HELP!!!! i have just soap powered my fish!!

[TwoFacedCows]

i got more cory eggs. so i put them in the net fry 'tank' that sits in the main tank, to help water circulate.

unfortunately I forgot that my washing machine recently sprung a leak and loads of soapy water got sprayed all around my cupboard. the cupboard where this particular net 'tank' was.

So i put it in main tank, forgetting to wash it out, my tank got covered in soapy bubbles. have now evacuated my fish and emptied my tank of soapy water.

what now?? what should i do about my filter? wash it in tap water? i have no tank water to wash it in as it is all soapy!

[EauRouge]

Uh oh! No, do NOT wash your filter in tap water. Stick it in a bucket of dechlorinated water and switch it on ASAP.

Then start sorting the tank. How much soap got in there? I'd give it a couple of rinses. Do you have sand or gravel? Real plants or fake? You might be able to get away with just rinsing the tank a couple of times without having to take all the stuff out, but it depends how much soap got in there.

[TwoFacedCows]

it is a huge external filter.

[EauRouge]

Oh right. You could still rig up a bucket and just raise it about the filter slightly and then stick the in and out pipes in the bucket, prime the filter and switch it on. You could do a couple of water changes in the bucket if the water gets foamy (does that make sense? I'm a bit fluey).

You might like to get hold of some ammolock or some bactinettes just in case your filter bacteria's been wiped out.

[TwoFacedCows]

phew!!! I managed to rig up a bucket and basically did what you suggested. when my tank was all clean and unsoapy, I got it back up to temp and started putting my fish back in.

all of my corys started swimming tilted on their side, and going crazy around the tank and generally looking in distress. my plecs sank to the bottom, upside down. then my corys sank to the bottom and were upside down, their poor little gills going ten to the dozen. I burst into tears, so upset that my lovely little fat corys had died/were dying and that my plecs, so beautiful and sweet were dying also.

I had to rush out and take my cat for his vet appointment, so i had to leave them all to it.

when i got home...

[TwoFacedCows]

sorry technical difficulties!

[TwoFacedCows]

when i got home, not a single one had died!!!!!!!!!!

all of my corys we right way up and looking good, my plecs were right way up, one had swam around and was sucking the glass. the other was sat in a corner.

I am so bloody glad they are all ok!!! i am so stupid!

[EauRougelyNight]

FFS, I was hitting refresh for ages to find out what had happened

That's brilliant news, fingers crossed there are no ill effects. You might want to keep an eye on the ammonia level for the next few days just in case.

[TwoFacedCows]

sorry!! they all seem very happy and squeaky clean!

you should have seen me walking into vets, all red blotchy faced!! they thought cat was dead!

one thing we noticed before the soap sud incident, was a lovely HUGE white male molly has a lump on his side, low down near his side fin. he did seem a bit down although that was probably because he was dying from washing power OD

he is happier now, chasing all the girls around the tank. but still has a big lump. there is no discolouration, it is not on the surface, more of an internal lump.

any ideas? thanks again for your help earlier!!

[EauRougelyNight]

Squeaky clean.

Is the lump just in one place or is it general swelling? A single lump usually means a tumour- is he an old fish?

[TwoFacedCows]

it is a single lump. he is not old no, perhaps around 6-9months old!

oh, and good news apparently corys like a good soapywash, it makes them randy! i have loads more eggs now!