HELP!! PPL WHO KNOW A LOT ABOUT FISH TANKS!! ALL FISH LAYING ON GROUND. SOME BELLY UP, BUT NOT DEAD!?

Question

I just syphoned my tank, doing it twice to get all the c**p off the bottom. I had taken out all the decor. Before filling the tank back up, i wiped down the glass sides with Safe&Easy Aquarium Wipes. I just got them today. And yes, it said it was safe to use inside filled aquariums, along with the outside. My walls were in need of a good clean. i then scrubbed it with an algae sponge.

I then began to put in decor i just bought today since i was redecorating my tank. I washed all of it with warm water. I put some old decor back as well that was also cleaned with warm water and some with these new wipes. I then began to slowly fill the tank. (I have a hose and if i turn it on too much, the fish get under it and get hurt)

I immediately noticed red and black fish (srry,always forget what type she is) laying on the bottom after I was done filling my tank. I got my net in there to try and make her swim. She finally did. Then my Molly began to sink as well. I just got him. Then my fish that was a crossbreed from a Mickey and a Guppy (She's my favorite too) went belly up and sank. My algae eater does the same thing. Then my Micky fish. By then, I'm panicking. My three baby Guppies aren't affected. Though, the oldest of the three is affected about an hour later.

So about 20 minutes into this, I realize I didn't put the decanter in my 16 gallon tank. I panic, throwing things out of my draw looking for it. I put it in there. I test the water with my strip and the chlorine was high

I let it sit for 10 minutes and tested it again. My water is now completely safe

I'm praying my fish will get better or will i wake up with 6 floating fish.

My water is temperature is fine

I just got a whole new filter last week.

My question is, what caused this? Was it the time without the dechlorinator?

Or is it something else that I'm missing?

Will my fish get better? Their gills are all still moving. I keep checking.

Oh, please help me D=

I'm truly desperate here

Answer 1

next time, try to add the dechlorinator as you add the new water.

Some stresscoat, and stresszyme, along with aquarium salt can reduce the stress put on the fish.

Or remove the fish, and add water, or just use a bucket.

Answer 2

Unless there was an unusual amount of chlorine in the water that would not have made them instantly effected like that so I don't think the dechlorinator was the main reason your fish are suffering.  It very well could be that you changed too much water in your tank and the PH has become really unstable. Do you have a PH tester?  do you buffer the water at all?  A big change in water can be really stressful on your fish, especially if you do it twice.  The temp will be different when you put it in there, and the PH will be too (most likely).  

I have had problems with my water supply in the past, where fungus has invaded my tank as a result.  It could be that something has gotten into your water supply.

Good luck

Answer 3

Test strips can be (and usually are) inaccurate.  The test kits where you actually put drops of a certain reagent into a small sample of water are sooooo soo soo much better.

When fish are floating at the bottom like that it usually means either a whacked out Ph, or too much ammonia.  Test for this with a good test kit, not the strips...  if the Ph is off, you can buy buffers to fix it, and if the ammonia is too high, you need to do a water change.  

You mentioned you used a hose... was it a regular plastic hose from an aquarium shop?  or was it like a garden hose?  Never use garden hoses to fill your aquarium, because typically they are lined with a fungicide (because they are always outside & moist) that is usually lethal for fish.  So that might be it, too.  

When you do your water changes, just do ONE at a time, about 20-25% of the water.  If you do too much and clean the gravel too well, you lose all the beneficial bacteria that hangs out there and this can also be harmful to your fish.  If your tank is really really dirty, you can do a partial water change once every few days, but don't try to look for a 'quick fix' by doing a whole bunch all at once.

Answer 4

it was the time without the dechlorinator... they will probably be fine in the morning most dechlorinators work instantly.