Hi there,
I have 10 tetras (neons and cardinal mixed really) 2 cory's and one cat fish plus a molly and a baby puffa (figure 8) they get on well and I have a 60cm tank, (am getting a new one soon yet to set up). My current tank has been established for the best part of this year, and I cant understand why my water chemistry has changed. I place water softner/safe with every 10% water change every 3 days. I hoover my sand (no gravel) I have 2 plants, bog wood (small piece) and shells, rock and the tank looks interesting and the fish love it. Theres hinding places, and all sorts for them to explore. My plants are clean, they look healthy, they've been nibbled but thats okay I keep a close watch on their condition. I have soaked bogwood, and cleaned other rocks with tank water, I have an powerful reputable filter, airpump and I feed them flake food, and live frozen food, (mussels for my puffa and beefheart) Other fish foods.
I intentionally have the cory's because they help keep the tank clean, the tank is roomy but the decor is i believe just perfect for them
Recently, I have been suffering a high in water hardness. I hardly get alge on my tank - and need not change, the water looks clear and crisp. I cant see any obvious reasons as to why my tetras loose colour then die. My heater is on at 27.c
I usually dont leave my water airpump on at night, however tonight i think i will as its my last resort. Perhaps the case is my plants are consuming oxygen whilst producing carbon dioxide and there is not enough oxygen to go around for all my little ones.
I specifically want my tank to have thriving tetras, and they all look good, but in the morning - i see one or two have died. especially recently.
1) I dont use plant booster, although thats a new product i did by last week which i used once. I used the right dose - perhaps I shouldnt.
but i have bought me tetras since and they have died. the last time I used the booster was a week and a half ago.
2) I was also recommended to use peat, a liquid form which would help decrease the level of hardness in my water. But, without knowing too much about it, perhaps this has ruined my water chemistry leaving it all unbalanced? I used it once, and a little today - to the right dose for a 10 gallon tank. (about 5ml)
These are the only things I can think of.
But besides this, I ask the retailer where fish are bought and there ph level - and its 7.0.
My reading tonight (i use API 5-1 strips) perhaps not the most accurate? Any advice what to use instead? or anyone please tell me what is wrong
Reading with my strips
GH between 120-180 ( i live in an area where water is quite hard)
Kh 180
ph 6-6.5
no2 0.5
no3 80
I suffer terribly when one of my little ones die because they are dependant on me. I wish to give them a fantastic home, but I have no idea all of a sudden my fish dont seem to last long. My Molly, I had since birth in my tank (i took mother and father back because i didnt want to overstock) is perfect, absolutely beautiful, he has grown big and very handsome, his colour is optimun, and feeds (like my other fish) 3 times a day - perhaps a little less depending on how much they consume at a time.
I now feel quite frightended to go to bed just to wake up and see some die. Tonight, I will leave my air pump on, but its nosey is there anything else I can do?
Any suggestions would be great.Thank you so much for reading
Puffa77
I have 10 tetras (neons and cardinal mixed really) 2 cory's and one cat fish plus a molly and a baby puffa (figure 8) they get on well and I have a 60cm tank, (am getting a new one soon yet to set up). My current tank has been established for the best part of this year, and I cant understand why my water chemistry has changed. I place water softner/safe with every 10% water change every 3 days. I hoover my sand (no gravel) I have 2 plants, bog wood (small piece) and shells, rock and the tank looks interesting and the fish love it. Theres hinding places, and all sorts for them to explore. My plants are clean, they look healthy, they've been nibbled but thats okay I keep a close watch on their condition. I have soaked bogwood, and cleaned other rocks with tank water, I have an powerful reputable filter, airpump and I feed them flake food, and live frozen food, (mussels for my puffa and beefheart) Other fish foods.
I intentionally have the cory's because they help keep the tank clean, the tank is roomy but the decor is i believe just perfect for them
Recently, I have been suffering a high in water hardness. I hardly get alge on my tank - and need not change, the water looks clear and crisp. I cant see any obvious reasons as to why my tetras loose colour then die. My heater is on at 27.c
I usually dont leave my water airpump on at night, however tonight i think i will as its my last resort. Perhaps the case is my plants are consuming oxygen whilst producing carbon dioxide and there is not enough oxygen to go around for all my little ones.
I specifically want my tank to have thriving tetras, and they all look good, but in the morning - i see one or two have died. especially recently.
1) I dont use plant booster, although thats a new product i did by last week which i used once. I used the right dose - perhaps I shouldnt.
but i have bought me tetras since and they have died. the last time I used the booster was a week and a half ago.
2) I was also recommended to use peat, a liquid form which would help decrease the level of hardness in my water. But, without knowing too much about it, perhaps this has ruined my water chemistry leaving it all unbalanced? I used it once, and a little today - to the right dose for a 10 gallon tank. (about 5ml)
These are the only things I can think of.
But besides this, I ask the retailer where fish are bought and there ph level - and its 7.0.
My reading tonight (i use API 5-1 strips) perhaps not the most accurate? Any advice what to use instead? or anyone please tell me what is wrong
Reading with my strips
GH between 120-180 ( i live in an area where water is quite hard)
Kh 180
ph 6-6.5
no2 0.5
no3 80
I suffer terribly when one of my little ones die because they are dependant on me. I wish to give them a fantastic home, but I have no idea all of a sudden my fish dont seem to last long. My Molly, I had since birth in my tank (i took mother and father back because i didnt want to overstock) is perfect, absolutely beautiful, he has grown big and very handsome, his colour is optimun, and feeds (like my other fish) 3 times a day - perhaps a little less depending on how much they consume at a time.
I now feel quite frightended to go to bed just to wake up and see some die. Tonight, I will leave my air pump on, but its nosey is there anything else I can do?
Any suggestions would be great.Thank you so much for reading
Puffa77