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OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator!

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By aurorahorse, Section Ask Guppylog
Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:32:11 PM PST
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I'm running on near empty sleep-wise this week so please don't flame me! I cleaned out 25% of the 55 gallon this morning and put in the salt and fed them...but forget to add dechlorinator.



Everyone is still alive tonight surprisingly (10 hours later) but obviously not happy...gills are RED and some are hovering at top and some on the bottom. Will they be okay from here, or are they going to be damaged permanently? I'm worried sick about them now. I CANNOT believe I forgot it! It's been a long, rough week. Funny enough, the babies seem mostly okay (they are all platies actually)--it's the adults that are the worst off. I have increased aeration to try to help. Anything else I can do to make them feel better?

Thanks
Dawn

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OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! | 11 comments (11 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
(Comment Deleted) (none / 0) (#11)
by rossi on Wed Oct 18, 2006 at 09:30:59 AM PST

This comment has been deleted by unclescott





Re: OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! (none / 0) (#10)
by love my fishies on Thu Jun 22, 2006 at 11:54:25 PM PST

I've added dechlorinator days after a water change with no problems. I have guppies and angels and my ammonia nitrites etc. are 100% normal.It probably wouldn't hurt your platties



Re: OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! (none / 0) (#9)
by PeterW on Sat May 20, 2006 at 01:34:26 PM PST

Be really careful about the possibility that you've crashed the "cycle" in your tank.  Watch your ammonia levels closely over the next week or two.

It often seems that cycle bacteria are the most fragile bacteria on the planet.  Your fish might have survived the chlorine hit, but you could have easily killed the beneficial cycle bacteria in your filter.

If you can get it, it might pay to keep some bio-spira onhand in the fridge in case.

As an aside, I suspect the other thing that saved you would be that the compounds in the dechlorinator  usually don't all get consumed breaking down the chlorine and chloramine.  You might have had residual dechlorinator in the tank and it may have neutralized a bunch of the fresh chlorine for you.



Re: OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! (none / 0) (#2)
by lomelindi on Sat May 06, 2006 at 06:03:33 PM PST

I've never experienced this before, so don't quote me on this.. you may want to wait for the smart ones around here to answer...

But I have two thoughts.  You may wish to do a pretty decent-sized water change with good water, to lessen the chlorine in the tank, if you haven't already.

Also.. and this is more a question for the well-established, smarter fishkeepers... would it be possible to add dechlorinator directly to a tank?  Or, more likely, get a cup of the tank water, treat it, and let it mix with the rest of the water?  I don't know, it might be one of those things that would hurt a fish.

Good luck, and do keep us updated.. I'm curious myself to see how they react.  I'm sorry I'm not too much more helpful, but I'm sure the troops will be trickling in.



Re: OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! (none / 0) (#3)
by aurorahorse on Sat May 06, 2006 at 06:08:58 PM PST

Thanks...but I already added it in ASA I realized my mistake.

I always add it directly to the tank before putting in new water...I know against recommendations, but I have done it for years and no problems...except today when I forgot.:(

They do seem to be feeling some better now...except two that I am not sure if will make it or not. One of those, however, was looking not so great before this anyway (old or something).

Dawn

[ Parent ]



Re: OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! (none / 0) (#4)
by miskairal on Sun May 07, 2006 at 01:55:14 AM PST

Makes me glad I don't have to use chlorinated water to start with. I know of others who have done the same thing though aurora.

Good luck to your fish and you. I hope they are ok and you get more sleep :)
--
Repeat after me,
I will read the Immediate Help
[ Parent ]



Re: OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! (none / 0) (#8)
by angelhologram on Sun May 07, 2006 at 07:28:27 AM PST

I don't have chlorinated water either so I have no idea but I waneted to add my sympathies to those of miskairals. Don't be too hard on yourself, we ALL make mistakes!
*BEFORE you buy fish make sure you understand what "Cycling" a tank means <- quoted from miskaral* ~Trying to make a difference one fish at a time~
[ Parent ]


Re: OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! (none / 0) (#7)
by aurorahorse on Sun May 07, 2006 at 06:14:30 AM PST

Thanks Miskairal...the extra sleep won't happen because I work at night on the computer and get 4-5 hours four nights a week and 8 or so the other nights...so this is chronic. :-p It's worse this week...I had appointments on the mornings I normally get my 8 hours, and then my daughter woke me up. I'm just glad most of the fish aren't suffering...I was almost afraid to turn the lights on.:-p

Dawn

[ Parent ]



Re: OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! (none / 0) (#1)
by aurorahorse on Sat May 06, 2006 at 05:04:27 PM PST

Ok, I am tired....you will want to know:

1) It's an established tank (1.5 years).

2) 14 plus/minus adult guppies and platies

3) 15-20 babies

4) Two in-tank "waterfall" filters

5) One side has a powerhead (extra aeration)



I'm sure all of us have had moments like this. (none / 0) (#5)
by unclescott on Sun May 07, 2006 at 03:57:44 AM PST

Glad your fish are still there. (I'm glad I haven't electrocuted or drowned myself or burned the house down in selected situations too. About 2 AM this morning, it occurred to me that the pot of gravel had probably baked long enough at 225 degrees in the oven...)

Do you know if your water has chloramine in it? If you have just chlorine, the detritus, surfaces, any plants and, uh, fish have probably taken up much of the chlorine. If you have chloramine, I would still dump a chloramine "neutralizer" such as Ultimate, Ammolock, the original Amquel, Prime or whatever, in there to break that bond between the chlorine and ammonia and to dissipate the chlorine and temporarily "bond" the ammonia (which is probably less than what you removed with the water change anyway.) Your sources of filtration and aeration should be doing a number on the chlorine too, especially if it is just chlorine in the water supply.

We have talked about adding a dose of Melafix to sooth messed up skin (and in a sense the gills are a sort of tissue not too far distant). This may be that exceptional situation where a little (non-table) salt, at least a teaspoon per gallon, would be useful. We have even talked about adding vitamin B to aid healing of tails and wounds.

I don't know if I would do it to your tank (maybe mine), but if healing doesn't continue apace, I might consider anchoring a vitamin B suppliment in the out flow of your powerhead (with a rubber band attaching it to an ornament?). Maybe an E would go in there too. If the fish seem to be rebounding, I probably wouldn't play around too much with vitamins.

They also have these aquarium vitamins in some of the shops. They are not cheap. If you are still looking to appease your guilt ;) you could spring for a container of those and dose as recommended. (If you were down the block from me, I'd drop a package off.)

You are probably over the worst of it. Your fish, if not stressed, should be on the mend.

You know this, but for the benefit of a lurker who might need the info, don't introduce any new fish to that aquarium for a time, perhaps a month.

Good luck and all the best!
unc

[ Parent ]



Re: I'm sure all of us have had moments like this. (none / 0) (#6)
by aurorahorse on Sun May 07, 2006 at 06:04:23 AM PST

Thank u.s.! They are ALL alive this morning (well, I can't count the babies, but they seem all there). All are okay, except the aforementioned 3 that were not doing so great anyway (one is age, one has always been kinda clamped, and one looks like birth got to her). I'll keep an eye on them. I do happen to have some Melafix around and was debating on whether to put some in anyway since I know their immunity is going to be compromised, so thanks.

YAY!

Dawn

[ Parent ]



OH NOOOOOOO....I forgot dechlorinator! | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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