Water change killed fish. What about baby green frog tadpoles?

[Meryl]

Thanks for the quick reply. A few questions.
1. I think the kid blew the bubbles onto the pond's surface (which I scooped off the surface as soon as I saw it was covered in bubbles). Was there enough soap left to require a complete clean out?
2. If I do have to clean it out, where do I get bacteria?
3. If I drain the pond, etc., what do I do about my three resident green frogs?
Thanks,
Meryl

[Mentat]

Thanks for the quick reply. A few questions.
1. I think the kid blew the bubbles onto the pond's surface (which I scooped off the surface as soon as I saw it was covered in bubbles). Was there enough soap left to require a complete clean out?

I'm not aware of any kits to detect soap in water and don't know your pond size. If small and the surface was covered in bubbles; my guess is that it could be enough to cause damage. Also, have no idea of how much untreated tap water was flushed into pond or the chloramines levels on it to give you a correct answer.

If you guys feel got most, if not all the soap out, then you could try this procedure as an experiment. Presuming you have a pond filter; take it out, clean it and replace all filter media with new one. If filter company has those carbon impregnated pads run one for a week and then throw it away. If not; can use any well rinsed quality carbon. API makes a product called Bio-Chem Zorb (a mix of carbons and resins) that would be good in your case. At this time would also add the product discussed in question no. 2. Another problem might surface as dead organics (any present fish fry or tads) rise the ammonia levels. Due to that, wait at least two weeks for pond to stable out. Would be good to test pH, ammonia, and nitrite levels every couple days and post results here. Once Ammonia and Nitrites hit zero (around 2 weeks or so); then can add couple healthy fish (not from feeder bins!). If they do well for a week or two; then add others. If they die... sorry but starting pond all over will be required .

2. If I do have to clean it out, where do I get bacteria?

Normally will take 30 days for an aquarium/pond to cycle so that beneficial bacteria reduce ammonia (from fish and frog urine) into nitrites and that into less toxic nitrates which are consumed by plants or reduced by water changes. That cycle can be reduced in half or more by adding bacteria cultures (i.e. Seachem Pond Stability) which can be found in the pond section of pet stores. If none available can also use similar aquarium products available at fish stores but will probably cost more, specially if pond is big. BTW, I'm pretty sure your bacteria colonies died if not from soap, from the chloramines in tap, so this step will be necessary even if you decide not to drain pond.

3. If I drain the pond, etc., what do I do about my three resident green frogs?

If you decide to drain pond; my recommendation would be to get a kiddie pool or similar large plastic container for your water plants and set it close to pond. Frogs will use that until you re-build their home. If plans are doing well should be OK as is and just need to replace evaporated water with dechlorinated tap. If no plants; change 25-50% water daily.

Hope this helps and recommend set a rule of no humans with soap or anything that could damage your frog ecosystem in your yard. The risk of an accident happening is real and the reparations can be a nightmare, good luck !