What shocked and killed my fish?

I posted yesterday with a pleade for quick help, now I am trying to figure out what the
happened!
16g bow front, up and running for about 2 years. Never had an issue before with anything. I tested the water before my bi-weekly water change, everything was 'normal'. I have an Eheim Ecco canister, which was due for maint as well. Changed out the pads (like i always do) the ONLY difference in my routine was to dump the substrate balls onto a sheet of tin foil while I cleaned the filter, not into my normal plastic container. Dump the balls back into the filter baskets, and set back up under the tank.
I was using a swing arm for a while until I found this group, then bought the 'good tool' and found my salt to be high, 1.029 in that tank. Took out a few gallons and added a few gallons, problem was I was in a rush and misread the tool, salt was very low in the water added. Dropped the measurement to about 1.022-23, however did not realize this until i got up in the morning and saw all my fish on the bottom breathing extremely fast and looking bad.
The ONLY other thing that I did was change my intake to a different one, which had a crack and I used super glue to fix the grate (which i let dry for a while before installing)
So all morning, afternoon, evening I watched each fish fall over and die
At about midnight I took the remaining 2 out and placed in a 5 gallon bucket of water with about 1 gallon of tank water. Brought them to my 110g and drip acclimated them for about an hour, and placed them into the tank. The 110g is at 1.023 FYI. I figured they were doomed in the other tank, this was a last resort. Woke up this morning and both fish have almost 100% of their color back and it looks like they will make it. I did not want to move anything before for the fear or additional shock would kill them.
What the
happened?!?!?! As far as I can tell it is can only be a couple things......
1) Sudden salanity drop (however they came right back in the 110g with lower levels so that does not make sense)
2) Something with the tinfoil and saltwater created some kind of toxin that i released into the water when the substrate balls was on it.
3) Some chemical came from the superglue that caused this.
Those are the only 3 issues that have been different from all other times.
The coral in the tank was fine, so signs of strees either and have been moved to the 110g as well.
I do not trust the tank now and will break it down 100%. Not even sure I trust the LR, might have absorbed whatever was causing the problems. Not sure I am even going to set that one back up, but anyone want to play a little detective and place their best guess out there?
 
What fish died? I still think the drop in salinity caused your problem. Once you shock them it's not easy to bring them back.
 

spanko

Active Member
Agree here, what two fish survived? Some fish are more tolerant of things. Take Damsels, people cycled with them as the ammonia source back in the day. Perfaps the two fish that survived are of a type that can take adverse conditions better than others.
 
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2919707
Agree here, what two fish survived? Some fish are more tolerant of things. Take Damsels, people cycled with them as the ammonia source back in the day. Perfaps the two fish that survived are of a type that can take adverse conditions better than others.
2 Yellow Damsels died, 1 blue was on his way out along with my Gold Stripe Maroon Clownfish (wild). The damsels were more stressed than the clownfish it seemed, although the clownfish lost a lot of his color, but got a lot back as of this morning. Belive it or not I actually like the damsels, and they all got along great in the tank, got them all when very small. I think if they are still alive in the 110g when I get home they might stay that way, i hope!
 

subielover

Active Member
I agree with the above posters. It was the drastic and fast change of the salinity that did them in. Live and learn.
 
Originally Posted by subielover
http:///forum/post/2919743
I agree with the above posters. It was the drastic and fast change of the salinity that did them in. Live and learn.
Part of me wants to agree as it is the obvious answer, however, why did the fish come back quickly when introduced into the new system, with even lower salinity? Those 2 fish that survived (so far) were barely hanging on, you could see an improvement even when in the bucket with the drip. Sorry, I have a scientific background so my mind takes into account every aspect and possible factor.
 
Well I am home, both fish & coral are fine in the other tank. I learned 3 lessons, check TWICE from measurements, do not use aluminum foil, and do not use superglue! I would like to believe the drop in salt caused this, but without definite proof it is best to stay away from all 3!
I have done some searching and found mention of salt causing issues with aluminum foil with the AL leaching out causing AL toxins to enter the water. Granted I have not found mention of this on any 'fish' site but I am finding a fair amount of this on garden and plant sites. I guess it can cause a real problem from plants.
I don't know, like I said, learned a few lessons with this one.
 
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