u/p0ptabzzz

Strange fish deaths today, wondering if anyone can pinpoint what caused it??
gonna be a longer post since im including a full explanation.

Ive been hired to set up an office community tank. Since it's nearly done cycling I got my first few fish, 10 rummy nose tetras, to begin quarantining them. I'm aware they're sensitive fish, so I've been very slow and gentle with any changes for them. I noticed one developing a few speckles of ick, so i began treatment yesterday using Tetra Ick Guard. This morning all was well, parameters stable at ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, Ph 7.6. I just got home from work today, every fish is dead on the bottom.

For reference here's everything I was doing:

Fish purchased aug 9th. care has not changed during that time besides the addition of tetra ick gaurd yesterday afternoon.

10 gallon quarantine tank

property is on filtered well water so no conditioner

clean silk plants

bubbler, heater, no filter

daily water tests (API liquid test)

slightly overkill water changes as needed, for each change I put the new water on a higher shelf and dripped it into the tank through a clean, tied air hose to avoid temp/parameter shock

temp is 76°f

To add the meds I predisolved the
recommended dose (1 tablet per 10 gallons), and again dripped them in from a higher shelf to avoid rapid changes.

Parameters have been hovering consistently at ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, PH 7.6, temp 76°f since i got them.

Im super confused. For all of them to have died simultaneously that suggests some kind of spike, but the parameters have not changed besides a slight rise in ammonia, though im sure its because there's 10 dead fish in there as there's literally no other source of ammonia in the tank besides the tetras. I watch them eat then vacuum spare food when they're done. The only change was the meds, but its a freshly opened box that doesn't exp till 2029. This is the first time I've used these specific meds, but from all accounts it's safe and effective so I'm at a loss here. I also thought maybe something broke and electrocuted them, but all of my tech looks solid and is working normally.

What the hell happened here?? Does anyone have a experience with similar unexplainable deaths? I know they're sensitive fish but I find it hard to believe they'd all die simultaneously for literally no reason at all. theres no cleaners or anything nearby that could have fallen or spilled into the tank, and no detergents or chemicals were used during any cleaning process. was it actually the meds? because I'm a little doubtful of that. Im puzzled on this one

My aunt sent me this wondering how she can search this pattern. I tried searching for a little bit myself but I'm not a quilter and wouldn't know what to call this. Does anyone know what this pattern is called or any resources I could use to find it? Thanks in advance :)

snails have been in this tank since before him. he's rarely paid any attention to them. recently hes been flaring at nearly every snail he sees for no apparent reason. ive been trying to catch him in the act for a few weeks and finally did it lmao

Pailams tank was getting SO overgrown, and the plants were sending off runners in every direction to the point where continuously trimming it back just became impossible and no matter what i did it just looked like an ugly cluster f*ck of leaves.

yesterday i finally got sick of looking at it so I pulled up the plants, moved the driftwood, and put back the plants i wanted exactly where i wanted them. the rest got split between my other tanks. its very thinned out but i think the tank looks much better and has much more swimming space now. this morning the water finally cleared up and i was looking over the fruits of my labour when i noticed my poor sweet boy has BITE MARKS in his fins :( i know he'll adjust to the new layout in time and hes probably just a little stressed, but i feel so so so bad. hes not exploring yet, just hiding and im worried sick. my parameters are all perfect and consistent with how they were before i rescaped, so im not worried about shock or infections. he just needs time to adjust, but i feel horrible for ruining his home.

it had to be done and hell be okay, i just feel so so so bad. anyone else feel bad when their fish is stressed? everyone tells me the same shit "hes just a fish" but i KNOW hes got a little brain in there and i cant help but feel like a monster for upsetting him :(