So about a week ago, I had a friend help me move my 55 gallon fish tank, and when we got it all set back up, we some how managed to not plug in the heater.
A couple days after that, I noticed my clown loaches looking unhealthy, and I tested the water and everything was fine. Nitrates were a bit up, but I was scheduled to do a water change in about two days so I left it alone.
That morning I woke up to 6 of my 14 fish dead, noticed the thermometer read 66 degrees and panicked. I plugged the heater back in, and turned up the house's heat too. (I normally leave it at 62 when I'm not home or I'm asleep) I removed the dead fish and went to work. When I came home from work, I discovered two more dead fish.
Since then the temperature has been restored and a second heater added to the tank, and several water changes have happened. However, I've still lost three more fish over the past couple days. Today was the latest loss.
I tested the water this morning and found the pH had spiked, from normally hovering around 7.4-7.6 to 8.2. I want the rest of my fish to return to health and fix the issues that seem to have been stirred up. Any ideas what would cause the pH to spike and how might I prevent more fish loss?
A couple days after that, I noticed my clown loaches looking unhealthy, and I tested the water and everything was fine. Nitrates were a bit up, but I was scheduled to do a water change in about two days so I left it alone.
That morning I woke up to 6 of my 14 fish dead, noticed the thermometer read 66 degrees and panicked. I plugged the heater back in, and turned up the house's heat too. (I normally leave it at 62 when I'm not home or I'm asleep) I removed the dead fish and went to work. When I came home from work, I discovered two more dead fish.
Since then the temperature has been restored and a second heater added to the tank, and several water changes have happened. However, I've still lost three more fish over the past couple days. Today was the latest loss.
I tested the water this morning and found the pH had spiked, from normally hovering around 7.4-7.6 to 8.2. I want the rest of my fish to return to health and fix the issues that seem to have been stirred up. Any ideas what would cause the pH to spike and how might I prevent more fish loss?