I've posted similar questions in the past, and done enough research that I should be an expert. However, when I start seeing my angelfish losing color, getting pinholes in their top fins, etc...I can't ever figure out the problem.
Here are my questions:
Could nitrates be causing my angelfish to get pinholes in their fins? I thought they were just picking at each other, causing little indents here and there on each others sides. But, now my favorite has a tiny hole in his dorsal. It started as a black dot, and a hole appeared in the center. My purigen always kept my nitrates at 5. After a recharge during medication, I can't get the nitrates under 10.
Could copper cause the problems in question 1? I stupidly used coppersafe a month ago for ich. I changed the water and put the recharged purigen back after 10 days. I've done weekly water changes since. The fish never had any reaction to the coppersafe, but could it be hurting them now?
Do others use carbon in their filters? I used an ammonia/carbon after the coppersafe, while the purigen was charging (they are in 2 different filters on the tank). I just realized its still in there. I've heard horror stories about carbon, and just wanted different people's opinions.
I understand that my kh will fluctuate, but it's never been so low. Is there a certain number that is too low? I know my ph is determined by kh/gh, so at what point do I need to worry about a crash?
I've tried many different methods to soften my water for the angelfish. I have driftwood (but the purigen takes out the tannins). I use barely any tap water because mine is so hard. I use 1/3 tap, 1/3 distilled, 1/3 drinking RO. Frankly, the fish were all growing and happy with this mix, so Im not worried that its still quite hard. My question is: if I match any replacement water, then why do my numbers keep changing? For instance, how can the mineral content of my water change, if all other variables remained the same? I'm not stupid, I just can't seem to grasp how all of the water variables come together, and I'm afraid I will miss something that will harm my fish.
My rams tried to mate, in spite of the hard water, about 3 weeks ago. I assume their eggs were eaten. Why haven't they tried again?
Sorry for the long post. I'm just hoping that anyone with knowledge about any of these matters might help. I really love this hobby, and hope to learn as much as I can to keep my fish friends happy and healthy!
My 55g has:
0 ammonia/nitrites
10-20 nitrates
7.4 ph
5 kh
10 gh
The following fish occupy the tank:
5 adolescent angelfish
2 (pair) German blue rams
1 Bolivian ram
2 denison barbs
1 bala shark (yes, I know he will have to be re-homed in the future)
As of now, the angels are all under 3", the dbarbs are 2", rams are under2", and the bala is 2-3".
Here are my questions:
Could nitrates be causing my angelfish to get pinholes in their fins? I thought they were just picking at each other, causing little indents here and there on each others sides. But, now my favorite has a tiny hole in his dorsal. It started as a black dot, and a hole appeared in the center. My purigen always kept my nitrates at 5. After a recharge during medication, I can't get the nitrates under 10.
Could copper cause the problems in question 1? I stupidly used coppersafe a month ago for ich. I changed the water and put the recharged purigen back after 10 days. I've done weekly water changes since. The fish never had any reaction to the coppersafe, but could it be hurting them now?
Do others use carbon in their filters? I used an ammonia/carbon after the coppersafe, while the purigen was charging (they are in 2 different filters on the tank). I just realized its still in there. I've heard horror stories about carbon, and just wanted different people's opinions.
I understand that my kh will fluctuate, but it's never been so low. Is there a certain number that is too low? I know my ph is determined by kh/gh, so at what point do I need to worry about a crash?
I've tried many different methods to soften my water for the angelfish. I have driftwood (but the purigen takes out the tannins). I use barely any tap water because mine is so hard. I use 1/3 tap, 1/3 distilled, 1/3 drinking RO. Frankly, the fish were all growing and happy with this mix, so Im not worried that its still quite hard. My question is: if I match any replacement water, then why do my numbers keep changing? For instance, how can the mineral content of my water change, if all other variables remained the same? I'm not stupid, I just can't seem to grasp how all of the water variables come together, and I'm afraid I will miss something that will harm my fish.
My rams tried to mate, in spite of the hard water, about 3 weeks ago. I assume their eggs were eaten. Why haven't they tried again?
Sorry for the long post. I'm just hoping that anyone with knowledge about any of these matters might help. I really love this hobby, and hope to learn as much as I can to keep my fish friends happy and healthy!
My 55g has:
0 ammonia/nitrites
10-20 nitrates
7.4 ph
5 kh
10 gh
The following fish occupy the tank:
5 adolescent angelfish
2 (pair) German blue rams
1 Bolivian ram
2 denison barbs
1 bala shark (yes, I know he will have to be re-homed in the future)
As of now, the angels are all under 3", the dbarbs are 2", rams are under2", and the bala is 2-3".