mandy2936
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2010
- Messages
- 1,909
Hi there.
Upfront Info:
I have a 20 gallon tank that's been running for 3 months. It's stocked 100% with 4 male Guppies, 6 Neon Tetra, 4 Julii Cories, 1 Dwarf Gourami, and 2 Otocinclus.
pH Problems:
Usually my pH in the past has been 7.0-7.5. I was content with that.
Recently, I tested my water and noticed that it's dropped to 6.0-6.5!
Then, two fish died. (I used to have 5 Guppies and 3 Ottos)
It is now staying at that low meaurement. What can I do
to safely raise it without making my fish stressed?
Also, my water is actually very hard. It's 180ppm, the highest on the test strip. It's always been that way, really. (The lowest it's ever dropped was 2nd to highest on the strip) Just letting you know because a lot of people guess with low pH I have soft, acidic water when its actually far from it!
Stocking Help:
Finally, I am having trouble with my stocking. I know that the bioload is at it's max, but I'm so frustrated because I work really hard on this tank and it looks totally empty and deserted. People come to my house, look into my tank, and go, "Hey, where's the fish?"
Ughh... I don't know if this just can't be helped- but I feel like I'm the only one with this problem. Please- Any suggesions?
Water Parameters:
Lastly, incase you would need to know..
Ammonia- 0.5-0.0 (I'm trying to bring this down incase it's not at 0)
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- It was 20 yesterday, but after a water change it's a bit closer to 0.
THANK YOU so much! I know this question is quite a handfull and I appreciate the help immensly!!
Upfront Info:
I have a 20 gallon tank that's been running for 3 months. It's stocked 100% with 4 male Guppies, 6 Neon Tetra, 4 Julii Cories, 1 Dwarf Gourami, and 2 Otocinclus.
pH Problems:
Usually my pH in the past has been 7.0-7.5. I was content with that.
Recently, I tested my water and noticed that it's dropped to 6.0-6.5!
Then, two fish died. (I used to have 5 Guppies and 3 Ottos)
It is now staying at that low meaurement. What can I do
to safely raise it without making my fish stressed?
Also, my water is actually very hard. It's 180ppm, the highest on the test strip. It's always been that way, really. (The lowest it's ever dropped was 2nd to highest on the strip) Just letting you know because a lot of people guess with low pH I have soft, acidic water when its actually far from it!
Stocking Help:
Finally, I am having trouble with my stocking. I know that the bioload is at it's max, but I'm so frustrated because I work really hard on this tank and it looks totally empty and deserted. People come to my house, look into my tank, and go, "Hey, where's the fish?"
Ughh... I don't know if this just can't be helped- but I feel like I'm the only one with this problem. Please- Any suggesions?
Water Parameters:
Lastly, incase you would need to know..
Ammonia- 0.5-0.0 (I'm trying to bring this down incase it's not at 0)
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- It was 20 yesterday, but after a water change it's a bit closer to 0.
THANK YOU so much! I know this question is quite a handfull and I appreciate the help immensly!!