betcher n0t
Aquarium Advice Newbie
1~What type of fish is afflicted? In addition, please describe what is wrong with the fish to the beset of your ability (i.e. cotton like growth, bloated, etc.).
Fish range over a number of species - kuhlii loaches, bristlenose cats, rainbow cichlids, convict cichlids, upside down cats. No symptoms noticeable
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
all params just before water change: amonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm, gh 80 ppm, kh 50 ppm, ph 7.6 - 7.8, P04 5 ppm, Fe chelated 0, Fe non chel 0, calcium 40.
note my tap water is around ph 7.6, gh 60 - 80 ppm, kh 50 - 50 ppm rested for 24 hours to let C02 to equalize.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
4ft . with the sump about 210 litres. Tank has been set up most of this year but has always been sick.
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
home built sump filter with plenty of capacity. I am running peat moss recently in the mechanical filter with filter wool.
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are there current sizes?
currently there are three rainbow cichlids about 2" two convicts about 1 ", three bristlenoses ranging from 0.5 inch to 3 inches, five kuhliis ranging from 2 inches to three inches.
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel? How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
I water change every 1 to 2 weeks and have been vacuuming the gravel each change. Water changes in the order of 50 litres
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
range from two weeks to 6-8 months
On addition I float for 2 hours adding a quarter to half a cup of water every half hour
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
peatmoss, sodium bicarb
I have had a bad run. I assumed that I initially got a bad batch of fish. Then I lost some due to some agressive fish. I then invested in some more test kits and have been monitoring water quality. Only changes have been to add peatmoss to reduce GH and sodium bicarb to increase kh and ph stability. I had thought that the problem was stress from ph fluctuations at water changes.[/quote]
thanks in advance....
Fish range over a number of species - kuhlii loaches, bristlenose cats, rainbow cichlids, convict cichlids, upside down cats. No symptoms noticeable
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
all params just before water change: amonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5ppm, gh 80 ppm, kh 50 ppm, ph 7.6 - 7.8, P04 5 ppm, Fe chelated 0, Fe non chel 0, calcium 40.
note my tap water is around ph 7.6, gh 60 - 80 ppm, kh 50 - 50 ppm rested for 24 hours to let C02 to equalize.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
4ft . with the sump about 210 litres. Tank has been set up most of this year but has always been sick.
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
home built sump filter with plenty of capacity. I am running peat moss recently in the mechanical filter with filter wool.
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are there current sizes?
currently there are three rainbow cichlids about 2" two convicts about 1 ", three bristlenoses ranging from 0.5 inch to 3 inches, five kuhliis ranging from 2 inches to three inches.
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel? How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
I water change every 1 to 2 weeks and have been vacuuming the gravel each change. Water changes in the order of 50 litres
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
range from two weeks to 6-8 months
On addition I float for 2 hours adding a quarter to half a cup of water every half hour
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?
peatmoss, sodium bicarb
I have had a bad run. I assumed that I initially got a bad batch of fish. Then I lost some due to some agressive fish. I then invested in some more test kits and have been monitoring water quality. Only changes have been to add peatmoss to reduce GH and sodium bicarb to increase kh and ph stability. I had thought that the problem was stress from ph fluctuations at water changes.[/quote]
thanks in advance....