DevUK
UKAPS member
Over the last 5 days my coldwater tank has not been doing so good. The tank has been going for a good 6 months now, stocked with 1 fancy goldfish (approx 2 inches not inc. tail), 4 zebra danios and 4 WCMMs. In the last month I've added a fluval 204 external filter which I've been cycling alongside my existing fluval 3+. Its had about 3 weeks now. I've added a new piece of bogwood, and also added some java fern/winderlov (4 plants) and some riccia. All has been happy up untill last week 
Last week (Saturday) I added 5 young leopard danios and 2 young WCMMs. They seemed to integrate into the tank happily after the initial stress of being transported. All seemed ok untill last tuesday. Tuesday morning I woke up to find all of the fish lurking together at the back of the tank behind some bog wood, and the goldfish sitting on the bottom at the back too. I fed them and they all came out and ate. I noticed that some of the WCMMs were looking very pale. Almost creamy coloured, but their red markings seemed a darker red. The goldfish looked perfectly fine as did the danios. Anyway, they all seemed to stay out and swim about, if maybe a little bit spooked.
As the week has gone on, I've done some water changes and done water tests and can't see anything out of the ordinary. I've lost one of the leopard danios, he's no where to be seen, so I assume the goldfish either got him, or scavenged him. I did a water change last night, approx 40%, and this morning the WCMMs seemed to have gotten their colour back and they were swimming about the tank almost normally. I got home tonight and they all seem to be back to where they were, pale and spooked. The goldfish has taken to "sleeping" on a bit of bogwood at the back of the tank, coming out if I get his attention and swimming about.
They all seem to dart about sometimes. I'm really puzzled.
I've done several water changes, but I'm thinking I'll start doing them nightly from now on. Water seemed to be exactly the same as 2 months ago. Nitrates are a little on the high side - 50, as far as I can tell 0 nitrITE (colour cards are difficult to get an exact reading), hardness etc all the same as normal (can't remember off the top of my head, will take another reading tonight). I've also run a course of Esha 2000 over weds/thurs/fri which doesn't seem to have made a difference.
Oh yeah... Tank is 70 litre measuring 80x30x30cm with 2x 18w lights
Last week (Saturday) I added 5 young leopard danios and 2 young WCMMs. They seemed to integrate into the tank happily after the initial stress of being transported. All seemed ok untill last tuesday. Tuesday morning I woke up to find all of the fish lurking together at the back of the tank behind some bog wood, and the goldfish sitting on the bottom at the back too. I fed them and they all came out and ate. I noticed that some of the WCMMs were looking very pale. Almost creamy coloured, but their red markings seemed a darker red. The goldfish looked perfectly fine as did the danios. Anyway, they all seemed to stay out and swim about, if maybe a little bit spooked.
As the week has gone on, I've done some water changes and done water tests and can't see anything out of the ordinary. I've lost one of the leopard danios, he's no where to be seen, so I assume the goldfish either got him, or scavenged him. I did a water change last night, approx 40%, and this morning the WCMMs seemed to have gotten their colour back and they were swimming about the tank almost normally. I got home tonight and they all seem to be back to where they were, pale and spooked. The goldfish has taken to "sleeping" on a bit of bogwood at the back of the tank, coming out if I get his attention and swimming about.
They all seem to dart about sometimes. I'm really puzzled.
I've done several water changes, but I'm thinking I'll start doing them nightly from now on. Water seemed to be exactly the same as 2 months ago. Nitrates are a little on the high side - 50, as far as I can tell 0 nitrITE (colour cards are difficult to get an exact reading), hardness etc all the same as normal (can't remember off the top of my head, will take another reading tonight). I've also run a course of Esha 2000 over weds/thurs/fri which doesn't seem to have made a difference.
Oh yeah... Tank is 70 litre measuring 80x30x30cm with 2x 18w lights
I have a third (a little smaller still - 18"x12"x12") tank which isn't set up yet, so one group could end up in that if needs be as its going to be a tropical planted tank.
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