Bettas & Guppies

[Barry P]

I had 8 guppies with a crown tail betta, i lost a few of the guppies but didnt know what it was down to so, I seperated the betta, and tested the water.
PH 7.4
Ammonia 0
And all the Nitrite & Nitrate tests where normal as per the test instructions. My plastic plants and rock looked a bit brown so i cleaned them out and waited. Another dead guppy. So i know it wasnt the betta, what could it be. Water temp is fine and stable.Any ideas...?
I have noticed that when i change the water it disturbs the gravel and actually looks dirtier afterwards....Could this be the problem.?

 

[kris-b-]

Do you use a gravel cleaner when performing your water changes? Although I don't think that this is the reason why they are dying if your water stats seem fine. But one of of these will help clean up your gravel.

Do all the fish look ok? No diseases showing on them?

 

[Barry P]

Not sure what a gravel cleaner is, i used a tube scraper thingy which after a few hand motions up and down (steady...) it starts to hoover up the water and old food..all fish look fine, no sign of itch, although i did have itch recently..? but im convinced its gone.

 

[kris-b-]

Yeah that's a gravel hoover. You should try to suck up some gravel and let it fall back out, once you have done it then you will get some debris that hasn't been sucked up still in the tank. It should encourage you to do some more water changes

I'm not an expert on ich at all so hopefully someone else should be able to help you with that!

Good luck!

 

[rdd1952]

When you say your nitrite is "normal", what do you mean? Nitrite should always be 0 just like ammonia. Nitrates can go up to 40 to 60 ppm without any problems. As a general rule bettas and guppies don't work together. The betta sees the colorful guppies with their big tails as another betta and attacks them. Most likely, the betta has killed the guppies you found dead.

 

[Barry P]

Sorry i should have said 10ppm as opposed to "normal". Although i believe that 10ppm is normal. I bought one of those plastic boxs for the betta but i cant help think that its cruel, i love seeing him swim around the rocks and plants....but if he is dangerous to my guppies then i spose its for the best.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Sorry i should have said 10ppm as opposed to "normal". Although i believe that 10ppm is normal.

Nope... Nitrite should always be 0. Thats whats killing the guppies- they aren't the hardiest fish at the best of times, especially if yours are very colourful.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yep your nitrites are definatly killing the guppys, very high nitrites you have there you should start doing daily 20-30% water changes with dechlorinator to safely lower the levels ASAP. If you get alot of old fish food in the gravel or even any at all then you are also over feeding your fish, fish food only takes a day to go rotton in the tank and the fish won't touch it once it goes rotton and the ammonia the food will be producing when it starts to decay will not be helping your water quality either.
If you still have issues with waste in your gravel and you are doing weekly cleaning sessions on it and not over feeding your fish then i suggest you change to sand as at least it doesn't trap waste/food between it like gravel does.