Are Christmas trees treated with something that is toxic to fish?

[jmicky41]

I came home from work and decided to take down the (live) christmas tree. After that I decided to scrub the algae in the fish tank. It had been several weeks since I cleaned it well, so I took about 30-45 minutes. Once the tank cleared all my fish were looking really stressed. The 4" majestic angel looked the worst, it was sporting odd "electric" colors, breathing heavy and darting around the tank. The 4" heniochus was breathing heavy and laying on it's side. The 3" hippo, mitratus butterfly, and flame angel looked bad also, mostly breathing hard and hiding.

I figured something poisonus must have gotten in the tank; so I set up the quarantine tank in a hurry. I also put a polyfilter in the tank and a large dose of carbon. I was able to catch the angel and heniocus and put them in the q-tank. That seemed to stress them and make them worse, so after a few minutes I put them back into the display.

Well, the majestic and heniochus died. After a few tense days the other 3 seem back to normal. During those days they hid, barely ate and their fins were clouded.

The fish were 6months to 5 years old. I figure to go from perfectly healthy to dead in a few hours something toxic had to get in the tank. I used the same magnets and scrubbers I always do and I live alone, so I know someone didn't accidently poison them with cleaners ect. Is there something on a Christmas tree such as pesticides or flame retardnants that could be this deadly? I remember rinsing my hands before cleaning the tank. Whatever I was couldn't have been more than a trace amount, yet could be lethal to fish in a 125 gallon tank.

[jmicky41]

Other possible poisons: I used a file from the garage to file down my Kent pro-scrapers, I wonder if there wasn't some penetrating oil or something on the file. But, I've used this file many times before with out any trouble and rinsed it off before using it. Possibly underarm deodorant? I need to have my arm all the way into the tank to hit the algae near the sandbed. Nicotine? I had a dip before scrubbing algae, but again I rinsed my hands off. This calamity, especially if it is something I did, really has me down. I'm thinking it was the christmas tree, but who knows.

[lionfissh]

that really sucks to hear, but i dont really have any answers for you. All i can think is that for 125gal of water i doubt a little sweat/nicotine or the file would be enough to affect the whole tank but i guess i dont know...

[jmicky41]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14134367#post14134367 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lionfissh
that really sucks to hear, but i dont really have any answers for you. All i can think is that for 125gal of water i doubt a little sweat/nicotine or the file would be enough to affect the whole tank but i guess i dont know...

Right, that is why I am leaning towards pesticides or something on the Christmas tree. Thanks.

[91yota]

wasnt the dip... i had a crab knock off a frag into a bed of shrooms one time right as i was putting in a dip... didnt think to rinse my fingers off before diving in to rescue the frag... no ill effects from that and there were several "pieces" blowing around in the tank, one of which was eaten by my clown fish :)

[jwalters103]

did you happen to put bleach in the xmas trees water? many people do and if so, it is possible any of that could have gotten in there? the chlorine would burn the gills and cause the panting and heavy breating you described.

could be a pesticide or even just the pine oils or sap

[andygb54303]

why does one put bleach in xmas trees water? thats unheard of

[AuroraDrvr]

Many tree companies will spray preservatives on freshly cut trees.

[jmicky41]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14135946#post14135946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AuroraDrvr
Many tree companies will spray preservatives on freshly cut trees.

I wonder how toxic these would be.

[jmicky41]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14135746#post14135746 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwalters103
did you happen to put bleach in the xmas trees water? many people do and if so, it is possible any of that could have gotten in there? the chlorine would burn the gills and cause the panting and heavy breating you described.

could be a pesticide or even just the pine oils or sap

No, just regular water.

[rgentry123]

i would definately say it was a preservative put on the christmas tree. a lot of tree companies will put a preservative on their tree's to keep them green through the holidays, i have no earthly idea what they put on these tree's but i would say it was somthing that came from the tree. sorry to hear about your loss.

[revaltion131]

A fire retardant might have been used as well.

[jmicky41]

Arghhh, It happened again!!! Mom is gonna be looking after the fish for a few days while I go on vacation, so she asked me to clean the algae off the walls. I spent about 15 minutes scrubbing algae, then stirred the sand a bit. Shortly after doing this, the (remaining) fish were showing the same signs.

After the first episode, I soaked the algae scrapers in fresh water for 10 days and rinsed the heck out of them and my hands before using them. Christmas tree was long gone, and no dip this time. Then I realized that we switched to a new hand soap recently in the house. Dial complete with the active ingriedient triclosan. I did a search for triclosan, and found a MSDS sheet that said that triclosan is extremely toxic to aquatic life!!!

Looks like the mitratus is gonna die and the flame is lying on it's side. What a way to start a Vegas trip. :( Was it the soap, who knows - but I am leaning towards it.