I have not been able to lower my nitrate and am wondering if that is what's causing fish to die.
My 20 gallon tank has been set up for a year. I initially started with three striped danios, and I STILL have two. I added 2 angels earlier this year, and they seem to be doing fine. I added two silver dollar, one died, I replaced, another died. Then, a few weeks ago, I got two guaramos (sp). One died two days ago, the other today. The remaining silver dollar doesn't look too good - hiding and swimming kind of tilted, but still eating. Oh, also have an algae eater (pacho something). I also tried one other angel about 6 weeks ago, but that lasted just a few days.
My levels tonight were nitrate 160 (I know, high), but yesterday morning it was 80, and I did a 15% water change the night before + vacuum, after the first guaramo died. I added Amquel yesterday morning, and again tonight. I can never get my nitrates lower than 40.
Other levels are nitrite 0, hardness 75, alk 300 (always), and ph 7.2 (it's usually higher).
Nothing new in the tank, food is the same (flake). Filtration is the whisper whatever.
How do I lower my nitrates? I don't add Amquel on a regular basis, and usually test every few days. The angels and danios seem pretty resiliant.
My 20 gallon tank has been set up for a year. I initially started with three striped danios, and I STILL have two. I added 2 angels earlier this year, and they seem to be doing fine. I added two silver dollar, one died, I replaced, another died. Then, a few weeks ago, I got two guaramos (sp). One died two days ago, the other today. The remaining silver dollar doesn't look too good - hiding and swimming kind of tilted, but still eating. Oh, also have an algae eater (pacho something). I also tried one other angel about 6 weeks ago, but that lasted just a few days.
My levels tonight were nitrate 160 (I know, high), but yesterday morning it was 80, and I did a 15% water change the night before + vacuum, after the first guaramo died. I added Amquel yesterday morning, and again tonight. I can never get my nitrates lower than 40.
Other levels are nitrite 0, hardness 75, alk 300 (always), and ph 7.2 (it's usually higher).
Nothing new in the tank, food is the same (flake). Filtration is the whisper whatever.
How do I lower my nitrates? I don't add Amquel on a regular basis, and usually test every few days. The angels and danios seem pretty resiliant.