Tank Switched Off For 10 Hours

[Leila2]

My 37 gallon is stocked to the max. I asked my daughter to switch off the lights last night when I was out till late. I really trusted her so I didn't check the tank until 10 hours later and found to my horror that she switched EVERYTHING off.

The temperature only dropped a few degrees so fingers crossed that part is not going to be a problem.

The nitrAte was 100, ammonia practically zero, and nitrIte at 0.25.

I have just done a 50% pwc.

What can I do and what can I expect?!!! Can you help!

 

[JoolsA2]

what fish have you got?

 

[WILDER]

Check water stats again in a few hours. What your tap nitrate reading. As the nitrate reading high.
How many fish do you have in the tank and which type.
Any fish showing signs of distress, looking pale or laboured breathing.

 

[Leila2]

Check water stats again in a few hours. What your tap nitrate reading. As the nitrate reading high.
How many fish do you have in the tank and which type.
Any fish showing signs of distress, looking pale or laboured breathing.

I remember testing the nitrAtes in my tap water some time ago and it was low. Certainly well below 10. A few hours after the first water change I tested the parameters and had just about zero ammonia, zero nitrIte and only 20 nitrAte. I am aiming to do the tests again before I go to bed and doing another 50 litre water change and/or using the emergency measures of a big dose of Prime if it is required.

There are many plants.

The fish are completely happy so far - but I expect trouble in the next few days. Still it's a challenge!

I have: 4 zebra danios, 5 tiger barbs, 1 clown loach (2 inch), 1 rtb (2.5inch), 1 rainbow shark (2.5 inch) - those last 3 fish were given to me and I know they are not good choices btw - 1 tiny tiger plec, 5 otos, 5 zebra loaches, and 9 neon tetras.

Interesting times ahead....

Thanks for the advice.

 

[WILDER]

What test kit are you using.

Clown loaches shouldn't be kept on there own. They need to be a groups of no less than 3.

 

[Leila2]

What test kit are you using.

Clown loaches shouldn't be kept on there own. They need to be a groups of no less than 3.

That is true and I would never have chosen to take just one clown loach ( also because they are prone to ich) but he is fine for the time being, he certainly mistakes the tiger barbs for being it's kind and likes to school with them, also seems to like being with the zebra loaches. I will see about giving him to a local pet shop if he shows signs of being unhappy.

I use the API freshwater master test kit.

Well last night there was no ammonia, no nitrite and nitrate was down around 40 at most. So then followed a 50l change.

This morning I fully expected to see some serious ammonia. But still no ammonia, no nitrite and nitrates were 10 to 15 approx. Did a 40l change. I now feel as though the danger has somehow passed! Does it seem that way to you folks?

I have some suspicions on why this might be, such as that the day before the power was switched off, I took out my internal fluval 4 plus filter for cleaning and the bottom fell out into the tank momentarily, releasing a cloud of debris. Perhaps this actually had a protective effect when some of it settled into the gravel. I am still unsure of exactly why I had the massive nitrAte readings though unless the mini cycle could have occured within the space of the several hours the filter was shut down (or the spill from the filter previously is the cause). Puzzling really.

 

[WILDER]

Glad to know water stats are back to normal.
Good luck.