We have had our tank for some time now. We started with fake plants then moved to real ones. (So much nicer). However, our substrate was not good enough for our plants and it was just getting nasty. So I changed the substrate. It is now a two layer substrate. I made sure everything was safe for the fish. Suddenly we started losing our neon tetras. This morning we are now down to 2 tetras after have 8 at the beginning of the week. We had 4 Julii Cory's, now one is not doing good. She is staying in the ground, and when she tries to swim her belly goes up. I checked all the levels of my take with the tests that we do have and the water is perfect. So don't know what to do. Please help!
Help! Changed Substrate and Fish are Dying.
- Thread starter artmeg
- Start date
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Can you post the results of your tests? Seeing actual numbers might show something.
Is your pH normally 5.5?
I think thats the elephant in the room. A swing of pH from 7.5 to 5.5. I would wager something in the substrate caused that. What substrate did you change to?
That would be my thought. Stratum is known to lower pH and a 2 degree change is a big change in water parameters, even if done slowly. pH of 5.5 is low anyway.
Not sure there is anything to be done now. The water has been like that a week now? The fish have either acclimated or not. Quarantine sick fish if you can, acclimate them to water parameters of the QT if you do move them. Plenty of oxygen (surface agitation) helps with shock.
