Tank problem

[jjohnwm]

The big water change was a good idea, definitely the correct move at the time. However, bear in mind that removing and exchanging 80% of the water still left behind 20% of the water, along with 20% of the toxins.

I would be following up with similarly large daily water changes for another couple days to reduce that even further.

Good luck with this, it's definitely every aquarist's nightmare to come home to such a scenario.

 

[twentyleagues]

I’ve been away sick and unfortunately when I came back I had a problem in my tank the water was white and my large Texas cichlid was dead with what looked like eyes popping out my mbu puffer was also dead I quickly did a water change 80% and dosed prime and took out the dead fish however my remaining fish all have something like this here’s a picture of my severum any idea on what it is and what to do nextView attachment 1497054

So how long were you away? As someone asked also was there someone "watching" this while you were away? Was anything added before you went away? Tests seem good so...... trying to figure it out will be difficult without more info and maybe a better pic. Sorry for your loss and hope you are feeling better.

 

[Carter020108]

So how long were you away? As someone asked also was there someone "watching" this while you were away? Was anything added before you went away? Tests seem good so...... trying to figure it out will be difficult without more info and maybe a better pic. Sorry for your loss and hope you are feeling better.

I had someone over for the first of the three days that fed them frozen shrimp and that was it

 

[Carter020108]

I can try to get a better pic

 

[Carter020108]

got some more pics of the severum this morning all fish are eating but severum still has it. it looks like it could be HITH but my waters pristine and I do water changes every week any ideas?

 

[Carter020108]

I was gone for 3 days

 

[duanes]

What does "pristine" mean?
Nitrate in ppm before and after water change?
tap water, and tank water pH before and after water changes?

 

[Carter020108]

I didn’t do a test before waterchange I freaked out and did it as fast as possible

 

[duanes]

By testing before and after water water changes on a regular basis, you find out the difference (how far pH "has or hasn't" dropped, and/or if nitrate has drastically increased between water changes). Unless you know these values on a regular basis saying your water is pristine is not realistic.
Unless you know these values you won't know if your water change routine, and water change volumes are adequate or not, for your stock and size of tank.

 

[jjohnwm]

This thread has prompted me to take some steps that will hopefully prevent anything like this from happening to my fish if I am suddenly and unexpectedly hospitalized for some reason.

As it stands now, I am often absent for up to three weeks at a time for work. I simply prepackage individual feedings for each tank in sufficient numbers for my wife to just dump in one package per day, no thinking required; this has worked out beautifully. Little Tupperware-type containers with airtight snap-on lids are available at the Dollar Store very inexpensively and are perfect for this application.

After reading this horror story, I plan on having on hand at least a week's worth of such "aquarium MRE's" at all times, even when I am home, just in case of emergency.