Poorly Platy

[JoT]

We have a 14 month old tank which has been running fine, weekly 10% water change, planted. All water tests well within limits. However, we have a female platy who is swimming nose down, she is the 2nd platy to have this problem, the other one died a couple of months ago. We also added 3 Mollys to the tank about 6 weeks ago, 1 male 2 females, the male died within 24 hrs, got a second one, died in 3 days, females were doing ok, but lost one 3 days ago, they have had babies tho! Help please. Don't want to keep adding fish only for them to die, not sure what's happening. The tank also has 6 black neon tetra and 4 corys, it's a 95l tank so def not over stocked!

 

[KittyKat]

Water parameters? Did you cycle the filter? How?

Livebearers are not always the hardiest of fish, it could just be bad luck.

 

[colleen0309]

Just to add, I'd up the water changes to atleast 25% per week, if not more.

 

[KittyKat]

Just to add, I'd up the water changes to atleast 25% per week, if not more.

Some planted aquariums don't do as well with water changes and there is little or no harm in low water changes if the aquarium is planted enough. Lightly planted and plant-free aquariums, on the other hand, do require large water changes, as you say.

 

[JoT]

Just to add, I'd up the water changes to atleast 25% per week, if not more.

Some planted aquariums don't do as well with water changes and there is little or no harm in low water changes if the aquarium is planted enough. Lightly planted and plant-free aquariums, on the other hand, do require large water changes, as you say.

 

[JoT]

The tank is well planted with very healthy plants, don't want to start upsetting them! All water tests well within limits, ph is 7, nothing on nitrates, nitrites or amonia. Filter charcoal section changed once a month, sponge part every 3 months, half change. What I find a mystery is that Mollys that died showed no signs of being poorly, they were eating and swimming fine. The platys do seem to develop a problem with swim bladder(?). Oh and it's a 95l tank.

 

[KittyKat]

The tank is well planted with very healthy plants, don't want to start upsetting them!

Can you post a photo please? I have not once seen someone say that the tank is well planted and the tank really being well planted on the photo

All water tests well within limits, ph is 7, nothing on nitrates, nitrites or amonia.

It is unusual that you would have 0 ppm nitrate, can you check the expiry date on your test kits? Are you using liquid ones?

Filter charcoal section changed once a month, sponge part every 3 months, half change.

Activated carbon is used up in a mater of hours to a few days, so it doesn't make sense to use it if you only replace it once every month. I recommend you don't use it at all, but if you really want to (and there is really no need to, unless you are removing remains of medication from the water), then replace it every few days.

What I find a mystery is that Mollys that died showed no signs of being poorly, they were eating and swimming fine. The platys do seem to develop a problem with swim bladder(?). Oh and it's a 95l tank.

How did you acclimatise these fish? Were any of them ever exposed to ammonia? How did you cycle the filter? What is your water hardness?