QTOFFER
Aquarium Advice Addict
Last week, I got three 3/4 inch albino bronze corys and two 1-1/2 inch Corydoras melanistius. I put them in my cycled 10 gal Q-tank that is decorated only with a hollow resin log for them to hide out in. Checked the water params for three days - all OK. Then I picked up a ramshorn snail and a male betta - put them in the Q-tank with the corys.
Everyone looked OK and was eating - even the betta. Yesterday, I did a routine check of my water parameters in the Q-tank. NH3=1, NO2=off scale, NO3 =40! 8O "WTF", I said to myself as I got out the python and did an emergency 50% water change, "Could simply adding a betta have caused a minicycle?"
Today I did another 50% change and a headcount - one of the Corydoras melanistius were missing. The tank is completely covered, so I thought he might be hiding in the hollow log. Turns out he had gotten himself stuck in a narrow crevice deep inside the ornament. (didn't this same thing happen to someone else here recently?) I had to smash the thing opento get him out, but he was very dead. That explains why my water params went to crap so quickly. Poor little guy - what a lousy way to die.
I'm just thankful I did the water test and went searching for the cause of the wacky readings. I'll continue to do water changes daily until the readings go back down to normal. The other tank inhabitants look OK, so hopefully, no additional harm done. I've had fish die before in my 58 gal, but I guess the huge water volume prevented them from fouling the water so fast.
NEWBIES TAKE NOTE: In a 10 gal, one dead fish can muck things up badly overnight!
I also removed the same style resin log from my 58 gal. Now my two corys there are temporarily homeless and theyare not pleased. I think I will pick up some 2 inch PVC pipe and just pile some red slate around it. Those resin ornaments are deadly fish traps!
Everyone looked OK and was eating - even the betta. Yesterday, I did a routine check of my water parameters in the Q-tank. NH3=1, NO2=off scale, NO3 =40! 8O "WTF", I said to myself as I got out the python and did an emergency 50% water change, "Could simply adding a betta have caused a minicycle?"
Today I did another 50% change and a headcount - one of the Corydoras melanistius were missing. The tank is completely covered, so I thought he might be hiding in the hollow log. Turns out he had gotten himself stuck in a narrow crevice deep inside the ornament. (didn't this same thing happen to someone else here recently?) I had to smash the thing opento get him out, but he was very dead. That explains why my water params went to crap so quickly. Poor little guy - what a lousy way to die.
I'm just thankful I did the water test and went searching for the cause of the wacky readings. I'll continue to do water changes daily until the readings go back down to normal. The other tank inhabitants look OK, so hopefully, no additional harm done. I've had fish die before in my 58 gal, but I guess the huge water volume prevented them from fouling the water so fast.
NEWBIES TAKE NOTE: In a 10 gal, one dead fish can muck things up badly overnight!
I also removed the same style resin log from my 58 gal. Now my two corys there are temporarily homeless and theyare not pleased. I think I will pick up some 2 inch PVC pipe and just pile some red slate around it. Those resin ornaments are deadly fish traps!