Poisoned Water - Water Change(when Can They Return To Tank)

[pippoodle]

tank stats tests taken prior to water change
aquaone 620t 130ltr - ammonia 0 , nitrite 0 , ph 7.2 , nitrate 10
juwel rio 180 ltr - ammonia 0 , nitrite 0 , ph 7.4 , nitrate 5
planted bogwood and plants in both tanks only ornaments are coconut caves
no new plants added neons added yesterday to the aquaone been in quarentine for a few days til i discovered some baby minnows in quarentine tank

So hubby and i did the water changes on 2 of the tanks as normal tonight - the 130ltr and the 180 ltr , 40% on both
after about 30 mins of the water being in the tanks the water starts to go really cloudy and starts getting fizzing bubbles on the surface from the bubbly machine , the fish start floating and 2 albino corys , 7 baby platties and 4 neons die really quickly in the 130 ltr , so we take lots of water out again and turn the bubbles up full pelt as the fish are all gasping on the surface

just as we are dealing with that 18 baby guppys , 2 adult platties , 4 baby platties and 1 adult female guppy , 3 panda corys (lots of baby minnows in baby net) in 180ltr suddenly die

So we remove all the fishes and shrimp we can from both tanks which is ok cos most are floating on the top they are put in the buckets - used treated bottled water (didnt know what else to do)

Ran the taps for 15 mins (on water meter aswell )

We completely emptied all the water out of both tanks and have now refilled them the water now seems fine and are just waiting for the tanks to heat up before returning the fishies

Do you think it was something to do with the local water supply as the water from the tap smelled metalicy (if there's such a word)
there is now no smell at all and the water in the tank and bubbles are just bubbling normally not fizzing

Any ideas what happened and do i need to add a med to the water before replacing the fish and shrimps in the tanks or should they just be ok now

cheers Sarah xx

I'm just thanking god that we didnt change the water in all the tanks tonight

 

[LauraFrog]

Yep, sounds like a contaminated water supply. There may still be traces in there, which are probably enough to kill shrimp. Get some activated carbon and put it in the tanks. Run it for 12 hours then throw it out and replace it. Run for another 12 hours then put your livestock back.

Sorry for your loss I've had the same thing happen and it's awful, it sucks so much watching them die even though it's not your fault.

 

[pippoodle]

Yep, sounds like a contaminated water supply. There may still be traces in there, which are probably enough to kill shrimp. Get some activated carbon and put it in the tanks. Run it for 12 hours then throw it out and replace it. Run for another 12 hours then put your livestock back.

Sorry for your loss I've had the same thing happen and it's awful, it sucks so much watching them die even though it's not your fault.

Thanks hun it is awful my poor little albino cory is going to be so lonely - until sunday them i'm going to get him 2 more friends poor baby
got fresh carbon running in both tanks in all the filters lol - went over the top - been running since it happened at around 7 ish
i've got to get the fishies and that back in the tank before tomorrow morning else with the kids and the dogi wont have any left so i've left a message for hubby to change the carbon when he getsup at 5 am and then to replace the fish just before he goes to work at 6am , fingers crossed this will be enough , as i said there is no longer any smells or fizzing


EDIT just noticed some baby cherry shrimps in the 180 alive and kicking looking healthy and swimming around and feeding in 18 degrees water so will make sure if hubby can see them in the morning then he can replace the fish - tried to catch the buggers and they are too nifty lol
was a nice sight to see though

 

[LauraFrog]

Yes, that's good news, so fingers crossed for you!

 

[pippoodle]

thanks hun

 

[limerickbandit]

Are you going to get your water supply tested?
if it killed fish that fast it cant be safe to drink

 

[Schmill]

It's a shame you couldn't have kept a bottle of the 'contaminated' water to have tested at a later date, but I can understand how that wouldn't have been the first thing on your mind in the heat of the moment.
Sorry to hear your loss, think I would be devastated

 

[pippoodle]

i phoned the water company and they said the supply was just flushed with standard stuff and that they can guarentee it is within the safety guidlines for human consuption.
They also said that they are not obliged to provide safe water for ornamental fish or other animal species .

all fishies and shrimps are happy and back in their tanks now

 

[limerickbandit]

Thats good to hear
so how many fish did you loose

 

[pippoodle]

with extra ones that were lost not long after being trasferred to the bucket including fry about 60 fish in total

 

[seanie112]

sorry to hear abt loing your fish water meter not good m8 losing 40 plus fish
when we move next year we got a water meter in new place not looking forward to it as we have 6 tanks at the moment
hope u have better luck soon

 

[pippoodle]

thanks seanie