Disaster strikes! (long story)

[dragonfish]

I lost two fish in my 40g because of careless determination. I posted recently trying to ask how to remove med stains from rocks, and got the advice to use rubbing alcohol. Well I put about 3 pieces of rock in the alcohol and let them soak in for about 2 days. I then tried to rinse them out as much as i could, even let them soak in clean water for a bout a day, big mistake! I thought all the alcohol was removed from the rocks, but i was wrong. My stuborn determination to put all the rocks back in the tank was everything but right. I noticed that within a couple of hours, the fish started breathing very deeply, more than usual. Some were even trying to breath near the surface. I didn't think much of it at the time. When i came back later that night, turned on the lights, and was shocked, saw my precious red empress and 5 bar cichlid dead as a door nail at the bottom of the tank, with the rest of my fishes breathing frantically near the top of the water surface. I quickly removed the dead bodies and the rocks that I previously soaked in alcohol and was about to do a water change when I saw two others fish that were swimming awkward (ie. floating sideways). I was like **** I don't wanna lose anymore fish, so I decided to transfer the surviving fish to my 60g downstairs. I netted them easily and ran downstairs to put them in there. Thankfully all the fish are doing fine now. It makes you feel good when you see a fish that looks like it's on it's last leg and breathing like hell just to try to stay alive, and within a matter of minutes, by putting it in a stabilized environment, all of a sudden it just comes back to life and is full of vitality again. As for the other tank(40g), I did about a 95% water change, added carbon and is now just cycling. I'm waiting for the water quility to hopefully stabilize. I didn't touch the filter media or anything like that, just changed the water. Do you think that is enough to get rid of the alcohol that may have seeped from the rocks? If that was even the reason why I lost the two fish in the first place. How many days do you think I should wait 'till I put them back in the 40g? Any comments and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Whew, sorry for the long post, I had to vent somewhere.

[dragonfish]

Today, I bought some lace rock to replace the ones that were soaked in alcohol. I placed the rocks in the tank, and one by one put the fish from the 60g back into the 40g. So far so good, everything seems to be normal. Fish are acting healthy and there aren't any signs of stress or heavy breathing. Everythings turning out alright.

[Firsttanks]

Sorry about your loses Dragon. :(

Just a thought, but if you baked your rocks (say 450F) wouldn't that cause the alcohol to evaporate? Then you may be able to use the rocks again.

[dragonfish]

Hey that's a great idea! I never thought about doing that. Maybe I'll give it a try and let you know how it goes.

[GEV83]

I would do the oven thing but repeatedly by putting in oven wait soak it in fresh water not in tank then put in oven and do this process around 3 time o make sure most of the toxins are out of the rock.

[AikidoGuy]

Microwave ;)

[GEV83]

Wont be as offective though.

[scott]

First off soaking it in water won't do anything. I can't explain the chemistry like wetman or RTR but basicly think if you had a scotch on the rocks, if all of the ice melted you would not have a homogenous mixture, the two liquids will not emulsify, therefore I severely doubt that soaking it in water would somehow draw the alcohol out or wash it off, without aggitation (unless it was some sort of porous rock I doubt it would actually absorb anything). Alcohol is however very heat sensitive and will actually evaporate at room temp (albeit slowly). I think the baking idea would work and the baking/ soaking idea seems a little excessive but if you are paranoid (which I imagine you are) it seems like a safe alternative. I would aggitate the water though when you soak it. Or how about just boiling it. Just wanted to edit to say that I imagine you are paranoid because your fish died (sorry about that I hate when fish die I always feel so guilty) not trying to be inflamatory.

[GEV83]

You could have use oil and water to prove you point instead of liquor.

[scott]

Yeah but he soaked the rocks in alcohol not oil.;)

[GEV83]

yeah but still I wouldnt have know what you were talking about if my uncle hadnt explained it to me before. But good point made.