Please Help!

[alex26]

I have a 29 gallon tank that's been established for about 4 months. It is well planted, and I have never had any problems with it. I had 1 Bala Shark, 5 Tiger Barbs, and 2 Zebra Danios.

Yesterday I did a partial water change the same way I always do using the same siphon, bucket, water conditioner, etc, etc, etc. Once I finished I went to rinse out the bucket and came back no more than two minutes later, and every single fish in the tank was on it's side twitching and darting around the tank. Within another minute they were all dead.

Can anybody offer any suggestions as to what happened?

 

[alex26]

Sorry everyone! I just saw this;

Tank size: 29 gal
pH: 7.0
ammonia: 0 ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: 25 ppm
kH:?
gH:?
tank temp 76 F

 

[WILDER]

Sorry R.I.P.Sounds like to me something got in the water.Have you used a bucket with chemicals in it.When a fish darts around its a sign of toxic poisoning.

 

[alex26]

First, thanks for the response.

To answer your question, no the bucket I use is a dedicated bucket I only use for water changes. I aslo rinse it before each use.

Any ideas what kind of toxin could kill so many fish in less than 5 minutes?

 

[stang1]

Are you using test strips or the liquid test kits to check your water?

 

[alex26]

Liquid test kit. An Aquarium Pharmacueticals master test kit to be exact.

 

[stang1]

I'm puzzled as to what it could be to be honest. Like Wilder said, dart around is usually a sign of poor water quality.
Have you used a spray or air freshener around the tank at all?

 

[-germ-]

I'm puzzled as to what it could be to be honest. Like Wilder said, dart around is usually a sign of poor water quality.
Have you used a spray or air freshener around the tank at all?

In additin to this, how often did you perform tank maintenance up until this point?
Do you live in the UK? If so, anywhere near Royston, there was a post earlier today about issues (supposedly) with the water quality in the area...

 

[alex26]

Thanks everyone for trying to help. I really appreciate it. To answer the questions;

I have been doing a 20% water change every Sunday.

I haven't used any air fresheners or other aresol products around the tank (or at all actually)

And I live in Boston, Ma, USA

 

[WILDER]

Tolak knows alot about states water supply.
Had any storms or the pipes flushed out.
As you are meant to double dose the declorinator if so.

 

[Tolak]

What product are you using to treat the water? Where does your surface water originate from (lake, river, well)? Has there been any recent construction or excavation in the area that would or could result in work on the water lines, either intentional or accidental? Do you live in a house or apartment/condo? Where do you store your water change equipment?

 

[BlazeCichlid]

I have seen Nicotine do this in person, only thing that comes to mind that can do that that fast, with just doing a simple water change.