Whole colony wiped out. How should I proceed?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
when using buckets for tanks, I habitually rinse them first, even though that's all "I" use them for (for the odd chance of accidental contamination, with other ppl in my home).
If I got a used filter, I would take extra precautions before putting on my tank. didn't you do that? maybe previous owner used soap in it.
Well you have to start over so, if you have no other filter to grab BB from, use SeaChem Stability. I used both because my new filter was so large & I wanted a real healthy start.
If you use Prime when adding all new water, it should protect your fish from tap ammonia, nitrites & nitrates. but you need to test your water right from the tap for accurate ammonia reading.
 
my water straight from the tap tests at 5 sometimes.
 
Im going to break down the tank. How do I clean it all?


Filters ( Aqueon and AquaClear ) - Soak in hot water for a few hours, possibly with water conditioner?

Can the Aquaclear be submerged in water?

Glass - Wipe it down with napkins?

Terra cotta pots - Can't put back in? Or can I soak them in hot water and scrub them?

Drift wood - Throw out?

Sand - swap out? Since even washing and soaking multiple times in hot water won't help.

Plants - dip in hot water for 2 seconds and rinse off?

Heater - wipe and soak in hot water while on?

Glass thermostat - wipe and soak in hot water ( with the heater? )

Rocks - Don't even bother? I have no idea what kind they are to group them into one that can be cleaned and ones that can not.

I believe that is everything in there. I don't care about having to cycle again. I would rather spend the time than kill and waste money.
 
Thank you everyone for the help and input

Update:

- I soaked all my decor in hot water.
- I rinsed and wiped down my filters
- I soaked and rinsed under water, all filter media
- I took out practically all the sand and have rinsed them, they way you clean new sand.
- I have wiped down the tank. ( Will wipe again with a damn hot napkin later )
- I have drained almost all the water.

Question

How do I get out all the water? I know I could take the tank outside and dump it out by turning the tank to the side / upside. No one will help me do that and I don't want to move it and risk ruining the tank from mishandling by someone helping out or even myself.


There is still some sand in the tank, barely a handful left of it. Should I take it out or is it safe to leave that much of my current sand in the tank?

My possible solutions to the questions -

How do I get out all the water? I know I could take the tank outside and dump it out by turning the tank to the side / upside. No one will help me do that and I don't want to move it and risk ruining the tank from mishandling by someone helping out or even myself.
I fill it back up to the top. Run the filter to capture anything floating in the tank. Then I clean out the filter and media again.


There is still some sand in the tank, barely a handful left of it. Should I take it out or is it safe to leave that much of my current sand in the tank?
I simply leave it and hope that the very little amount is safe.
 
I soaked up the water with an old towel. Waiting for it to dry to soak up the rest and to take out the rest of the sand.

I have a question though, which im not sure why I didn't remember this before. When my fish started to die one had cotton growth over its fins, tail, and mouth. Then when fish died and I would find the, they had cotton fuzz growth all over them. Im not sure if this means anything.
 
The cotton fuzz sounds like columnaris or something similar. It can be devastating, especially when it goes untreated. That was probably the cause of death and the soap (if the bubbles were in fact soap bubbles) maybe made the fish more susceptible. I believe (could be wrong) that soap and some other contaminants dissolve the slime coat on fish, which is a protective layer that helps keep them healthy.

If it was me, I would start with new sand, new filter pads, new BB media, etc. I would soak the decor in a 10% bleach solution and wipe out the tank with a bleach solution. I know many would disagree, but bleach will evaporate and you can rinse it out quite effectively. You just have to make sure that you don't use bleach on anything that is porous or any fake plants or something. They will absorb the bleach and release it slowly back into the water causing a toxic situation.

JUST MAKE SURE TO THOROUGHLY RINSE THE DECOR AND TANK BEFORE INTRODUCING NEW FISH!!!!
 
I had something similar when my sister killed my fish by 'feeding' them acid cleaner, I chucked the sand, all the filter media scrubbed the tank then fishless cycled the tank and never had any problems


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