Is Disaster Going To Strike?

[b0668099]

ok its a pakistani loach. (went to the pet store, they said i could keep it free of charge). when i got back from the store two of my tetra had died. one neon (down to 4) and one penguin (i now have one very lonely penguin left). The fella at the store told me to put this crushed shell stuff in the tank to neutralise it or something. Well i think it has changed the levels too quickly. the others seem fine, for the time being, fingres crossed no more death.

Anything i should know about pakistani loach, i read on google that they can be aggressive. the one i have seems to like to nip at my plec (my plec is litterally 10 times its size and probably 100 times its weight. its a skinny little loach). its looks awesome thought, really bold stripes.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

teh crushed coral will buffer up your KH and consequently raise (or stabilise if it needs it) your pH.

Do you know what your pH and KH are? It's pointless trying to adjust things with no base reading and no means of testing them as this sort of thing happens. pH is tricky to adjust at the best of times and it's invariably better for it to be a bit too low or too high and stable rather than fluctuating while you try to adjust it.

 

[b0668099]

teh crushed coral will buffer up your KH and consequently raise (or stabilise if it needs it) your pH.

Do you know what your pH and KH are? It's pointless trying to adjust things with no base reading and no means of testing them as this sort of thing happens. pH is tricky to adjust at the best of times and it's invariably better for it to be a bit too low or too high and stable rather than fluctuating while you try to adjust it.

Thats what i thought, but when i asked to buy a few of the tester kits the guy at the pet store told me not to bother, and just used the shell. i am regretting the decision as i have lost both penguin tetra, a couple of neons, and even a nuke proof danio since i put the shell in the tank. i am pretty sure its white spot. so i upped the temp in the tank, (i hear that can help) i havent had anylosses since i did that, though one of my danios seems to only swim in one corner and isnt eating as much as it has been. I am starting to regret the whole tank thing, it is actually quite upsetting losing the little fellas. i am jut going to let the tank sort its own problems out from now on.

 

[Chris w]

try and get a product called soll bactonettes this is a live bacterias cultur that will rapidly inprove your canister filters

i have used this product mant times on new set ups and stocked fish with in 48 hours with out casualties i doubt pets at home will sell it but you may get it at a maidenhead aquatics store .

 

[Miss Wiggle]

you really need your own test kit, have a look on ebay you'll find the api fresh water master test kit for 15/20 quid.

bactinettes can help in new tanks, sucess is varied though, it's a live bacteria culture and because is is kept refridgerated there is actually a chance that you have some bacteria still alive when they get to you. it is quite pricey though and not available in many places. results seem to be about 50/50 weather it works or not so it's up to you if you want to try it.

but getting a test kit is essential, really without it we are groping around in the dark to diagnose problems. we need to know what the levels in your tank are at the moment.