Yesterday I was not the brightest. I have 29 gall. tank (w/ Fluval 105), that until yesterday, was in need of a water change. So I did a 25% water change(I know, I know... that ain't the worst). Did it w/ all the accompanying testing and adjusting(aquarium salt{CaCl}, Stress Coat, etc). Then I had a REAL bright idea. The tank was alkaline (7.6), so I thought a drop in pH would be an improvement.
The tank holds 1 Tiger Oscar, 2 Silver Dollars, 1 Tire track Eel, an African Giant Filter Shrimp(Atya gabonensis and a juvie Convict. The alkilinity was within all the species tolerance limits, but I thought evryone would be more comfy w/ a lower pH. So I (... get ready for it) added some red wine vinegar (30 ml in 30 gall). OK ok, U gotta understand there is a WHOLE LOTTA (bleep) CHANGIN in my life... the exact chemistry didn't seem important at the moment. Long story short... pH droped from 7.6 to 6.4 in a day! I came in the next morning to find 1 dead Tire track eel and everyone else gasping/gulping.
I immediately tested the H2O. Thats when I found out the pH as well as elev. nitrite levels (> 5 ppm) and elev. nitrate levels. But no ammonia.
I immed. added some Amquel and did a partial H2O change (10%). After a repeat dose, the nitrite and nitrate levels are down but evryone is still gulping. What's goin on? Did the acetic acid somehow "burn" their gills? Or was there an more than just acetic acid in the RWV? Help (for their sake).

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