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

hockeyref88

What else could it possibly be? The fish are doing much better right now.

ThisGuy

i know i have forgotten to put in conditioner for a while and quickly put some in the tank but what about the times i didn't remember and i have never had a mass extinction. MTS you get sidetracked when you are cleaning 6 tanks it happens.

hockeyref88

I know but what else could cause nitrites to spike like that. This tank has always been perfect. never a minutes problem. Shoot the nitrates rarely get over 20. Something caused the spike and thats the only thing that happened.

MinxMermaid

oh gosh you guys, it was the saddest thing EVER. they were all suffering so much... and those two cat fish were the most GEORGEOUS POLKA DOT fat cat fish you ever saw. they were stunning and i'm so sad that they're gone and the yellow one too.

so many fishies, all so fast, it was frightening.

susitna-flower

Beautifule grand baby! Where did all that hair come from.

Rick, sorry about your tank.....sometimes I think neglect is better than fussing too much.

I am like you in that I try to do things fast, and sometimes it ends up the slow way because I will run the tank over...SO if I feel really in a rush, I will just skip it for a couple of days, but then cut food out too. THEN I know the fish will be OK, and the tank will get better care when I do it at a better time. REALLY my floor needs mopping now and again!

Lucy

I'm so sorry you lost your fish. It's bad enough when we lose one, but to have so many go at the same time and not know why has to be the hardest.
You're both good fish parents so try not to be too hard on yourselves.

Shawnie, your grand daughter to so precious!

Shawnie

ty lucy !

Im still baffled as to what happened...I cannot imagine that over night, a water change without(if thats the case in fact he did forget) conditioner, would kill that many fish so fast..not to mention, they arent super sensitive so im still at a loss ..was hoping some of the experts in fish keeping for years and years, would have an answer

hockeyref88

Well it was nice to get up this morning and see everybody thats left alive and well and swimming. Checked the water and 0 nitrates, nitrites or ammonia...... Hopefully its turning around......................I havent feed them in 2 days, should I wait for a little longer?

Butterfly

If all the tanks were having problems I would suggest maybe the city had thrown something new into the system but since its just the one that wouldn't be it.
Sorry you lost them
Carol

Shawnie

Im glad everyone made it thru the night! and Yes I would feed them..

Lucy

That's good new, I bet you were so relieved this morning.
But 0 nitrates?

Shawnie

from the mini cycle im sure.... hmm wonder if thats what did it? cleaning too much? but still over night seems almost impossible