cognizant

So, it seems that doing so many water changes are starting to run together. A few days ago I forgot I did a water change and ended up changing the filter cartridge the following day. I disturbed the environment too much and lost 7 of the 10 fish.

I lost 1 scissortail, 2 gouramis, 1 rosy barbs, 1 cory cat, and 2 platys.

I was really upset, but took it as an omen that I was in need of a change. I removed the 3 survivors (1 scissortail, 1 cory cat, and 1 pleco) to a 2.5g tank and started to redecorate the 29g tank. I think I will be leaving the scissortail and the cory cat in the smaller tank for now, but moving the pleco back as soon as possible. I can't leave the pleco in the small tank for too long, so I am going to have to try throwing biospira in the larger tank.

So yeah, slightly stressed and upset at the moment.

FishFolk

I am so sorry you lost your fish. Maybe until you get a system in place you can keep a calendar by the tank and tick off filters and water changes...I knew one could over clean the tank and have issues but didn't know that those two too closely would cause such a deadly change.

Lucy

I'm really sorry you lost so many fish.

Since most of the bacteria lives on the filter media, you only need to replace it when it's falling apart, just rinse it in used tank water when it gets really gunked up.

When you get your tank back in order keep an extra filter sponge in it, that way when it does need replacing, you'll have one seeded and ready to go.

If you use carbon, that has to be replaced every few weeks because it expires and can release toxins back into your tank.
I don't use carbon, I made a slit and dumped it out. The only time I would use it is if I was filtering meds out of the water.

Good luck, I hope you get everything worked out.

clinton1621

I agree with Lucy 100% you should never replace all your filter media at one time.... either have a replacement filter media thats already been in the tank for at least 2 or 3 weeks, or if you have 2 filters only change the media in 1 of the filters and then wait 2 to 3 weeks before changing the other filters media. By changing it all at once you cause a sudden rise in ammonia because you have very little bacteria left.

Dino

Was the tank cycled?

Water changes and filter cleaning the same day should not be a cause of massive dieoff if the tank was cycled, stocked reasonably, and the water that was added in as a replacement was of the same chemical makeup and temperature as the water taken out.
I do not believe this caused your dieoff and I would be looking for another reason.

Lucy

Good point, Dino.

cognizant

The tank was cycled and started back in October so it was nearly a year old. I tested the water and everything was pretty much normal (pH was 7.5, but I don't think that would have caused it). If it wasn't changing the water and the filter at the same time I have no idea what it could have been.

catersun

Some peeps just have bad luck. I'm sorry if you are one of them. This is a good time to get a plug in for marineland filters with biowheels. they you always have some good bac going on when you do filter changes.