Angel Lady
Pet of the Month Leader
OMG I feel so bad for you, I know the feeling when I got up and over 150 mollies was dead.. I know what you are going threw... 
Very bad news
- Thread starter Tropjunky
- Start date
Cheese Specialist
Newbie
Errr....
Are you sure there was 0 amonia, nitrite and nitrate? That tank was pretty overstocked IMO and I would be suspicious of your test kit if it showed no nitrates at all.
JMO
Are you sure there was 0 amonia, nitrite and nitrate? That tank was pretty overstocked IMO and I would be suspicious of your test kit if it showed no nitrates at all.
JMO
Arashi
I am the Loach Queen...fear me, mortal!
OMG this is horrible! I am so sorry to hear about this. 
little guys
little guys jhd
New Member
Sorry to hear that 
I have painted an entire house and none of my fish died. That was oil and latex (water based paint) mixed. I live in Canada, paint base might be different.
My money is on the paint though, if all of them died at once, only contamination can be a cause. That means whatever killed the fish, is still in the water.
Here is what I would do: get activated carbon triple dose and run it through the filter for 48 hours. Get rid of it and fill the filter with another double-triple dose, run for 24 hours, get rid of it and clean the filter.
This way you have a chance to rid the water of the poison.
If you have live plants, add some fertilizer after that, and introduce some fish, 2 to 3.
Remember, there is no guarantee, this fish may die, but good chances are that they will not and clean up is successful.
If they do die, your next step is a complete clean up/start over: get rid of gravel, use as little plastic plants (if you have any) and get new gravel. Boil the rocks. Remember, contaminants will be in the tank elements, like gravel, plastic plants, filter, so wash as much as you can and get rid of as much as you can.
Hopefully you will not have to do that and carbon will be sufficient, good luck.
If you are still painting, wait till it is over, there is no point of a clean up if a new mix of chemicals is being added. You will limit chemical exchange if you stop the filter. But usually it takes more than fumes from the room upstairs to kill all the fish. Did anybody dip anything (hand) in the tank with some fresh paint on it?
I have painted an entire house and none of my fish died. That was oil and latex (water based paint) mixed. I live in Canada, paint base might be different.
My money is on the paint though, if all of them died at once, only contamination can be a cause. That means whatever killed the fish, is still in the water.
Here is what I would do: get activated carbon triple dose and run it through the filter for 48 hours. Get rid of it and fill the filter with another double-triple dose, run for 24 hours, get rid of it and clean the filter.
This way you have a chance to rid the water of the poison.
If you have live plants, add some fertilizer after that, and introduce some fish, 2 to 3.
Remember, there is no guarantee, this fish may die, but good chances are that they will not and clean up is successful.
If they do die, your next step is a complete clean up/start over: get rid of gravel, use as little plastic plants (if you have any) and get new gravel. Boil the rocks. Remember, contaminants will be in the tank elements, like gravel, plastic plants, filter, so wash as much as you can and get rid of as much as you can.
Hopefully you will not have to do that and carbon will be sufficient, good luck.
If you are still painting, wait till it is over, there is no point of a clean up if a new mix of chemicals is being added. You will limit chemical exchange if you stop the filter. But usually it takes more than fumes from the room upstairs to kill all the fish. Did anybody dip anything (hand) in the tank with some fresh paint on it?
jhd
New Member
Forgot about the most important step: change 50% of water before introduction of high carbon dose.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Cheese Specialist
Newbie
jhd, there are no fish left in the tank to keep the water for and the bacteria in the filter will die shortly if it hasn't already without waste for it to feed on.
jhd
New Member
I think fish waste is on the bottom and in the gravel, it should be enough to feed on for 3-4 days, maybe a week, I do not know exactly. Introduction of 2-3 small fish will also help, since the load will not be high. Just the thought, I have never had to try it.
Phantom Thief
Population Control Volunteer
I doubt it. The bacteria doesn't feed on the waste, it feeds on the ammonia. And if the tank is cycled, there won't be any ammonia.
P.T.
P.T.
Helium_Junkie
Fishaholic
But waste becomes Ammonia... or so I thought?Phantom Thief said:
The fish waste will break down to form ammonia
Add a bit of fish food too - That will also break down and release ammonia.
I think best of all (and possible the cheapest option)
Is to dump your water and gravel
Boil any objects in the tank - and poor boiling water into the tank and scrub it (once it cooled a bit) without any chemicals.
Chuck your filter media - Clean all the submerged parts of your equipment - Tubes - Wires, heater etc.
Then Buy new substrate and Filter media - and start again
OR sell your tank - buy a bigger one and start again from there!!
Good luck with it though mate
Add a bit of fish food too - That will also break down and release ammonia.
I think best of all (and possible the cheapest option)
Is to dump your water and gravel
Boil any objects in the tank - and poor boiling water into the tank and scrub it (once it cooled a bit) without any chemicals.
Chuck your filter media - Clean all the submerged parts of your equipment - Tubes - Wires, heater etc.
Then Buy new substrate and Filter media - and start again
OR sell your tank - buy a bigger one and start again from there!!
Good luck with it though mate
!guppy!
Fish Crazy
no affence mate but someone has sabotaged ur tank, paint fumes wudnt do it, and they wudnt all die old age lol, the only thing i can say is SOMEONE KILLED THEM, sorry but thats got to be the only reason...
If they were sabotaged there would be evidence??njnauticalnut
Fish Crazy
I am so sorry to hear about this loss. 
I know it is frustrating to not be sure what it is that killed them. It is hard to imagine anyone would sabotage them at least on purpose. Do you have any younger siblings that may have dumped something in there by accident? It could have been from the paint fumes or a power loss during the night.
Good luck with what you decide to do, I will be thinking of you.
I know it is frustrating to not be sure what it is that killed them. It is hard to imagine anyone would sabotage them at least on purpose. Do you have any younger siblings that may have dumped something in there by accident? It could have been from the paint fumes or a power loss during the night. Good luck with what you decide to do, I will be thinking of you.
Tropjunky
Fish Addict
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hey guys i just got back from my LFS and they concermed the results of my test. they also think it was the paint fumes.
It anoys me more than anything else. my plecos were just starting to come out and play. and i've had it for almost a year.
It anoys me more than anything else. my plecos were just starting to come out and play. and i've had it for almost a year.
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