17 Dead So Far...

[ICEEGRL]

All of my tanks are well established.
One of the 10g. tanks(fry tank) killed everything in it today. I did my regular water change yesterday. Everything seemed fine as usual. I did notice that the water looked foggy and there was a oil like film on top. I did another small water change just dipping off the top, but it did nothing. The film was still there, and it became even more foggy. I then decided to get a bubble bar to increase the water movement...
When I got home from the store I had 17 dead cory fry. I moved the 5 remaining fry to another tank to try to save them. They are still alive, but very weak. I can't see anything wrong though. No spots, no streaks, no red gills, nothing. They are just not swimming.
I checked my stats...
ph 7.0
kh 120
gh 25
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
temp 75 F.
The tank is planted and has sand bottom with coconut caves. The only thing new is a little eco-complete added a few days ago around some of the plants that were not doing so well. I also added a piece of drift wood from one of my other tanks. I have had that piece of wood for a while and it didn't mess with the water or fish in the other tank. I use prime for water changes. That is not new. I double dose with the prime to cover extra additives to the water. (I lost a lot of fish due to that before.) I have been double dosing prime for water changes for a long time too. It has never caused a problem before.
I only did water changes on 2 tanks, and they both have that film and clouding. My other tanks don't. Now I am afraid to do the other water changes.
What could be causing this, and what do I do about it?
Help please!
Thank you!

 

[DarkEntity]

Ive had an oily film on my tank before but it was down to a bacterial bloom, other than that have you tested the tap water to see if there is something strange there?

you LFS will have a far greater range of tests if you dont have them.

Other than that im not to sure short of adding an air stone.

 

[ICEEGRL]

I will test my tap water and post in a bit. I hurt my back so I am getting around kind of slow.
I will add some bubbles and see what that does.
Should I put in something for bacteria? All of the fish are out of it for now it only has plants. Do I need to treat the tank anyway just to make sure I get rid of what ever it was?

 

[Tolak]

I would try contacting the water company to see if they have been doing any work on water supply lines, as they will often increase aditives when they do this. It sounds like a water supply problem to me, something that happens from time to time. Here is a link to a local club that is nice enough to inform folks when someting like this is happening; http/www.champaignfish.com/

You can use up to 5 times the normally suggested amount of Prime without any harm, I've used 4x after bleaching out a larger tank. This would be needed if they increased chlorine and chloramine.

 

[ICEEGRL]

Thanks!
I did check the tap water...
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
gh 0
kh 120
ph 6.8
It is still really foggy and the film isn't getting any better. The rotten egg smell is gone though.
I will do another water change tomorrow and up the prime.
Will that help clear the water or should I be doing something else to clear it up and get rid of the film? I added polishing pads today. That doesn't seem to be doing anything either.
Thanks Again for helping

 

[Tolak]

I would contact the water company as well. The gh reading of zero seems odd, especially with a kh of 120.

 

[ICEEGRL]

Hey Tolak!
Does that info cover everywhere or just that one state? I didn't see a way to find out about anywhere else. You know I am in Louisiana.
That does sound like what it probably is though. They do mess with our water a lot. I have just never had it do this. What do I do if I can't get it to clear up? Will it still be safe for the fish? I am afraid to do the water changes in my other tanks with fish. I can't wait a whole month for water changes though. How will I know it is safe with out killing a fish to test it?
Thanks Again

 

[Tolak]

Look on your water bill, they should have a phone number to contact them. Usually when any company plays with the water it is better to do smaller, more frequent water changes. Finding out as much as you can about your local water company will help you to predict if & when there is going to be a change in your supply.

 

[ICEEGRL]

I will call in the morning. I probably won't get anywhere with them, but I will try. For some reason these people all act like noone knows anything about anything. It is like pulling teeth to get information out of them about anything.
I don't know what you mean about the readings. Why is that odd? Should I not get a 0gh? That is what it said last time too. Does that mean there is a problem?
Thanks!

 

[ICEEGRL]

I got nowhere with the water company. My tanks will not clear up, and I can't get rid of the film. What can I do? I did increase the prime with the water changes. I am afraid to mess with the tanks with fish though. How do I know for sure if my tanks are safe? My fish are all squished in 2 smallish tanks. I need to get them back where they can have some room.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

firstly take a sample of your tap water now and keep it safe, it may take the water company a week or so to get back in touch with you ro to send someone round to test your water which make be nescessary, and the problem could have gone by then so you need some evidence basically. take a sample to the lfs too and ask them to run every test they can think of. also if you have an lfs that stocks marine fish they may sell r/o water, i'd buy some of this and something to remineralise it and use this to do some water changes on the affected tanks. RO water is basically purified water that's as close as you're going to get to pure H2O, however the pH of it will be too low and it'll be missing some things your fish need, i can't remember exactly what you need to add to it but you can buy a mix from the lfs and it'll tell you to use x grams per litre or something like that. i'd stick with that until you know you can trust the water from your tap again

 

[ICEEGRL]

Thanks. I will get the sample now. I will also see what I can do about trying to get to a pet shop. The closest one is almost 2 hours away. I don't get to go very often. (maybe once every 2 or 3 months) I will try though.
Thanks for helping!