Disaster - Aquarium Advice

mattrox · 01-22-2006, 09:27 PM

I just got back last night from a week away. There was a heat wave of 44 deg C (over 100 F) that lasted 4 days. When I arrived home the tank water felt luke warm and there were decomposing fish everywhere. The water temperature was around 35 dec C (93 F) and had probably been like that for 2 - 3 days. The only fish that survived were 3 angel fish. I am suprised because the water was foul as well as far too hot.

I initially took out 25% then started adding water at the same time as removing water. I took out all the dead fish I could find and did a gravel vac too. I got the water temp down to 30 deg C last night and now is down to 28.

The angels look ok now, but I must have lost 35 fish.

Wizzard~Of~Ozz · 01-22-2006, 09:32 PM

Sorry for your loss, you kinda caught me off guard with "heat wave".

How do you normally keep the tanks cool?

Lonewolfblue · 01-22-2006, 09:33 PM

Ouch...... Sorry to hear.... If there's no [acronym:580cc2d703="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:580cc2d703] to keep the temp down, might thing about getting a small chiller to keep it from getting too high.

rich311k · 01-22-2006, 09:35 PM

I am sorry for your loss. Might need to keep the [acronym:9eaf2db66c="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:9eaf2db66c] on when you are away from home. That really stinks.

GouramiFanatic · 01-22-2006, 09:36 PM

Mattrox, I just wanted to say that I'm so very sorry to hear about your huge loss!

mattrox · 01-22-2006, 09:43 PM

If I was home I would have done very large [acronym:436b69b835="Partial water change"]pwc[/acronym:436b69b835]'s each evening and floated ice to keep the temps acceptable. I have done that before and survived heat waves.

I am moving house this week, and it has a/c........... but that doesn't help now.

**Devilishturtles** · 01-22-2006, 10:09 PM

That's horrible....

Sorry for your losses.

**Zagz** · 01-22-2006, 10:09 PM

So sorry to hear about your loss! What a tragedy.

crazycat · 01-22-2006, 10:36 PM

that totally sucks! i'm so sorry for your loss!

TankGirl · 01-22-2006, 11:25 PM

OMG, Matt! It is the scene we all fear when we return from vacation. What a bummer - best of luck getting things back under control.

01-22-2006, 09:27 PM	#1
mattrox Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 1,328 Images: 36	Disaster I just got back last night from a week away. There was a heat wave of 44 deg C (over 100 F) that lasted 4 days. When I arrived home the tank water felt luke warm and there were decomposing fish everywhere. The water temperature was around 35 dec C (93 F) and had probably been like that for 2 - 3 days. The only fish that survived were 3 angel fish. I am suprised because the water was foul as well as far too hot. I initially took out 25% then started adding water at the same time as removing water. I took out all the dead fish I could find and did a gravel vac too. I got the water temp down to 30 deg C last night and now is down to 28. The angels look ok now, but I must have lost 35 fish.

01-22-2006, 09:33 PM	#3
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,869 Images: 7	Ouch...... Sorry to hear.... If there's no [acronym:580cc2d703="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:580cc2d703] to keep the temp down, might thing about getting a small chiller to keep it from getting too high. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

01-22-2006, 09:36 PM	#5
GouramiFanatic Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 512 Images: 8	Mattrox, I just wanted to say that I'm so very sorry to hear about your huge loss! __________________ 75G- Gouramis: 2 Gold, 2 Pearl, 1 Opaline, (9) Tiger Barbs, Loaches: 4 Yoyo and 4 Dojo, (2) Ropefish, (1) Sailfin Pleco. 46G- (3) Pearl Gouramis, (5) Black Skirt Tetras, (7) Harlequin Rasboras, (4) Dojo Loaches, (1) Clown Pleco

01-22-2006, 10:09 PM	#7
Devilishturtles Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Frederick, Maryland Posts: 7,898 Images: 17	That's horrible.... Sorry for your losses. __________________ -Lindsay Live in the Western MD/West Virginia/DC Metro Area? Join our very active regional forum Here Like the advice someone just gave you? Add to their reputation! Click on the balance icon underneath their username and let them know.

01-22-2006, 10:09 PM	#8
Zagz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 11,310 Images: 92	So sorry to hear about your loss! What a tragedy. __________________ ----------- My Profile Page My tank & fish photos. Have you voted for AA today? Like the advice or comments someone gave you? Show your appreciation with the reputation button!

01-22-2006, 09:32 PM	#2
Wizzard~Of~Ozz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,015 Images: 2	Sorry for your loss, you kinda caught me off guard with "heat wave". How do you normally keep the tanks cool?

01-22-2006, 09:35 PM	#4
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	I am sorry for your loss. Might need to keep the [acronym:9eaf2db66c="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:9eaf2db66c] on when you are away from home. That really stinks.

01-22-2006, 09:43 PM	#6
mattrox Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 1,328 Images: 36	If I was home I would have done very large [acronym:436b69b835="Partial water change"]pwc[/acronym:436b69b835]'s each evening and floated ice to keep the temps acceptable. I have done that before and survived heat waves. I am moving house this week, and it has a/c........... but that doesn't help now.

01-22-2006, 10:36 PM	#9
crazycat Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: nyc Posts: 597 Images: 19	that totally sucks! i'm so sorry for your loss! __________________ don't turn your back on the ocean.

01-22-2006, 11:25 PM	#10
TankGirl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 8,279 Images: 16	OMG, Matt! It is the scene we all fear when we return from vacation. What a bummer - best of luck getting things back under control. __________________ TG Central Virginians click here and join the Regional Forum! View My Gallery Here

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