Confused

[martyn21uk]

Tank size: 40L
pH: 7.4
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 40ppm
tank temp: 75F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

The tank has been set up since the beginning of February, it was cycled using 6 x black widow tetras who are still in the tank (thinking about trading them in at LFS) All 6 survived and 3 weeks ago I added 3 Peppered corys who have grown well and are doing well. So 2 weeks I added 3 albino corys, none of whom survived 4 days in the tank. I put it down to the stress of moving as they were tiny tiny even though I did everything I could to minimise the stress. So last saturday I added 6 cardinal tetras. Tonight I have just lost my second Cardinal so have now lost 5 fish in the last two weeks. There has been no signs of infections, attacking or anything else on the dead fish. I have just completed a 25% water change and my stats are identical. Help!?!?

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

25% every 7-10 days

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

None

Tank inhabitants:

6 Black Widow Tetras
3 Peppered Corys
4 Cardinal Tetras

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

See above, no change to decorations

Exposure to chemicals:

Nope

Digital photo (include if possible):

Camara broken

 

[WILDER]

The tanks overstocked.
Black widow tetras are quite big and need about 20 gallons tank.
Are you sure the stats are that as its quite overstocked.
Any symtoms to go on.

http/www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/f...skirttetra.html

Ph of store to your tank.
How long are you climatising them for.
Best when you get home with the fish is to take a ph test of the bag water and temp.

 

[martyn21uk]

The tanks overstocked.
Black widow tetras are quite big and need about 20 gallons tank.
Are you sure the stats are that as its quite overstocked.
Any symtoms to go on.

http/www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/f...skirttetra.html

Ph of store to your tank.
How long are you climatising them for.
Best when you get home with the fish is to take a ph test of the bag water and temp.

No symptons at all, thats the strange thing about it. Good idea about ph of LFS, I have two and they are quite a distance apart so could well be different water supply. I think i'll take the black widows back then to help with the overstaocking but depending on who you listen to or what website you go to, I'm not overstocked.

I put the bag in sealed for 5 mins or so then open and add a little water from the tank and leave for another 5 mins or so. Repeat a few times until bag is full then allow the fish to swim out at their own pace.

 

[WILDER]

Yes it would be a good idea they need a bigger tank they are quite big for a tetra.
Always check ph as fish can get ph shock, if there a big difference in ph it can take hours to climatise them.

 

[martyn21uk]

Yes it would be a good idea they need a bigger tank they are quite big for a tetra.
Always check ph as fish can get ph shock, if there a big difference in ph it can take hours to climatise them.

thanks Wilder, I will definately check ph of LFS. When i first set up i was sold some ph buffer cos the LFS read my tap ph as 8.5. Now I test at home I've stopped adding the buffer and allowed it to come up to 7.4 which is my correct tap ph. Just stopped adding it at water changes but it came up slowly over a good few weeks. Obviously with the tank's ph changing and the possibilty of a different ph at LFS do you think this could be the reasoning behind it all? Did I make a mistake on stopping to use the buffer? I just figured 7.4 wasn't that high and it was easier to keep it there than using buffer to keep it lower.

I edited above post to add in adding fish procedure I follow.

 

[WILDER]

You did the right thing no longer using the buffer not worth messing about with ph.
If there a big difference in ph of the tank to your tap water you can only do small water changes.
Fish will get used to your tank ph if you climatise them properly.
Signs of ph shock are excess mucas, darting around or being listless and laying on the bottom of the tank.

 

[WILDER]

These are the signs to look out for
PH Shock.
A fish suffering from this condition will show all the typical signs of shock -

Lying on the bottom and paying little or no attention to its surroundings and ignoring potential threats.
It may even lay on its side or go upside down completely.
There could be other signs to, related to Acidosis and Alkalosis
Excessive mucus production.
Rapid breathing.
Swollen abdomen. (Alkalosis only).
If the condition is allowed to go on for one or two days then the chances of a successful remedy are greatly reduced because a lot of damage will have taken place. If the symptoms are spotted early enough there are a couple of things that will help.

 

[martyn21uk]

I think thats definately what went wrong with the albinos. They spent the first few days darting around and then went to the bottom paying little or no attention to their surroundings and ignoring potential threats.

Live and learn...

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.