ArtistGardener
Aquarium Advice Freak
I can't seem to keep corys alive. All of the other fish look great. I use the same method to transfer them from store to tank as the others. I gently pour/slide the bagged fish in their water into a plastic container I keep for this use; I then float the container in the tank with lights off or dimmed; I squirt small amounts of tank water into the container over 45-60 minutes from a bulb syringe. Once the container contains at least half and half water, I remove some of it with the bulb syringe and continue adding tank water. Only when I know the water is mostly tank water do I net or hand lift them to the tank (none of the store's water goes in my tanks). They always look good for a few days, then I find them dead with no physical signs of damage. I currently have three skunk corys. I bought three, lost two within 24 hours; got those replaced, and have lost another within three days. Previously, I lost all of my corydoras habrosus (dainty cory) in my 20 gallon planted tank, too. Is my ph too high? Is it the Excel? Why are my other fish so healthy and unaffected (including otos)? The second time I got the replacements, I extended the acclimating time to two and a half hours.
Ammonia: 0
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: < 5 (I would like to get this up to help with algae issues, by the way)
pH: 8.2
GH and KH both vary with our tap water over time, but are generally high at 12-14
Filters are two HOB AquaClears at each end of 55 gallon tank--one 70 and one 20.
Temperature is 76-78.
Substrate is Flourite topped with one inch layer of rounded red flint gravel.
Planted tank with driftwood. No CO2 injection, just recommended amount of Excel each day.
Other stock includes 4 otos, one SAE, 8 pristella tetra, one clown pleco.
Ammonia: 0
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: < 5 (I would like to get this up to help with algae issues, by the way)
pH: 8.2
GH and KH both vary with our tap water over time, but are generally high at 12-14
Filters are two HOB AquaClears at each end of 55 gallon tank--one 70 and one 20.
Temperature is 76-78.
Substrate is Flourite topped with one inch layer of rounded red flint gravel.
Planted tank with driftwood. No CO2 injection, just recommended amount of Excel each day.
Other stock includes 4 otos, one SAE, 8 pristella tetra, one clown pleco.