Glenn Woodell
August 3rd 04, 01:34 AM
I'm having a bad night and my fish are having an even worse one. Just did a
routine water change on my 20 gallon community tank which has been established
for almost 2-1/2 years with only one catastrophy about a year ago. I had been
cleaning parts on my car during a front suspension rebuild in the morning and
apparently the solvent was still inmy skin that evening even though my hands
were sparkling clean. Within minutes fish started going belly up. Before I
could get the water changed out I had lost about half my fish.
Now on to tonight. Routine water change. I'm using one of those siphon kits
that connect to the kitchen faucet. I did a 50% change and added Prime water
conditioner and aquarium salt as usual. About 15 minutes later I noticed that
my 3" bala shark was dead. Hmmm. He didn't last very long. Next I notice that
one of my 4" silver dollars is swimming crooked. I checked my other two and
they are also starting to look ill. I immediately performed two 75% changes
with reconditionings. No change. I removed the three dollars and placed them
into a large bowl with fresh water and conditioner. No change. One is dead now
and I have since moved them back into the main tank.
What's puzzling is that my two hatchet tetras are doing fine as are my two
guoramis, one serpae tetra, and my 8" pleco.
It seems to me like the water got contaminated with something but I cannot
imagine what could have done it. I've been thinking back about what I might
have gotten my hands into but I can't think of anything. This seemed like a
very routine water change.
I noticed that I have a little bit of what appears to be mildew inside the
siphon tube but that's been there for a long time.
Any ideas? I am totally confused.
Glenn
routine water change on my 20 gallon community tank which has been established
for almost 2-1/2 years with only one catastrophy about a year ago. I had been
cleaning parts on my car during a front suspension rebuild in the morning and
apparently the solvent was still inmy skin that evening even though my hands
were sparkling clean. Within minutes fish started going belly up. Before I
could get the water changed out I had lost about half my fish.
Now on to tonight. Routine water change. I'm using one of those siphon kits
that connect to the kitchen faucet. I did a 50% change and added Prime water
conditioner and aquarium salt as usual. About 15 minutes later I noticed that
my 3" bala shark was dead. Hmmm. He didn't last very long. Next I notice that
one of my 4" silver dollars is swimming crooked. I checked my other two and
they are also starting to look ill. I immediately performed two 75% changes
with reconditionings. No change. I removed the three dollars and placed them
into a large bowl with fresh water and conditioner. No change. One is dead now
and I have since moved them back into the main tank.
What's puzzling is that my two hatchet tetras are doing fine as are my two
guoramis, one serpae tetra, and my 8" pleco.
It seems to me like the water got contaminated with something but I cannot
imagine what could have done it. I've been thinking back about what I might
have gotten my hands into but I can't think of anything. This seemed like a
very routine water change.
I noticed that I have a little bit of what appears to be mildew inside the
siphon tube but that's been there for a long time.
Any ideas? I am totally confused.
Glenn