total tank death

I've lost all the fish in my tank today, don't know whats gone on as i've been out and come home to 25 floating fish. All were healthy this morning when i left i'm at a total loss as to whats gone on.

sad to here this mate, normally when a total death happens its from some type of toxic contamination. can you think of anything new added to the set up recently? any new rocks or decor? or have you cleaned anything thats been reintroduced?

another time this happens is when the ph crashes which leads to all sorts of problems. so check that out?

also if the dissolved oxygen in the water falls too low, the fish struggle and the nitrfying bacteria die off or stop working? this can happen after medicating a tank.

id test ammonia, nitrite and ph immediately. also when was the last water change done?

Nothing new added to tank for a few weeks, last med was meth blue 3 weeks ago and water was changed saturday. I'm not sure if a water test would help as decaying fish would of messed up parameter but i'll do one and post results. Only thing i did notice was heater had fell against stone so may of cracked i was so disheartend last night to look

sounds like they were electrocuted smoggs but to be on the safe still test the tank but switch off the heater and
remove it from the tank then test the tank and get back
to us with you test results don't turn your filter off leave
it running if you have removed the dead fish i don't think it will of messed your tank up to bad you will still have to feed the tank a very small amount of food every three days to keep your filter alive till you decide to get some more fish by the way what size tank is it hope this helps

Yes, ammonia would be higher now but if nitrite is high that may have been high before you problems. Either way both ammonia and nitrite poisoning takes a while to kill a fish so I'd rule them out.

What types of fish were they, I had a oxygen problem once before but the only fish that survived where gouramis (labyrinth breathers) and a couple of plecs as they can breath from the surface if needed. Everything else was wiped out in the space of a few hours.

Still looks like contaminants to me. U had any sort of aerosol near or even a air freshner?

Ammonia 1.0
ph 7.6
nitrate 0

tank is 100 litres, fish in were pair of gourami, an angel, a silver shark; 2 guppy and 10 mixed tetra. Heater seems ok tank was at 28 c . As for aerosol i used a silicone free polish on monday about 4 foot from tank no signs of ill effect.

What were your nitrite readings?

Also your nitrate shouldn't ne zero in a mature tank. How long the tank been running?

Sorry nitrite was 0 my kit doesnt do nitrate, tank running as it was for 5 month, fish in my guppy/ fry tank are ok and both in same room same husbandry

I'm as lost as you then mate, ammonia at 1.0 is high bit could be accountable by the dead fish. I'd remove all fish do a 70% water change and out a few of your guys in as sacrificial lambs to see if they is a problem still.

ammonia is way to high for my like in
i would do the water changes and test
again if the ammonia is under 1 i would
had a pair of guppies but check the water
daily for ammonia nitrite and nitrate for a week
hust to make sure it as settled down

this might sound daft but youve been decorating have you had turps on your hands and maybe feed them if you dont wash your hands properly it gets under your nails it would only taker a tiny amount to poison the tank even washing up liquid

I'll set about water changes tonight, all fish are out. Tempted to pull tank apart and redo it all with play sand i've got no fish to loose by doing so.
Mick, no turps or washing up liquid .. I cant use them due to dermititus only use natural soaps

so thats that ruled out

Well i can safely assume an electrical shock the filter head has broken flex oh well did do check with voltmeter ect but got nothing then noticed it. Going to get a new filter and heater and start again with a rescaped tank.

at least you got it sorted

new filter then thats that sorted but its always best to check leads and heaterstat filters make sure thers no
cracks splits or cuts

when you set back up i will donate a few danios if intresed?
mick?

Thanks Mick much appriciated

You're going to be inundated! Haha.

I bet you feel a right pillock now. The poor fish had a shocking experience.

Tanks been running 30 hours squeezed old filter into water and added a single guppy fry last night, still swimming about this morning. Waters a little cloudy and theres some mulm off old filter sat on sand am i best doing a water change to remove this?

If get the crap sat out bottom out but wouldnt do a water change. Do u have a test kit?

Yeah im going to test tonight then if things are ok add few more fry.

Just keep adding gradually if things are ok. Don't use any filter start products or bottled bacteria because they are just bs mate.

if you want a couple of fish let me know?