alyssium

Okay, so there was an accident today. i dropped my light canopy, glass and a about a quarter jar of fish flakes and a quarter jar of shrimp pellets into the tank. got most out, figured it'd be okay and left for my day. after about 6 hrs came home to a horribly cloudy tank, one fish that had passed and all the others are making their own air supply at the top.

i vaccumed right away, did a 20% water change added water to get the filter going hoping to get oxygen into the tank. one fish is in a bucket of water (the clean not contaminated bucket) because he was looking really worse for wear. i don't know what to do now. the LFS said to just vaccum in the morning, but i'm really concerned they won't make it to morning wihtout more attention NOW.

Please advise!

Shawnie

another vacuum and water change should help....Ive done this before then I had to fast my fish for a few days and give them some pea's for they are total pigs...goodluck!

Lucy

Oh no, I'm so sorry that happened and you lost a fish.

If that happened to me, I'd panic!
Maybe do another 25% change and vacuum as much of the food out as you can.
You not only is there a risk of a huge ammonia spike, but the fish might gorge themselves.

Good luck.

alyssium

yea. i took out abotu another 20% and in about ten mins i might do another 20. i'm trying so hard to save them... i think one more is downand out. the one i'm most concerned about saving is my redtail. he's older and stronger so i think he'll do the best.. but still very concerned

Alessa

That happened to me with the blodworms... right after a water change... it was horrible!

Lucy

Can you move them and the heater into something clean for the night and do big water changes and vacuums?

Red1313

Oh I hope it all works out for you!
Sorry about your fish. I'm rooting for the red tail. (personal fav. of mine)

Torez

I did that with flakes but nothing happend, all i did was do a 50% water change and poof, it seemed that it all just dissapeared. i guess that the quick sweep of the net got most of it out.

alyssium

i had put one of the small fish in a bucket and it was okay for about an hr, and then it was starting to belly up. i put it back in teh tank thinking it might be the heater.. but no dice

i've done about 75% water changes and adding fresh water, when i add it makes it more cloudy again, but the fish seem to get a lil rejuvinated with the new water. i took otu all of hte ornaments so they can be thoroughly rinsed out. i just don't really know what else to do.

Lucy

It sounds like you did all you can do.
Good luck. Let us know how everything is tomorrow.

alyssium

water is still really cloudy, everyone is alive and swimming about. not sure if i should do another water change.....

Lucy

I'm glad to hear everyone is ok this morning. I'm sure you were releived.
A water change is a good idea, keep an eye out for an ammonia spike.

alyssium

the harder part is i work 3-11 tonight and hten i work 9-6 tomorrow. not much time for me to be here to watch for stuffs. will test for amonia now, and do another vaccuming. thank you for all the help. it was a rough night.

Lucy

Ew, tough shifts you have there.

What? You don't like midnight water changes? (Joke )

alyssium

lol not all that much, but i think that's what's going to be in the cards

none of hte fish are "gasping" at the top any more, and they are all kinda hanging out near the bottom.. swimmming and exploring, they seem to be doing okay, if my amonia is okay now before i go, should they be fine until i get home?

Lucy

If you're ammonia is at 0, they should be fine.
One thing I just thought of, it would be a good idea to rinse your filter catridge in used tank water or treated tap water.
The filter might have sucked up a lot of that food.

alyssium

i dont' have any treated tap water avail. i have one 'fish bucket' that stays only for them. my amonia is at 1.2/2.4 the test looked more like urine than the colours on the paper.. and i tested pH and it's high.. it's the highest on the low scale. but at this point, there is nothing i can do until i get home. so i have to have some faith that my fish are strong...*pout*

Lucy

That's a pretty high ammonia reading. It would be a good idea to try and change the water, then you can swish the catridge around in that.
What do you use to treat your water when you do water changes?

jdhef

By treated tap water, Lucy means water that has had a dechlorinator such as Prime added to it. You could also swish the filter in some used tank water, since that should have been treated before you put it in your tank.

As long as your ph is about 8 or under you have nothing to worry about. Your probably okay even at 8.5 but I think that would be pushing a little.

Now stop pouting and get to work!

alyssium

i use aqua plus... but i'm about out. and i ran out of cycle was going to buy more on pay day.. don't think it can wait.

Shawnie

I would skip buying cycle as the bacteria isnt the self sustaining kind and its a waste of your money....so buy the prime instead it works wonders!

Sasukii

I have faith in your fish as well, and I bet they will be ok.. according to my tests my ammo level is really high (3-4 PPM) I'll be testing again after my water change (After dinner is over) and see how it looks again. I didn't get a liquid test kit for ammonia until today, and my fish survived in the same kind of water they are in now for almost a month straight due to misguided information... I really hope your fish do well.

alyssium

well i just got home from work.. (long day) and all are still alive and the water looks better. the lfs gave me a sample of the right stuff to put in (a clerk i trust) as i am dumb and forgot my debit card at home. i just put the ornament (a weird horsey boat thing) back in and all fish seem happier. i'm still a lil bummed that i lost two, i'll check amonia again in the morning. i think now the most important thing to watch for is ICH.

thank you all for the replies, support and concern.