Water change - immediate problems

[dmaccy]

Hi

Just completed a water change as I do every week. But within 5 minutes of the ater change several fish were behaving erratically. Five of our seven emperor tetras were swimming eraticly like they had swim bladder disease and two of our four corydoras were doing their surface dive seemingly once a minute (they normally seldom do this).

Two hours later more fish are now struggling.

The new water going in was within 1 degree of the tank temp and ph ok.
Tested tank parameters using both strip and liquid testing kits.
pH 7.4, ammonia nil, NO2 <0.3 (lowest read rhe test kit allows), Cl2 nil.

New water was treated with tetra aqua safe as usual and quantities measured as prescribed.
Standard water change including gravel vac, wiping the filter box, wiping the glass and trimming plants.

Given the speed I suspect poisoning of some description but given testing parameters showed clear and water came from same source as always not sure what this could be.

Any offers of what this is or anything we can do to save rhe fish?

 

[kwi]

Besides another large water change.
Another member has had an unfortunate incident involving hand sanitizers, there is an active ingredient in some that is highly toxic to fish.

 

[dmaccy]

Another 15% or so change done, fingers crossed as many as possible will survive.
Hand gel could be possible as we have been out and used quite a bit of it today. Although I washed my hands thoroughly after using it

 

[kwi]

I probably would of gone bigger on the change, something in the water bothering the fish you would wan't to get rid of as much as possible.

 

[Koglin]

Another 15% or so change done, fingers crossed as many as possible will survive.
Hand gel could be possible as we have been out and used quite a bit of it today. Although I washed my hands thoroughly after using it

Yeeaahh it sucks how long the gels and sanitizers can take to wear off after they've soaked into your skin.

With the gel we get, I can use it and then run my hands under the tap for a while but can still smell the gel sanitizer after. Especially ones that are meant to be scented, I think the chem's stick around longer.

I'll wait at least a few hrs after using it before a thorough rinsing, then i try a smell test first to see if i can smell any sanitizer on my hands/wrists/lower arm.

Not sure this is the issue but, it is also my guess - since this is just maintenance that you usually do and nothing out of your ordinary routine.

If your Cory's keep going up for air, it could also be an oxygen thing (not as likely I'm guessing). Could fill a clean, aquarium safe, cup with some tank water and pour it back in from a height a few times (high enough that you can see bubbles created from the water breaking the surface). That will add some more oxygen into the water immediately (dunno if you have an airstone or anything).

Sorry for your troubles though, if you do suspect it could be sanitizer related there was a thread about that exact thing the other day - might have more advisement for you.

Hand Sanitisers & Aquariums?

Due to the covid 19 that’s happening currently, there lots of folks, myself included now use hand sanitisers quite a number of times during the day every day Have been reading about hand sanitisers and the ingredients of those seem to be high in alcohol and Aloe Vera as swell as other...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Colin_T]

Did you dechlorinate the new water before adding it to the tank?
If not, add a double dose od dechlorinator to the tank and increase aeration/ surface turbulence.

Put some carbon in the filter.

 

[itiwhetu]

This will make the members laugh, I would be doing 50% daily water changes, dechlorinate, use carbon. (It will only make them laugh cos it is so un like me)

 

[dmaccy]

Update

Checked the tank this morning and have lost one cory and still have one unaccounted for emperor tetra (can not for the life of me find it). All others somehow seem in good health. Quite remarkable I had written half of them off last night.

If it helps anyone all I did was as above and left the airborne running. And to close the gap yes the water was dechlorinated using Tetras offering and one of the first things I did was add an additonal dose to the tank.

Despite that I have still done another 20% - 25% ish change this morning.