Maybe someone here can help me. I am having a very puzzling problem. I have been working with aquariums for years and know most of the basics but something is eluding me. I am having all my guppies and neon tetras die suddenly while all other fish are fine.
Tank: 120 gallons; freshwater plants and fish; three small catfish of various types, 5 small blue rams, 2 dwarf guramis, 5 zebra danios, some kind of small loach, an algea eater, 2 big snails, and an african dwarf frog. No fish are over 3 inches and none act aggressive. Established for 3.5 months now.
Water: Temperature 77F, pH 6.8, general hardness and carbonate hardness are both between 150-200, ammonia and nitrite are zero, nitrate is under 20. I use tap water and a seltzer water and distilled water to replace the 10% water changes I do every 2-3 weeks.
I have bought neon and guppies on 4 different occasions with as many as 15 at once. Whenever I add them they will be fine for several days looking healthy and eating, then suddenly they start dying off one by one. I observed my last neon go from eating and swimming fine to swimming upside down breathing his last in under 30 minutes. Some last two weeks in the tank before 'IT' gets them.
There are no signs of attack ( no bites taken out of them, and fins are not nipped at), no visible discoloration or any other visible signs of disease. My other small fish are fine ( one catfish and the zebra danios are all the same size as the neons and guppies). Seems to be about 1 death per day when it is happening.
I am bewildered!
Is there anything obvious here I am forgetting?
Are there any requirements to conditions that are specific to guppies and neons that are different to my other fish?
Please help!
Tank: 120 gallons; freshwater plants and fish; three small catfish of various types, 5 small blue rams, 2 dwarf guramis, 5 zebra danios, some kind of small loach, an algea eater, 2 big snails, and an african dwarf frog. No fish are over 3 inches and none act aggressive. Established for 3.5 months now.
Water: Temperature 77F, pH 6.8, general hardness and carbonate hardness are both between 150-200, ammonia and nitrite are zero, nitrate is under 20. I use tap water and a seltzer water and distilled water to replace the 10% water changes I do every 2-3 weeks.
I have bought neon and guppies on 4 different occasions with as many as 15 at once. Whenever I add them they will be fine for several days looking healthy and eating, then suddenly they start dying off one by one. I observed my last neon go from eating and swimming fine to swimming upside down breathing his last in under 30 minutes. Some last two weeks in the tank before 'IT' gets them.
There are no signs of attack ( no bites taken out of them, and fins are not nipped at), no visible discoloration or any other visible signs of disease. My other small fish are fine ( one catfish and the zebra danios are all the same size as the neons and guppies). Seems to be about 1 death per day when it is happening.
I am bewildered!
Is there anything obvious here I am forgetting?
Are there any requirements to conditions that are specific to guppies and neons that are different to my other fish?
Please help!
