again tomorrow.

All you parameters are good, so it doesn't seem like a water quality issue, but that is a lot of death in a short amount of time.

Keep us posted.
That's what it sounds like to me too. If you don't see anything on the fish that shows disease and your water tests fine some contamination might be the cause. Try another water change.

[tinytnt]

OMG. I know what the deal is... BF just got home, and I was talking to him about it, and mentioned the contaminates thing... I was just informed that Saturday he used my water bucket as a MOP bucket for the bathroom. So I guess it's PINE SOL. GREAT. 80% water changes then?

[naps]

OMG. I know what the deal is... BF just got home, and I was talking to him about it, and mentioned the contaminates thing... I was just informed that Saturday he used my water bucket as a MOP bucket for the bathroom. So I guess it's PINE SOL. GREAT. 80% water changes then?
Whoa :thud: !!! yep that's the cause fo' sure!! Best of luck with everything and keep us posted!!!
Yeah water changes to get any of that soap out ASAP (larger the better and the sooner the better too), and please make sure to use a new water bucket. After a bit you will need to change filter media too, but be careful not to do it with the large water change so you don't lose too much bacteria. Hope that helps a bit. And again good luck!!

[lucas68]

I wish I was close by to offer a quick home for your fish while you clean out the tank.

My Dad did something similar to me when I was young, he cleaned the algae off the inside of the tank with a soapy sponge. Luckily, my friend down the street had a tank so I could save a few fish.

I wish you the best of luck with saving your fish.

[joephys]

My bucket has in big letters on it "For aquarium use only."

[budrecki]

Tiny, The boyfriend needs a good beating :Angel:

Big water changes, as much as you can remove with the fish still in there.

[csdax]

Tiny, The boyfriend needs a good beating DON'T beat your BF up! Make him grovel!

Just think ... fancy dinners ... flowers ... chocolates ... back massages ...!

Start making a list!

[minnesotagal866]

have the boyfriend DO the water changes . . . with a water glass!!!!!
jackie

[joephys]

have the boyfriend DO the water changes . . . with a water glass!!!!!
jackie

HAHA! :thm: This has my vote!

[LunchBox]

wow. that sucks. definitely kick him in the nuts, get a new bucket, and label it with big letters or keep it in a locked cabinet or something ;)

I make my wife help me with water changes so she knows exactly what bucket and other things I use when I do them :) might do you some good to make him help you ;)

[Star_Rider]

Jeez, you guys are pretty hard on the guy ;)

the fact that he even used a bucket with pinesol got passed over..sheesh..sounds like to me he was trying to help out around the house ;)

I'm pretty sure he never intended to do any harm... :dance2:

just make sure in the future he knows which buckets he can and can't use...

good luck

[Pufferpoison]

Jeez, you guys are pretty hard on the guy ;)

the fact that he even used a bucket with pinesol got passed over..sheesh..sounds like to me he was trying to help out around the house ;)

I'm pretty sure he never intended to do any harm... :dance2:

just make sure in the future he knows which buckets he can and can't use...

good luck


too bad the fish had to suffer and pay the price of his mistake with their lives, too hard on him? NO

[ROLLIN]

Same thing happened to me once. My father got the scrub bucket (he couldn't smell) and did a water change. We could smell pinesol for days. Surprisingly none of the fish died, I believe there were three goldfish in there at the time.

[Star_Rider]

gee puffer,'
since you decided to single my post.
I feel I need to respond ;)
having spent several years in law enforcement..I think yeah..he made a mistake but show me intent..

you might not like what happened but he never intended to do any harm.

so being hard on him proves what??


would you chastise a child for a mistake?

there was a hard lesson learned. my point was teach people and avoid the mistakes.

[csdax]

lol. It's amazing how steamed up people can get about a hobby as 'peaceful' as keeping fish! :rolleyes:

I agree, star rider - the poor guy deserves some brownie points for cleaning the bathroom! We have Actus Reus, but no Mens Rea! (Nothing wrong with a little guilt, though!)

Btw, tinytnt - how are the rest of the fish?

[RanchuRick]

To eliminate the risks of this type of accidents, use a drinking water container (with a screw on cap) for water change.

