View Full Version : what to do now.
mickey
04-01-2003, 5:40 PM
My 3year old turned off my tank while i was out at work.
Will this have any any adverse effect on the fish or my tank conditions?
Is there anything i can do to reverse this situation and keep damage to a minimum?
thanks for the advice.
ChilDawg
04-01-2003, 5:42 PM
Flush some distilled water through the filter (so it doesn't burn out), and turn the thing back on...everything should be okay, but watch the fish for ick due to a possible temperature shock.
You might also want to do a water change some filter like the aqua clears spit the water out which ends up leaving your tank all dirty. My filter use to do it all the time. But you should be ok Just look out for Ick like post by dawg
mickey
04-01-2003, 6:16 PM
should i treat the tank for ick as a precaution.
spottedcatfish
04-01-2003, 6:28 PM
Well, you could put a small amount of salt in? Say a half of a tablespoon per gallon? That's about 1/4 of what's used to treat ick, I know a lot of people use some salt in their tanks as a general preventitive. If you have salt-sensitive fish (loaches, corys, etc.), you can still put some salt in there, but if you don't see any signs of ick, don't keep it in there. While they can handle salt for medicinal purposes for a time, there's no reason to stress them if they aren't sick.
On the other hand, if you have livebearers like mollies and guppies, they will appreciate the salt at that concentration (or should it be higher? I'm sure someone who does this can give you a definate number) so you can leave it in.
Also monitor your ammonia and nitrite carefully, in case any of your bio-filter suffered.
There's really not much you can do besides turn everything back on and wait. Watch the fish to see if they are acting funny. Unless you have fish that require pristine conditions (discus etc.), you'll probably be fine.
ChilDawg
04-01-2003, 7:53 PM
I do not believe in prophylactic treatments, so I would say not to treat for ick unless some of the symptoms begin manifesting themselves. I honestly think that everything should be fine, but I think that increased vigilance could never hurt in a situation like that.
Dont do anything just a water change. Dont add salt or meds yet. Dont want to stress the fish more for no reason. If they are healthy enough they probably wont get sick but then they might just wait. If you see any white specks like salt on them thenyou need meds.
wetmanNY
04-01-2003, 8:38 PM
Fish won't come down with Ich unless it's already present on one of them.
The real danger is an unattended three-year old. Next week he'll put a fork into an electric socket. That's worse than ich.
Three year olds climb. They can pull over quite large aquaria.
Thats true your three year old who was watching him/her??? Back to the fish they dont have to have it to get it they just need to be stressed alot or poor water qaulity or be Ill and they could get ick.
ChilDawg
04-02-2003, 2:43 PM
Not completely accurate...Ich is a parasite. While it is found on many (some would say most) of our captive-bred (and some wild-caught) fish, if it is not already on any of the fishes within the aquarium, and not found anywhere else in the aquarium, then the fish cannot be attacked by it without outside introduction.
True but what are the chances of the fish not having Ick like 1 in like 10,000. Ick is such a common disease its odd if you fish dont get it rather then them getting it. The only fish I have seen never get Ick are the ones treated the way there suppost to be well there healthy.
ChilDawg
04-02-2003, 5:37 PM
I understand...I was just reiterating an earlier point that not all fish are carriers of ich, but I realize the low numbers in the hobby which are not.
mickey
04-02-2003, 5:38 PM
Thanks for the help guys.
36 hours on and the fish dont seem to have suffered any adverse effects,no ich to be seen either thank goodness.
should i still remain as vigilant or has the danger passed.
Ps.I have learned my lesson,.I have put a lock on the aquarium room and miss hannah wont be allowed in there unless someone is with her.
ChilDawg
04-02-2003, 5:42 PM
That's a good lesson to have learned, and we are glad for your having learned it!
I would keep a close eye on the fish for a little longer, but not necessarily as close as you were initially--I, too, think that the worst has passed, but I cannot be 100% for certain...so keep watching, but maybe not as much. (You've earned a little break for having learned that lesson! :))
Yeah I would keep an eye on them for another 24hrs but not necessary they should be ok. I hope everything goes good with your fish. Lates.