Discus 110 gallon catastrophe

[IEAQUATICS]

Hello all I have a huge question. I had a 110 gallon tall aquarium heavily planted with 8 discus ranging from 7 to 3 inches. There was neons guppies Cory cats and one fire eel . One night I did a water change and the only thing I changed was the brand of water conditioner. I proceeded to wake up in the morning only to find all of my discus looking as if they were suffocating but non of the small fish like guppies seemed to be affected. I lost 3 of my discus from this experience. Chalking it up as the change in brands of water conditioner I went back to using my original brand one month passed everything was fine did several water changes in between with no issue. Until one night I did a water change nothing changed with. Y routine. Only to wake up in the morning with all the discus dead or dying gasping at the bottom of the tank. A few dead guppies but all Cory cats were alive along with the fire eel how ever he was trying desperately to escape. What in the world could have caused this horrible experience??? Any help would be greatly appreciated.


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[Mythic Figment]

Could have been a spike in nitrates from the water source. I don't live off city water, but in Orlando, the city water can get spikes of nitrates. Discus are super sensitive to nitrates, but they are also pretty lethal to other fish in large enough doses. You might consider aging your water in a bare bottom tank with just a couple of sponge filters in it to help remove any excess parameters.

My water is more rural and we see very low swings in nitrate levels.

A swing in pH could also have the same effect. Especially if its after a large rain.


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[Owens]

malfuntioning heater? any change in aeration that would lead to less oxygen in the water? did you check the parameters; the new brand could have possibly started a new cycle on the tank?

Sorry for your loss, definately was some nice looking stock.

 

[dogofwar]

Do you have chloramines? Perhaps the new water conditioner you used doesn't treat them.

Otherwise it seems extremely unlikely that the water conditioner (brand?) would be the issue...

Matt

 

[Ineedmoney4]

I had a similar experience just not with discus. The only thing that changed for my me was a filter and I guess didn't have enough surface agitation. Alls I did was point up the output up to create a nice ripple across the top. And problem solved. Make sure u not to have the top completely sealed off with glass need to have oxygen get in.
Could have been a temperature spike also...

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[Disgirl]

Pretty tank! Is there any possibility you could have forgotten to add your dechlor when you did the water change? Your description is what happens when discus get chlorinated, chloramine water added without the dechlor added right away. I add it as soon as I start the fresh water going into the tank, hose from sink to tank. Hope all is better now?

 

[IEAQUATICS]

Thank you all for the responses! Honestly the one thing that I could point to maybe that I did was take out my air stone..... Because after the first incident I put in one and no issues ... But no that I think about it that's what I changed they must not of had enough oxygen it was just never a thought that crossed my mind was oxygen I was so worried about water parameters and such and to think that something as simple as air got them is quite disturbing but you live and learn I guess


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[Yoda1]

Have you tested your water for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate?
I agree with the above, I suspect the new conditioner doesn't nuetralise the toxins in the same manner as the old one was.

 

[Cod]

if it was oxygen concerns, wouldnt the fish be at the surface gasping for air? in your case it doesn't seem like it

 

[Mythic Figment]

It has something to do with the water itself. The first time it was with the new conditioner, but the second one was with his old conditioner. The conditioners are not to blame. There was something wrong with the water source would be my guess. It's possible something happened and the water treatment center over treated with chloramine. In that case, the OP may not have added enough conditioner to remove it all.


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