Fish Dead

rick216 · 07/05/2007, 06:50 PM

So I was cleaning my tank. This tanks been running for about 4 years or more. I had some coralline algae on the front of the tank so I rearranged the rocks so I could get to it. Scrubbed the rock with a new toothbrush because they were dirty. Then as I put the rocks back to where they were originally. I see that the fish started to swim wierd crashing into the rocks, swimming upside down. Then all of sudden all of my fish are dead. I'm thinking there could've been a ammonia spike but this tanks been running for years. What you guys think caused this?
RIP Powder Blue Tang, Flame Angel, Anthia =(

Andrew · 07/05/2007, 06:59 PM

Sounds like you may have got a chemical in your tank. Did you wash your hands with soap or have any hand lotions on?

kkyyllee · 07/05/2007, 07:01 PM

test ur water

Icefire · 07/05/2007, 07:04 PM

really doubt amonia, maybe H2S? The sand was black under the rock?

rbursek · 07/05/2007, 07:06 PM

Now this is just in IMO, my mentor has a 36gal with 2 nastey wrasses we put in there out of bad purcheses at LFS for our Reef tanks, Trates run 150 no water changes and they are fine. If this happened suddenly I am thinking there may have been some thing toxic, to a SW tank on the tooth brush. Did you test for ammonia? Trites and Trates which followed this?

rbursek · 07/05/2007, 07:09 PM

Icefire,What is H2S, still learning!!!!!!!! Andrew good point!!!
Bob

rick216 · 07/05/2007, 07:32 PM

Tested water all everything was zero except trates. Nitrates are 10ppm.

rick216 · 07/05/2007, 07:34 PM

Icefire, the sand wasn't black under the rock.

chemesgh · 07/05/2007, 07:38 PM

It's times like these when there's only one thing you can do.

Break out the grill and invite friends over for seafood night!!

J/K, on a serious note I am sorry for your loss. That would be tough, especially after 4 years.

rbursek · 07/05/2007, 07:46 PM

10 iis better then most, IMO out side pollutant

rick216 · 07/05/2007, 08:32 PM

If there is some type of chemical in the tank what would you guys do before adding some more lifestock?

1F2FRFBF · 07/05/2007, 09:02 PM

Wow, how strange. Maybe moving the rocks around may have set something loose that upset a balance in the tank? I know that disturbing an established sand bed is supposed to be a no-no because you can release hydrogen sulfide that builds up over time through the nitrification process, but you'd have to do a lot of disturbing for that to happen.

It could have been the toothbrush. It could have been some residue on your hands or arms. It could have been something on your shirt or in your hair that shook off into the water.

I'm guessing that the best thing to do now would be water changes, and keep monitoring your levels. You might want to test PH, alkalinity and oxygen in addition to the standard ammonia/nitrate/nitrite.

Does anyone know what else Rick might want to test for before adding more livestock?

Icefire · 07/05/2007, 09:04 PM

run carbon also

chaseracing · 07/06/2007, 07:37 AM

Carbon and a water change are probably a good place to start.

-=E=-

Shagsbeard · 07/06/2007, 07:55 AM

Fish can also be on the brink and not show any signs. Any additional stress, such as re-arranging your rock or adding new fish, can push them over. Think this might be a "if it aint broke... don't fix it" momment.

rick216 · 07/06/2007, 08:25 AM

How big of a water change would you guys recommend doing? 50%?

Young Frankenstein · 07/07/2007, 05:06 AM

did you smell anything like rotten eggs ?, if so that's sulfur gas lethal.

rick216 · 07/07/2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 0 Agios
did you smell anything like rotten eggs ?, if so that's sulfur gas lethal.

No, I didnt smell anything that was like rotten eggs.

