JasonCooper
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Returned from 4 days away yesterday to find that 3 of my red platys and 2 sunset platys have died. Of the remaining platys the red one appears fine as does one of the sunset ones, the final sunset platy appears to have had its fins severely nipped and appears quite lethargic. All other fish are healthy and active as where the Platys when I went away. Whats happened? Do I need to put the lights on a timer too?
Tank did contain 3 Leopard, 3 Mountain Minnow, 3 Three-Lined Corydoras, 4 Sunset Platy and 4 Red Platy. I was badly advised by the LFS about stocking, but was getting the cycle completed with consistant readings (below).
Tank is 180 litre Rio with a Juwel 3.0 bio filter unplanted with gravel substrate, some bogwood and decs. Autofeeder set-up to feed flake once a day and still working on return.
Tank readings before I went away where Ammonia 0.25-0.50ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 20ppm, ph 8.0.
On return the readings where Ammonia 2.0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 40ppm, ph 7.8. Presume the elevated Ammonia readings where purely from the deceased fish.
Since done a 35% water change and a 65% water change using tetra aqua safe and got the Ammonia reading down to 0.50ppm. My tap water reads Ammonia 0.50ppm.
Tank did contain 3 Leopard, 3 Mountain Minnow, 3 Three-Lined Corydoras, 4 Sunset Platy and 4 Red Platy. I was badly advised by the LFS about stocking, but was getting the cycle completed with consistant readings (below).
Tank is 180 litre Rio with a Juwel 3.0 bio filter unplanted with gravel substrate, some bogwood and decs. Autofeeder set-up to feed flake once a day and still working on return.
Tank readings before I went away where Ammonia 0.25-0.50ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 20ppm, ph 8.0.
On return the readings where Ammonia 2.0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 40ppm, ph 7.8. Presume the elevated Ammonia readings where purely from the deceased fish.
Since done a 35% water change and a 65% water change using tetra aqua safe and got the Ammonia reading down to 0.50ppm. My tap water reads Ammonia 0.50ppm.