Our 25 gallon tank, moderately planted, has rasboras (7) and tetras (neons and cardinals). The tank is over 21/2 months since set up and is cycled. The rasboras were added about a month ago (3 initially and 4 about 2 wks later) and doing great. It's the tetras that are causing me anguish. Earlier about a year ago, we had a 10 gal tank (no plants) and I didn't have luck with tetras (neons). This time I got the, rather hesitatingly. Last weekend, I got 4 cardinals and 3 neons. I acclimatize all my new fish using drip method. One cardinal died overnight the day I got. In next 2 days, I noticed one of the neons losing color and had white path in the midsection. It died that evening. Next day another neon had similar symptoms and having heard of NTD, I moved him to a 5 gal (hospital) tank and he died the next day. Today, while feeding, I saw one of the cardinals with some white patch. I know he is sick - not eating and keeps aloof. I didn't have time to remove him to the hospital tank, since I needed to get to work. He may not make it by this evening and I want to save other fish. Hopefully, the disease won't spread to others before I get home. I really don't know what's happening!! My water params:
ammonia 0 PPM
nitrite 0 ppm
nitrate ~10 ppm (I do dose nitrate, low dose every other day; dosage: as per PPS method)
pH 6.5-7.0
hardness ~100 GH
Temp: ~78 oF
I run two filters; Fluval 206 (24/7) and Aqueon 30 HOB (came with the kit) 8am - 6 pm (when my lights are on).
I may never go for tetras again, but I want to save the one I have. One my kids wanted to keep a school of cardinals. So I went for them this time. They are beautiful fish, but it's distressing to watch them die. I mean, I am sacred sometimes to look at our tank, because I fear there will a dead (or sick) tetra in there! Please help! Thanks so much in advance.
Technically, I am not a newbie to fish keeping. I had a 15 gal back in my grad school days (~5 yrs). Gosh, I was not even that careful then. Still my fish did fine. Even now, it's the tetras mostly that die on me and cause others to die. Only thing(s) I am new to: plants and the canisiter filter....
ammonia 0 PPM
nitrite 0 ppm
nitrate ~10 ppm (I do dose nitrate, low dose every other day; dosage: as per PPS method)
pH 6.5-7.0
hardness ~100 GH
Temp: ~78 oF
I run two filters; Fluval 206 (24/7) and Aqueon 30 HOB (came with the kit) 8am - 6 pm (when my lights are on).
I may never go for tetras again, but I want to save the one I have. One my kids wanted to keep a school of cardinals. So I went for them this time. They are beautiful fish, but it's distressing to watch them die. I mean, I am sacred sometimes to look at our tank, because I fear there will a dead (or sick) tetra in there! Please help! Thanks so much in advance.
Technically, I am not a newbie to fish keeping. I had a 15 gal back in my grad school days (~5 yrs). Gosh, I was not even that careful then. Still my fish did fine. Even now, it's the tetras mostly that die on me and cause others to die. Only thing(s) I am new to: plants and the canisiter filter....