Fish Dead

[rick216]

So I was cleaning my tank. This tanks been running for about 4 years or more. I had some coralline algae on the front of the tank so I rearranged the rocks so I could get to it. Scrubbed the rock with a new toothbrush because they were dirty. Then as I put the rocks back to where they were originally. I see that the fish started to swim wierd crashing into the rocks, swimming upside down. Then all of sudden all of my fish are dead. I'm thinking there could've been a ammonia spike but this tanks been running for years. What you guys think caused this?
RIP Powder Blue Tang, Flame Angel, Anthia =(

 

[Andrew]

Sounds like you may have got a chemical in your tank. Did you wash your hands with soap or have any hand lotions on?

 

[kkyyllee]

test ur water

 

[Icefire]

really doubt amonia, maybe H2S? The sand was black under the rock?

 

[rbursek]

Now this is just in IMO, my mentor has a 36gal with 2 nastey wrasses we put in there out of bad purcheses at LFS for our Reef tanks, Trates run 150 no water changes and they are fine. If this happened suddenly I am thinking there may have been some thing toxic, to a SW tank on the tooth brush. Did you test for ammonia? Trites and Trates which followed this?

 

[rbursek]

Icefire,What is H2S, still learning!!!!!!!! Andrew good point!!!
Bob

 

[rick216]

Tested water all everything was zero except trates. Nitrates are 10ppm.

 

[rick216]

Icefire, the sand wasn't black under the rock.

 

[chemesgh]

It's times like these when there's only one thing you can do.


Break out the grill and invite friends over for seafood night!!


J/K, on a serious note I am sorry for your loss. That would be tough, especially after 4 years.

 

[rbursek]

10 iis better then most, IMO out side pollutant

 

[rick216]

If there is some type of chemical in the tank what would you guys do before adding some more lifestock?

 

[1F2FRFBF]

Wow, how strange. Maybe moving the rocks around may have set something loose that upset a balance in the tank? I know that disturbing an established sand bed is supposed to be a no-no because you can release hydrogen sulfide that builds up over time through the nitrification process, but you'd have to do a lot of disturbing for that to happen.

It could have been the toothbrush. It could have been some residue on your hands or arms. It could have been something on your shirt or in your hair that shook off into the water.

I'm guessing that the best thing to do now would be water changes, and keep monitoring your levels. You might want to test PH, alkalinity and oxygen in addition to the standard ammonia/nitrate/nitrite.

Does anyone know what else Rick might want to test for before adding more livestock?

 

[Icefire]

run carbon also

 

[chaseracing]

Carbon and a water change are probably a good place to start.

-=E=-

 

[Shagsbeard]

Fish can also be on the brink and not show any signs. Any additional stress, such as re-arranging your rock or adding new fish, can push them over. Think this might be a "if it aint broke... don't fix it" momment.

 

[rick216]

How big of a water change would you guys recommend doing? 50%?

 

[Young Frankenstein]

did you smell anything like rotten eggs ?, if so that's sulfur gas lethal.

 

[rick216]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10289551#post10289551 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 0 Agios
did you smell anything like rotten eggs ?, if so that's sulfur gas lethal.

No, I didnt smell anything that was like rotten eggs.