Filigree Cory Dying

[This Old Spouse]

I got these 6 cory a few weeks ago, and now in the past 3 days I've lost 2. No symptoms or strange behavior. just found them sunk at the bottom. The one I found today was full of eggs.

I tested my water and got triple 0s, but my pH is reading at 5.0! Would this have killed them? My tap water is 7.0. I'm afraid when I do a water change the pH swing is doing the harm, but none of my other cory are having problems.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Bump ... I really need help with this. Thanks.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

You might get some ideas by posting at PlanetCatfish iin addition to here, Scleromystax barbatus are not a commonly kept catfish, partly due to the sub-tropical conditions they need.

 

[Harlequins]

Have you put anything into the tank lately that could have lowered the ph?

Also unusual to have 0 for nitrates?? - this usually only occur in a very heavily planted tank...

 

[This Old Spouse]

I know ... weird about the nitrates. I wonder if my driftwood breaking down is killing my pH (and my fish). I hate to get rid of it because it's so cool and forms the "cave" that they hang out under, but better it goes than any more cory.

 

[tomtomtom1230]

Do you have real plants? What substrate do you use?

 

[This Old Spouse]

Yes, I've got a couple of Amazon swords and various other plants. The substrate is play sand.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Now there's another one who looks like it's about to die. It's draped across a plant and looks like it's panting. HELP!

 

[This Old Spouse]

Would the low pH also cause all the cory to be a bit lethargic?