07/05/2007, 06:50 PM	#1
rick216 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 21	Fish Dead So I was cleaning my tank. This tanks been running for about 4 years or more. I had some coralline algae on the front of the tank so I rearranged the rocks so I could get to it. Scrubbed the rock with a new toothbrush because they were dirty. Then as I put the rocks back to where they were originally. I see that the fish started to swim wierd crashing into the rocks, swimming upside down. Then all of sudden all of my fish are dead. I'm thinking there could've been a ammonia spike but this tanks been running for years. What you guys think caused this? RIP Powder Blue Tang, Flame Angel, Anthia =(

07/05/2007, 07:04 PM	#4
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	really doubt amonia, maybe H2S? The sand was black under the rock? __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

07/05/2007, 09:04 PM	#13
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	run carbon also __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

07/06/2007, 07:37 AM	#14
chaseracing Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 1,208	Carbon and a water change are probably a good place to start. -=E=- __________________ I want my dog's life. Current Tank Info: 150gal RR Oceanic - (3) 250w. ReefLux 12K, (2) 96w PC 50/50, (3) Tunze 6025 modded, (3) Tunze 6045's, ASM G3, MRC-1, Melev F sump/fuge, all run off of an Aquacontroller Jr. Mixed Reef w/ lots of Fish and not enough rock.

07/05/2007, 06:59 PM	#2
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Sounds like you may have got a chemical in your tank. Did you wash your hands with soap or have any hand lotions on?

07/05/2007, 07:01 PM	#3
kkyyllee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: rescue ca Posts: 963	test ur water

07/05/2007, 07:06 PM	#5
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	Now this is just in IMO, my mentor has a 36gal with 2 nastey wrasses we put in there out of bad purcheses at LFS for our Reef tanks, Trates run 150 no water changes and they are fine. If this happened suddenly I am thinking there may have been some thing toxic, to a SW tank on the tooth brush. Did you test for ammonia? Trites and Trates which followed this?

07/05/2007, 07:09 PM	#6
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	Icefire,What is H2S, still learning!!!!!!!! Andrew good point!!! Bob

07/05/2007, 07:32 PM	#7
rick216 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 21	Tested water all everything was zero except trates. Nitrates are 10ppm.

07/05/2007, 07:34 PM	#8
rick216 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 21	Icefire, the sand wasn't black under the rock.

07/05/2007, 07:38 PM	#9
chemesgh Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pensacola FL Posts: 179	It's times like these when there's only one thing you can do. Break out the grill and invite friends over for seafood night!! J/K, on a serious note I am sorry for your loss. That would be tough, especially after 4 years.

07/05/2007, 07:46 PM	#10
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	10 iis better then most, IMO out side pollutant

07/05/2007, 08:32 PM	#11
rick216 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 21	If there is some type of chemical in the tank what would you guys do before adding some more lifestock?

07/05/2007, 09:02 PM	#12
1F2FRFBF Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 456	Wow, how strange. Maybe moving the rocks around may have set something loose that upset a balance in the tank? I know that disturbing an established sand bed is supposed to be a no-no because you can release hydrogen sulfide that builds up over time through the nitrification process, but you'd have to do a lot of disturbing for that to happen. It could have been the toothbrush. It could have been some residue on your hands or arms. It could have been something on your shirt or in your hair that shook off into the water. I'm guessing that the best thing to do now would be water changes, and keep monitoring your levels. You might want to test PH, alkalinity and oxygen in addition to the standard ammonia/nitrate/nitrite. Does anyone know what else Rick might want to test for before adding more livestock?

07/06/2007, 07:55 AM	#15
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Fish can also be on the brink and not show any signs. Any additional stress, such as re-arranging your rock or adding new fish, can push them over. Think this might be a "if it aint broke... don't fix it" momment.

07/06/2007, 08:25 AM	#16
rick216 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 21	How big of a water change would you guys recommend doing? 50%?

07/07/2007, 05:06 AM	#17
Young Frankenstein Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami Florida. Posts: 3,842	did you smell anything like rotten eggs ?, if so that's sulfur gas lethal.