HELP! Son Put Tap Water in Tank!!!

[Faithy]

So I woke up in the morning to water on the floor and my fish tank destroyed. My 3 year old was dumping sink water in the tank, knocked over my rocks, killed my male clownfish (clean up crew was eating him and the female is still alive but swimming like it’s drunk (probably because the saltwater ratio is off from him dumping tap water in). I’m sure my starburst polyp, frog spawn and brain coral are screwed too. I’ve had this tank for a little over a year now and I’m beyond ticked. My fault for not getting a cover sooner but I’ve never had issues with my kids messing with the tank until there dad got a small freshwater at his house the day before this happened (apparently he lets them stick there hands in it to play with the tadpoles ‍ so I’m thinking my son magically thought it was ok to do the same at my house). Is there anyway I can salvage my corals and clownfish? Not sure if I should just do an 80% water change. It’s a 20 gallon tank and at this point I’m about ready to throw in the towel and start all over if I have to.

 

[Tamberav]

Did you check salinity? Do you have prime on hand? For chlorine assuming you are not well water?

Could there been anything else he may have dumped in? Like 2 part or anything accessible basically.

Fish handle going down in salinity much better than inverts so just trying to think of anything else is going on.

Check salinity for sure and see how much of a change needs to be made. Going back up is worse on fish.

 

[dakoop]

Test the salinity and ready a water change

 

[dthom]

Yes, time for a big water change!

 

[Faithy]

Did you check salinity? Do you have prime on hand? For chlorine assuming you are not well water?

Could there been anything else he may have dumped in? Like 2 part or anything accessible basically.

Fish handle going down in salinity much better than inverts so just trying to think of anything else is going on.

Check salinity for sure and see how much of a change needs to be made. Going back up is worse on fish.

I get back home from work in 40 minutes so I’ll be checking the salinity and preparing for a water change. Their dad text me to let me know my 5 year old told him the youngest was spraying febreze in the tank. I just ordered the Prime on doordash so I don’t have to make a stop but if he was spraying febreze in my tank Im not sure how much or why!

 

[Tamberav]

I get back home from work in 40 minutes so I’ll be checking the salinity and preparing for a water change. Their dad text me to let me know my 5 year old told him the youngest was spraying febreze in the tank

the fabreeze makes more sense for the clownfish death.

It would take so much water to get it low enough to kill a fish and then a ton of water would just be falling out the tank overflowing to get to that point

Large water change and run fresh carbon for the Fabreeze and anything else we may not know about

 

[Sophie"s mom]

OMG! I am so sorry to hear this! Hopefully all will be okay. Sorry for your little male clown.

 

[dthom]

How did things turn out?

 

[Faithy]

How did things turn out?

Salinity was at 1.020…..did a 15 gallon water change so far so good. Female clown is still alive and so are the corals surprisingly (although they did shrink/died off a little)

 

[Faithy]

Also I didn’t realize it til I started the water change but my son messed up my water heater too. It still works but I might buy another just to be on the safe side. Changed my filter media and ran carbon too.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Salinity was at 1.020…..did a 15 gallon water change so far so good. Female clown is still alive and so are the corals surprisingly (although they did shrink/died off a little)

Slowly, you can raise the salinity but the low salinity will not have a negative impact. Also run good grade carbon and phosphates may be affected but monitor this level

 

[Spare time]

Also I didn’t realize it til I started the water change but my son messed up my water heater too. It still works but I might buy another just to be on the safe side. Changed my filter media and ran carbon too.

Always run carbon 24/7

 

[dthom]

Glad things are hanging in there!