I think I'd feel better about myself if that was the case but ammonia tests showed that it was at 0. I checked that immediately. There is a chance that the ammonia test kit I used is too old/expired (no idea if that happens). The HOB has very little biomedia and the big filter is an eheim that's loaded with it. Plus the one fish that was too big to put in another tank recovered after just a few minutes with the tank drained and the extra circulation from the splashing. That said, my Chicago tap water is pretty hard. But I had tested the water a few times since removing the HOB (which is unusual, I rarely use the strips anymore) and while I was specifically checking the water quality and not the pH, I'm pretty sure it was unchanged before and after. Plus the incident didn't happen till 24 hours after the WC, when I added the melafix.
No way to know for sure though. I've done two more large water changes and put the filter back. I'm going to be monitoring the levels pretty closely again though just because when everyone was out of the tank I used the opportunity to scoop out about 100lbs of gravel. (I had way too much of it.) You never know what kind of effect that will have on ammonia/nitrates. Lots more swimming space now. Unfortunately that just makes it seem even more empty...
No way to know for sure though. I've done two more large water changes and put the filter back. I'm going to be monitoring the levels pretty closely again though just because when everyone was out of the tank I used the opportunity to scoop out about 100lbs of gravel. (I had way too much of it.) You never know what kind of effect that will have on ammonia/nitrates. Lots more swimming space now. Unfortunately that just makes it seem even more empty...