[kody1192]

I would also suggest using stress zyme stress coat and use prime to even tho stress coat says it does a lot of the stuff prime does prime works way better and stress coat does stuff prime dosnt I add all three of those when I do water changes.

[gagaliya]

I would also suggest using stress zyme stress coat and use prime to even tho stress coat says it does a lot of the stuff prime does prime works way better and stress coat does stuff prime dosnt I add all three of those when I do water changes.

now read this three times really fast...my head ouch...

[dirtydawg10]

Yeah...Hey try using some punctuation it may help people read your posts in the future without getting a headache.

[kyle3]

my first fish ever was murdered by a well intentioned step mom who took him out of the bowl but it in the dish washer and then put him back in- bubbles croaked quickly

[vic21]

Glad to hear the mystery is solved. I had a sort of similar problem just after I initially put fish in my tank. Things were going fine then suddenly there was a spike in the readings. I did a water change and then went about trying to figure out the cause. A conversation with my spouse revealed that she had been feeding the folks as well. We had a wee chat and that doesn't happen anymore and, surprisingly the problem went away right away.
Hope all mends for you.
Cheers;

[Star_Rider]

:help:


LOL

in criminal court

Murder is implied to humans:
"The unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice"

also to have murder you generally need to have intent otherwise you may only get a manslaughter charge..key word..'man'...oops :duh:

LOL

you guys crack me up :D

[daveedka]

My bucket has in big letters on it "For aquarium use only."

this is a requirement in my mind. I remember one of our members posting that he released a houskeeper who used his fish sink for cleaning agents (Second offense before she got fired I believe)
But either way things for fish should be marked to prevent innocent Boyfriends from killing your fish when they clean up the beer they spilled :laugh: :laugh:
dave

[invisible1130]

I told my husband if he so even touched my aquarium bucket I was going to beat him with it! lol

[mandimoron]

To eliminate the risks of this type of accidents, use a drinking water container (with a screw on cap) for water change.
That's what I do. I syphon old water into the mop bucket, and refill with water treated in a one gallon Pure Life spring water bottle. No one ever thinks to use the water bottle for anything else, since it's just not practical for any other purpose. I have teeny tanks, so this works for me, but might be more than a little inconvenient for people with bigger tanks.

[Hurley]

You know, I had something similar happen to me when I was little. I had gotten angelfish and they were living very happily in their tank until one day my little brother thought "hmmm...those fish have never had a bath, I'll bet they are really dirty" and he preceded to wash them with soap and water. Needless to say they did not make it, I was very upset, and I still hold it over my brother to this day.

However, I don't use a bucket for water changes anymore; I use well rinsed out 1 gallon milk jugs. It makes water changes manageable and no one uses them when cleaning so mix ups occur.

[daveedka]

I had an Uncle who passed away at age 17. he had estabilished several tanks, and some pretty nice Angel fish (Back in the late 60's when good information was much harder to find) When he Died my Grandmother cared for his fish line item perfectly exactly as he wanted her to. Then one day she sprayed for flies in the house. 20 years later Grandma gave me a couple of his slate bottom tanks that she still had in the attic. Steel frames, black slate bottoms, and in perfect condition. Nothing would live in those tanks. Whatever was in the fly spray evidently got into the slate, because it was no more than a few minutes in the tank before a fish would start swimming sideways and gasping. Ever since trying those tanks I have been really careful with any chemical of any kind around fish.
Dave

[mikesoverhere]

I would start over again clean out entire tank but leave your media alone get them outa there fast they can still be on death row in 4 weeks I learned the hard way.

[tinytnt]

Well, I guess this was a case of "only the strong will survive..." After my water change, I lost no more fisht. And yes, he was informed of his mistake and swore to never ever use that bucket again. Didn't kick him in the nuts, as some of you suggested... after all, the day before, he was on his hands and knees scrubbing the bathtub and the floors. How many of ya can claim THAT one?! ;)

Anyway, thanks for all the advice... had no idea I'd come back to check this thread and find 4 pages!!

[onepawnup]

I recomend getting a python for water changes

btw saw them at wal-mart 2 days ago