Earlier today, in our 25 gallon tank I noticed the start of Ick on a few fish. I immediatley acted with treatment, heat, etc. This is a tank my neighbor gave us after my 8 year old son lost two Goldfish & a Pleco in his 5 gallon tank to Ick last month.
I guess fortunately, I've read up on the forums on starting a tank and just finished getting a cycle in the 25 gallon tank with consistant water levels. Hopefully this time we'll prevail.
However, the tragedy falls upon the 5 gallon tank, that we had cleaned up and repopulated with four Cherry Barbs and a small Pleco. This tank is in my son's room since we leave the light on during the early part of the night for a "nite light" to get my son to fall asleep. He really enjoys watching the Cherry Barbs and they have done extremely well over the past month. No signs of illness.
About three weeks ago, being 8, he really wanted to add a bubble stick (wand). The thing that goes on the bottom, under the gravel and a small pump blows air through it so bubbles come up from the gravel. My wife and I tried to talk him out of it, but he wanted it and we put one in.
So three weeks later, (today) I find the minor Ick starting in the big tank. Worried, my son says "I have to check my tank upstairs." Confident his fish were fine, I was shocked when he came downstairs in tears yelling "Dad, there is no water in my tank and my fish are all on the bottom." Minus the tears and horror look on his face, I would have thought he was kidding.
So I went upstairs and his tank was indeed empty of water! All five gallons, gone. Not a drop around the tank on the floor or stand!
I told him to get a bowl, since the fish weren't completely dry and we put them in the water. Miracuously the Pleco took off and swam! But the four Cherry Barbs were floating. My son took his fingers and began pushing them around when I finaly said there was nothing we could do for them. All of a sudden, I saw one of the Barbs jerk and try to swim.
Turns out, he ended up making it! Him and the Pleco had to go in the 25 gallon with Ick starting because I had nowhere else to put them with oxygenated water. The other three Barbs did die however. I have no idea how the one Barb lived as he was almost dry and didn't look too well.
Turns out, we noticed the air hose was not plugged into the pump, which was on the floor and the hose was behind a dresser. Seems the pump fell off or was knocked off (we have a 17 month old too) and disconnected the hose. Somehow, the loose hose siphoned all the water out slowly, probably all day while I was at work and my son was at school.
So now we are hoping to treat the ick and have a tank back. I will replace the fish he lost in his 5 gallon, minus the air hose & stick.
I guess fortunately, I've read up on the forums on starting a tank and just finished getting a cycle in the 25 gallon tank with consistant water levels. Hopefully this time we'll prevail.
However, the tragedy falls upon the 5 gallon tank, that we had cleaned up and repopulated with four Cherry Barbs and a small Pleco. This tank is in my son's room since we leave the light on during the early part of the night for a "nite light" to get my son to fall asleep. He really enjoys watching the Cherry Barbs and they have done extremely well over the past month. No signs of illness.
About three weeks ago, being 8, he really wanted to add a bubble stick (wand). The thing that goes on the bottom, under the gravel and a small pump blows air through it so bubbles come up from the gravel. My wife and I tried to talk him out of it, but he wanted it and we put one in.
So three weeks later, (today) I find the minor Ick starting in the big tank. Worried, my son says "I have to check my tank upstairs." Confident his fish were fine, I was shocked when he came downstairs in tears yelling "Dad, there is no water in my tank and my fish are all on the bottom." Minus the tears and horror look on his face, I would have thought he was kidding.
So I went upstairs and his tank was indeed empty of water! All five gallons, gone. Not a drop around the tank on the floor or stand!
I told him to get a bowl, since the fish weren't completely dry and we put them in the water. Miracuously the Pleco took off and swam! But the four Cherry Barbs were floating. My son took his fingers and began pushing them around when I finaly said there was nothing we could do for them. All of a sudden, I saw one of the Barbs jerk and try to swim.
Turns out, he ended up making it! Him and the Pleco had to go in the 25 gallon with Ick starting because I had nowhere else to put them with oxygenated water. The other three Barbs did die however. I have no idea how the one Barb lived as he was almost dry and didn't look too well.
Turns out, we noticed the air hose was not plugged into the pump, which was on the floor and the hose was behind a dresser. Seems the pump fell off or was knocked off (we have a 17 month old too) and disconnected the hose. Somehow, the loose hose siphoned all the water out slowly, probably all day while I was at work and my son was at school.
So now we are hoping to treat the ick and have a tank back. I will replace the fish he lost in his 5 gallon, minus the air hose & stick.
) . but was bit more lucky cos i found it b4 all the water got out of the tank
