Just witnessed first hand how fast chloramine kills fish

[i3k]

In 12 years I have never forgotten to use dechlorinator after a water change. Today I forgot. it only took 20 minutes to kill my red tail shark.

 

[Coyne]

Interesting... I have a co-worker that kept a goldfish for several days in untreated water. I suppose the chlorine would've disappeared on its own after a day though. The end result was the same, however.

 

[i3k]

Chlorine irritates/burns the gills. However, Chloramine gets into the blood stream and poisons the fish fairly quickly.

 

[Delapool]

In 12 years I have never forgotten to use dechlorinator after a water change. Today I forgot. it only took 20 minutes to kill my red tail shark.

That is sad news.

I assume it got into his gills first?

Edit - sorry, just saw it went into the bloodstream. Can I ask what the signs were if ok?

 

[elephantnose]

I never treat my water.

 

[Brookster123]

I never treat my water.

and which mountain stream does it come from?? Half the time my tap water burns my eyes in the shower... You'd be treating your water if you had what most people have..

 

[J.Mcpeak]

?? Half the time my tap water burns my eyes in the shower...

(Use the cold tap for both halves !)

 

[elephantnose]

and which mountain stream does it come from?? Half the time my tap water burns my eyes in the shower... You'd be treating your water if you had what most people have..

I live in Florida. Lime stones work as natural filters.

 

[elephantnose]

(Use the cold tap for both halves !)

Lol....

 

[i3k]

That is sad news.

I assume it got into his gills first?

Edit - sorry, just saw it went into the bloodstream. Can I ask what the signs were if ok?

Gasping for air at the top...after about 20 min the poor fish just laid on the bottom breathing rapidly. Took about 45 min for the fish to die.

From what I've read, chloramine gets into the bloodstream and binds with iron in the red cells hemoglobin causing a reduced cell capacity to carry oxygen.

 

[Delapool]

Nasty stuff. Appreciated on the post.

 

[Sk3lly]

Water companies used to use chlorine only but it 'airs' off after a while, rendering it useless.
I think they use chloramines because it doesnt 'air' off all

 

[Delapool]

I think that is what I've seen as well. Also it is preferred if the water has to be piped a long way over several hundred kilometres or miles.

 

[mattcham]

25 years ago a left the hose running to fill a 25 gallon outdoor tank. I fell asleep by accident on the couch and when I woke up from my nap all fish were dead and water over flowing onto the ground. A few years later this happened again to my 95 gallon community tank. Never sit down to rest when water is running. I wish someone had taught me that. I had more than 25 aquariums and it can get tiring changing water late at night.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Sk3lly]

25 years ago a left the hose running to fill a 25 gallon outdoor tank. I fell asleep by accident on the couch and when I woke up from my nap all fish were dead and water over flowing onto the ground. A few years later this happened again to my 95 gallon community tank. Never sit down to rest when water is running. I wish someone had taught me that. I had more than 25 aquariums and it can get tiring changing water late at night.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Aquarium Advice mobile app

Not learn the lesson first time around then? Lol. These things happen tho i guess. Just dont let it happen for a third time haha