Hello! I am in need of help with my 5.5 gallon planted freshwater tank. I tried to do lots of research before getting my tank and did my very best, but my endler's livebearers are not doing well. I originally started with three but about a week after getting them, they starting becoming less active and seemed like something was wrong. I thought it may have because my tap water has a very high alkalinity and high pH so whenever I have been doing water changes, I now use reverse osmosis water that I got from my local pet store. I also have put API pH down into the tank twice. I just tested the pH and it is now at about 8. Yesterday one of my fish died and the other two still tend to sit at the top or on the gravel. Today, one of them started spinning around as he was swimming and seems very disoriented. I feel terrible and don't know what I'm doing wrong. I feed them Hikari micro pellets for tropical fish and sometimes frozen brine shrimp. I set my tank up about a month ago and originally had just plants, but after two weeks I got my three endler's livebearers. I know the tank needs to cycle so I have been putting in Seachem prime every other day to ensure any ammonia or nitrites that build up were not harming the fish. I was advised by the person at the aquarium shop to use Flourish Excel for my plants so I have been putting that in every other day as well. I use a sponge filter and there is also a heater in the tank keeping it at 78 degrees. I used CaribSea Eco-complete planted aquarium substrate. Please help!!! ((
Tank size: 5.5 gallons
pH: 8
ammonia: 0.25 ppm
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
kH: ?
gH: ?
tank temp: 78 degrees
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Inactive, sitting at top of the tank or on the gravel, one spins as he is swimming and seems very disoriented
Volume and Frequency of water changes: 1 gallon per week
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Seachem prime, Flourish Excel
Tank inhabitants: 3 endler's livebearers, plants
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): 3 endler's livebearers
Digital photo (include if possible):
Tank size: 5.5 gallons
pH: 8
ammonia: 0.25 ppm
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
kH: ?
gH: ?
tank temp: 78 degrees
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Inactive, sitting at top of the tank or on the gravel, one spins as he is swimming and seems very disoriented
Volume and Frequency of water changes: 1 gallon per week
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Seachem prime, Flourish Excel
Tank inhabitants: 3 endler's livebearers, plants
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): 3 endler's livebearers
Digital photo (include if possible):