hockeyref88

On Tuesday I did water changes on 5 of the 6 tanks we have like usual. Last night when we got home we noticed all of our cichlids at the top of the tank gasping for air. I tested the water and the nitrites were at about 3. We had 4 dead fish. I did an immediate 80% water change. this morning same thing. 3 more dead. Nitrites about 2. another massive water change. Obviously something I did threw the tank into a mini cycle of some kind and of course I had to go to work and could not deal with it until after work. Got home and lost one more fish, Nitrites were at about .5. I ran to the fish store got some seeded bio rings and some prime. Added the bio rings to the cannister filter added the prime dopped the water level below the spray bar to help airate the water and they seem to be doing ok....I am so bummed. I lost my Prize electric yellow and a couple of my favorite catfish along with several others. I just can't imagine I forgot to condition the water I changed, but maybe I did. Something happened to start the cycle and it was something I did. ......................I bet I'll never let that happen again.

Shawnie

Im so sorry for the loss of your fishies...it really stinks when we dont know why!!!!Hmmm....I cant imagine overnight that it would have that drastic effect..Dont blame yourself, and do you really think it was the water change? do you have city water? I know alot of people around here that keep fish, have been having issues with water because of lack of rain...its almost like the wells are pulling up sludge (even if you cant see it) or some other unnormal water issues...then some of my friend are getting too much rain, and alot of chemicals or issues from poluted grounds are getting into the city water so they are treating it with higher chemicals than normal...

hockeyref88

I changed 4 other tanks at the same time my 100 community, 40 goldfish, 20 guppie, 10 puffer, and of course the 80 cichlid. everyone else is great. I must have forgot the water conditioner. I have a habit of trying to be very fast and efficient when I do things which most of the time serves me very well. What else could throw the tank into a cycle

Shawnie

did u happen to replace the filter?

hockeyref88

No............ I Have a cannister filter on it. It has those bio rings and stars in it. I added some more seeded bio rings today and rinsed the filter pads in aquarium water this morning. I know better than to clean it with tap water. I'm sitting here looking at the few (11) I have left and they appear to be doing much better. I'll be crossing my fingers for the next few days. Won't be feeding them for a few days either.

Shawnie

again, im sorry for your loss..its so very weird that it happened that fast....is your tap water that bad? city or well water?

hockeyref88

Its city water............... I think forgotten conditioner is really the only thing it could be. I can't think of anything else especially since it was the day after a water change. Never had any probs with the water before. Live and learn. I feel real bad for those fish. That tank has been my best tank. Never had any problems ever. Maybe if we had noticed sooner, but it just didn't happen.

dking271

I had a similar event with one of my tanks two weeks ago. Is the tank planted? Did you do a gravel vac at the time of the water change? I do and did, and think that I may have hit a nitrogen pocket in the gravel from and old plant root that decayed. Did the change, came back from dinner and found my pair of German Blue Rams gasping at the surface. Nitrite was between .50 and .75. I did a 50% change, and got the nitrites down to .25 and then treated with Prime. I still lost my two Rams and one of the Corys in the tank. I did another water change the next day and added Bio Spira, which brought the tank completely back to normal in 2 days. I am now keeping an emergency dose of BioSpira in the fridge just in case it ever happens again. Sorry for your loss.

hockeyref88

No I didn't do a gravel vac this time. The cichlid tank stay amazingly clean. They are very clean fish. I don't think I've ever even seen a poo in the tank. I probably do a gravel vac about every 5 or 6 water changes. Also there are no live plants in the tank. Thanks though.

hockeyref88

Shawnie I forgot to say thanks for your comments.

Shawnie

Anytime! Ill let you buy the next round

hockeyref88

Cheers girl you got it.

Shawnie

Ill need a double tho!! I have my granddaughter overnight LOL

hockeyref88

How old is she?

Shawnie

8 weeks..and still not sleeping all nite..she thinks play time is at 3am LOL ...I remember in my younger years, that 3am was bedtime...now 3am is get up for work haha...here she is I just took a pic

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the poor gal is so tired of flashes going off in her face all the time

ThisGuy

Rick i am so sorry for the loss of your cichlids that sounds so weird even if you did forget to condition the water i couldn't see it driving your tank that crazy and losing your fish.

Shawnie your granddaughter is so cute i like the diamond earing's

hockeyref88

She sure is cute!! You must be proud....................Glad I don't have one of those though.............Too OLD for that.

Shawnie

ty thisguy!! and I agree with the tank issue..very weird it would happen that fast..and so fierce