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I everyone I have a problem that may or may not be serious I'm really not sure. To make a long story short early I mixed up a gallon jug of tomato plant food to pour on to my tomato plants. Well my 3 year old daughter decided it need to be poured into our 55 gallon community tank.I've so far done about a 50% water change and added some extra carbon into the filters.So far no fish have died and none at this time are showing any ill effects. Any extra help are advice at this point would be greatly appreciated.

Wow! The entire thing?! That can't be good... Sounds like you are going in the right direction though. What is in the food? It is the ammonia in it that will hurt fishes (urea on the label). Is it a concentrate or was the entire jug supposed to go on the tomatos at once? Sorry I don't have any advice for you... Hope someone can help you out and that it all turns out ok for your fish...

The fertilizer is probably chock full of phosphates and nitrates. I'd go ahead and test the water if you can just to see how high your levels are. You were right to do a large water change, but I'd go one step further.

Do 25-30% water changes daily for the next 4 or 5 days. Don't gravel vac because you would really deplete the bacteria culture. Just put in fresh, clean water.

Use carbon to absorb any other nasties that might have been in the fert.

By the way, your daughter is incredibly strong for a three year old! Not sure I could have picked up a gallon and maneuvered it with any sort of skill when I was her age.

Joe Potato

Hi,

I agree with Joe Potatoe's advice with the water changes.

Also check the ingredients to see if there are any metals such as copper in it. If you have any scaleless fish or inverts in the tank those types of things can be deadly to them.

Make sure you change out the carbon every couple of days for the next week or so as well.

Good luck. I hope it all works out OK for you and your fish.

G_T

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

If you do the daily water changes and replace the carbon every couple of days, you should be fine. Carbon only absorbs until it full usely a week at the most, than it starts leaching back into the tank. You may want to add an air stone just to make sure there enough oxygen as well as some cycle to help boost the bio colony from all the water changes. Take reading every day to watch for spikes. Also, be prepared for an algae bloom, if that happens than you can try an algae fix or if your like me I don't like adding anything to my tanks that not necessary you can do a 3 day black out. I think you should be fine

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams