Lost all but bichirs overnight

[The Morning]

I can only say what my experience was. I came home from work to find my favorite cichlids dead. There were about 15 that were still alive (the smallest ones) but gasping at the surface. I immediately redirected one spray bar and hooked up one of the HOB. Within half hour all surviving fish were breathing normally.
Every tank situation will be different. My fish certainly had not started decomposing.

 

[twentyleagues]

Every tank situation will be different. My fish certainly had not started decomposing.

Im sure in the ops posistion that part didnt help any.

 

[Joshua75]

I had rehomed them. Luckily for them.

Not if there is surface aggitation. Yes let the water returning to the tank drop to the surface of the water in the tank where possible. This will help with oxygenation. I still say it wasnt the air pump. What happened to the flag cichlid and the ghost knife they still around?
Didnt see them on the list of dead.

Im sure in the ops posistion that part didnt help any.

I probably shouldn't have said decomposing. I assumed that was what clouded the water but the bodies were in tact. Not rotting yet.

 

[skjl47]

I probably shouldn't have said decomposing. I assumed that was what clouded the water but the bodies were in tact. Not rotting yet.

Hello; decomp begins immediately at death. The bodies do take a time to look or feel rotten but docomp byproducts have already begun. There is also the likelihood of other organic material having already been undergoing decomposition before the fish actually died.

 

[duanes]

Agree with Jeff, as soon as a fish dies, it oozes ammonia and other decomposition by products, and if big enough can create a chain reaction of deaths soon after.

 

[Joshua75]

For anyone interested I cleaned the whole tank. Pumped all the nasty water out while cycling new water in. I vacuumed gravel and did the equivalent of a couple water changes. Filling with hose while pumping out. Once full and clear I treated the water and I turned my filters back on. I then waited a day for temp to reach 80 degrees and moved the bichir back in. So far all signs are that I preserved the bb. Bichirs are doing well (knock on wood). Its been 2 days since I returned them to the tank. Monitoring water conditions closely for ammonia spikes.