prairielilly

Last night I did some minor maintenance on my 10g and 5g in my bedroom, that hold 4 cherry barbs and one panda cory and the dwarf gourami with worms, respectively. Both those tanks have been having a major case of diatoms recently, so I wiped down the glass and ornaments and cleaned off the plants. Plan was to do a gravel vac/major water change today, along with setting up/swapping around the stands.

This morning all those fish were dead. They were already partially decomposing. I had tested the water last night and all parameters were normal. The only thing in any way out of the ordinary and common to both tanks is that I'd used a new sponge to clean off the diatoms. I'd gotten a package of them at the dollar store, plain latex sponges, nothing on the package mentioning any cleaning additives. I'd wet and rubbed them, no foaming, no smell, I really did think they were cleaning-product free and therefore safe, I would never have used them otherwise. I still don't know that that's what it was but unless diatoms are suddenly toxic nothing else unusual happened to those tanks last night.

All those fish were healthy-looking and happy yesterday morning. The cherrys especially have seemed so happy in their 10g, and outside of the worms hanging from his vent the DG appeared to be doing well too. Things were finally starting to go well and I was hoping they would live happily for a long time yet. The poor little things I so hope they didn't suffer because of my stupidity. I can't believe I made such a mistake.

I'm running bleach through the tanks right now. It seems it would be a good idea to replace the gravel as if it IS a cleaning product I don't know that any amount of rinsing will ever be able to remove it.

Tavel

wow, i would've freaked out and started running around the house.

I think those sponges commonly have cleaners in them, the scotch-brite ones do for sure. The good news is that cleaners are water soluble and rinsing several times will remove it.

Amanda

I'm so sorry to hear that, I'm going through something similar with my Rams.
This is supposed to be a fun hobby, it's hard when we lose the fish. Many times I've considered taking down my large tanks, so you're not alone.

aquarist48

Sorry to hear about your loss. I don't even use soap on my hands prior to playing with my fish. I just wash and wring them under running water for a while and towel dry. Soap and bad chems have always been a major fear as I'm sure it is for everyone. We all make mistakes.

IIIHawKIII

did you happen to test before you tore the tanks down? one thing is you could have sent the tank into a cycle, but i SERIOUSLY doubt it could have gone to a toxic level overnight with those small fish and even with more i doubt it could have.

sorry you lost your little buddies. never a fun time.

Lucy

I'm so sorry to hear you lost your fish. Especially hard when we don't know exactly why.

JennDFK

That is so sad... I'm so sorry.

MeGustaUnaPez926

Wow, that really stinks... I'm so sorry... Was the sponge brand new, fresh out of the wrapper? I once was going to use a sponge to wrap around the intake tube of a filter for a sick fish, but the wrapper said in teeny tiny next to impossible to read letters 'not for aquarium use', so I didn't use it. I'm sure you checked super carefully though.

prairielilly

Thanks everyone. No I didn't test before I tore down the tanks, I was a little too upset and didn't even think of it. The fish's fins were disintegrating and they had absolutely no colour (they were grey) so I believe it was some sort of chemical. The sponge was fresh out of the wrapper and no didn't say anything regarding chemicals. I can't believe they died while I slept three feet away. I still want to replace the gravel, I'd never feel certain I got it all out and all those fish had/had been exposed to possible camallanus worms anyway. From now on, for anything that goes inside the tank it will be aquarium-specific items only, lesson learned the hard way.

MizRamzi

I am a true believer of bleach when cleaning anything pertaining to my tanks. I have been using it for 25yrs. It is best known for the killing of parasites and rinsing clean.
I am so sorry for your loss. Don't be so hard on yourself ok.

Tavel

hydrogen peroxide is better because it breaks down into water and oxygen. Same bleaching power as sodium perchlorate (common bleach), but with no residue. It's a little expensive though.

agabr123

i'm so sorry to hear that

CHoffman

That's awful. Iv'e done the exact thing you have..Although it was to the 10 gallons that I have empty and haven't filled with water yet. I'll be rinsing them with a bleach solution for sure. I'm soooo sorry this happened to you. You've had such a hard time with your fish babies anyway. Your a great fishkeeper and take good care of your fish babies. This really could have happened to anyone, sorry it was you. Good luck with your next little ones.

prairielilly

Thanks so much everyone It happened, it sucked, it's over, I'm ok.

I trust Fishlorian's advice, so I'm just going to bleach the gravel and rinse it about a hundred times, then re-cycle the tanks. H2O2 does break down more easily but dissolved bleach can be dechlorinated and the chlorine does break down in air regardless (why you're not supposed to leave the cap off the bleach bottle). I'll make sure it's safe.

It was tempting to say, Maybe I shouldn't set them up again, maybe I should just stay with only the 3 tanks...but last night I sure missed the hum of the tanks to put me to sleep, and there were no fish dancing for their brekky in the 10g this morning...they'll be set up again by the end of the week

It happened on the same day I was to go get new fish for my 20g and 5g, which I almost cancelled too - but I'm glad I didn't. It is so good to see happy little fishkids swimming around those tanks again!

Amanda

do you have any ideas on what you're going to re-stock with?

prairielilly

Well I change my mind like the weather lol but right now I'd like to get at least one of them up so I can use it as a QT to finish stocking the 20g and other 5g (assuming I decide what to add to those) but here's the plan atm:

20g: 7x black neon tetra, 3x julii/false julii cories, 1x pearl gourami OR molly
10g: 5x male fancy tail guppies
5g: 1x honey gourami, 3x pygmy cories
5g: male VT betta OR sparkling gouramies (if I can ever find them)
3g: female betta OR male VT betta ^^

kwesdog

You have to be careful with sponges because even though some of them dont have soap in them many of them have anti-mold chems in them for good reason. The cheap dollar store ones likely would not say that.

Sorry for the loss.

Harry

Amanda

You know how I'm a betta enabler....

Red1313

Oh... <HUGS>

On a happier note... BETTA BETTA BETTA!!
Bringing home a new baby always makes me happier.

RIP to the fallen though.

prairielilly

heehee, that one I got

On sunday I put a honey gourami in the 5g and 7 black neon tetras in the 20g. I know 7 is a lot for all at once and new filter, but it could process 10 PPM of ammonia to nitrates in 36 hrs, I did so 3x last week. I tested the water in both tanks this morning, 0-0-5. Here's hoping!

...and yes, no such thing as too many bettas...I have caught myself thinking about yet another 5g...no, must stop...(well at least wait until current tanks are stocked)

Red1313

hehehe
I'm holding back by telling myself no more until I get everyone that I've got now up to 5 gals each
3 more left. rofl