Low Oxygen thriving fish

[sebvad]

I've got a 60gallon hex tank that's been just a bear for me the past 2 years or so - i've got an established set of half a dozen or so fish, but any new additions have been 100% unsuccessful over the years (i've posted a time or two in here for help). i'm thinking perhaps one of my problems is that of oxygen exchange, and that there's simply not enough O2 in there to support as many as i'd like to support. I really don't like the bubblers, but if that's what i need, then that's what i need. before i go that route, however, i'd like to explore what my options are, if any, around fish that thrive in low O2 environments. It's a freshwater tank, currently has 3 angels, 1 neon tetra, 2 swords, couple of small cats.

thoughts?

 

[clutterydrawer]

There's a formula you can use to work out how many fish your tank can support based on the surface area - obviously you need to know how to work out the surface area though. Maybe you have been unknowingly adding more fish than the tank can handle? the thing about hex tnaks is they have a small surface area relative to their volume, so they hold fewer fish than you'd think.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Couldnt have said it better!

 

[k2snowboards88]

You should look at gouramis. Gouramies like all labrynth fish can breat air from the surface. They shouldn't have any problems wiht oxygen.

 

[littlefishie]

Try the pinned calculator at the top of the forum. It's got a calculator that'll do it for you.

Your neon would probably like some friends. He's probably lonely.

 

[Yenko]

Gouramis, Paradise fish and Bettas.

 

[steelhealr]

Agree...labarythine fish. SH

 

[charmd2]

How often do you do water changes?? sounds like old tank syndrome to me. If the fish in the tank live but new additions die.

Where the ammonia is off the charts, nitrates are off the charts and ph is way acidic. Must find a link...

 

[charmd2]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...d+tank+syndrome

Sorell has a really good description of old tank syndrome in the above post

 

[sylvia]

I also doubt your problem is oxygen and think you probably haven't been keeping up with maintainance. There's a link about old tank syndrome in my signature but it may be the same as the one posted (can't remember).

 

[sebvad]

Thanks folks. I do 20% water changes monthly, sometimes more frequently - i'm fairly certain tank maintenance isn't the issue, and i've run a full batter of tests on water quality (i'm a chemist, have access to analytical equipoment that most don't). my water quality's absolutely beautiful, temperatures at a balmy 76, and only new fish are ever affected (main problem is ich), resulting in a 100% mortality rate. i've tried to give the neon friends to play with, believe me!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Your water conditions may be good, but 20% a month is too little water changes IMO

 

[smithrc]

Your water conditions may be good, but 20% a month is too little water changes IMO

It all depends... we do a 25-30% change onve every 4-6 weeks.

BUT we know that the levels are ok to leave for that long (after testing a lot you'll learn how long you can leave it).

our planted tank only get water changes to remove poop and dead leaves that are on the bottom. the levels never leave 0.