Cherry Shrimp Mega Problem

[Sweeden]

OK so left my shrimp in my mums care for a week while i was away, large water change a week before that.
 
Got home yesterday, all shrimp looking fine but alot of water had been lost due to evaporation.
 
So i topped up the water as i always do with dechlorinater. Woke up this morning to find lots of dead shrimp (almost 1/2)
 
Sooooo....
 
Took out all the dead, and did a near 90% water change (left water with other heater in until warm enough so not to shock them)
 
After an hour of putting the water in 1/2 of the 1/2 left were dead too.
 
I now have only 25 - 30 shrimp left and they are swimming constantly.
 
What is going on???

 

[snazy]

There seems to be something in the water/tank that's no good for them.  I am sorry for your loss. Make sure it's not ammonia/nitrite. Other than that it could be some toxin-hair spray, deodorant, air freshener, something in the tap water itself like high amounts of copper or something else toxic to them.  It maybe worth to overdechlorinate.

 

[Meeresstille]

Did your mom clean in your room? Maybe she sprayed something on the glass or the top to dust it? Did she use the container with which you did the top up, for cleaning and the residue then got into your tank!?
 
Did she reach into the tank getting a dead leaf out and she had lotion on her skin?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Did your mom clean in your room? Maybe she sprayed something on the glass or the top to dust it? Did she use the container with which you did the top up, for cleaning and the residue then got into your tank!?
 
Did she reach into the tank getting a dead leaf out and she had lotion on her skin?

 
Thats exactly what I suspect has happened.
 
I have heard other people who went on holiday and parents/friends with well meaning intentions tidied up the place and polished the tables and stuff, day later tank was pretty devoid of any life.
 
Sad when that happens.

 

[snazy]

I thought the OP said issue happened after topping the tank when he came back from holidays and topped it up with dechlorinated water? Otherwise he would have come to an empty tank if it happened earlier.

 

[Ch4rlie]

I thought the OP said issue happened after topping the tank when he came back from holidays and topped it up with dechlorinated water? Otherwise he would have come to an empty tank if it happened earlier.

 
Oh yeah, thats right. Got distracted there.
 
Hmm, something linking to the water evaporation perhaps.
Would the water heat up more by the lights on tank causing high temp and then adding fresh cold water to tank would cause a fairly sizeable temp swing?
 
But would not explain the deaths after second water change though. But was a 90% water change.
 
Am stumped, the shrimps swimming crazy in tank though is surely a symptom of something in the water, i.e. copper maybe

 

[Meeresstille]

Oops, yup, but still could have been some cleaning residue in the bucket with which the OP topped up the water.

 

[snazy]

Well, just topping up will hardly cause change of parameters but 90% water change can swing the stats quite a bit. However, he had the issue after topping up. Maybe you are right, the container he uses for water was contaminated. I really have to hide my stuff at home and give "lectures" so someone doesn't use the fish containers accidentally.

 

[Sweeden]

Good morning and thanks for the ideas.
 
Well I have woke up to no more deaths and no shrimp swimming around. HOWEVER My assassin snails are right on the waters edge at the top of the tank.
 
Asked my mum and she hasn't touched anything apart from food tub (she doesn't like touching the food, it stinks!)
 
She didn't add more water in case she messed something up so its a genuinely weird one.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Have you done water tests for nitrites and ammonia etc ? As cant see anything relating to any water test results on this thread.
That might help us find any clues as to why this is happening.

Also, you are certain your mum did not use the bucket for mopping a floor or something like that?