Tony Roberts
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2006
- Messages
- 3
Tank parameters:
Trigon 350 [ set up 2 months ago] c 270 litres of water plus wood and plants [ we had duck weed for a while but have taken all that out to allow full open water at the surface.
Dennerle substrate
Dennerle recommended list of plant additives etc followed.
Water change programme of 25% fortnightly. Tap water adjusted to tank levels before being put in
C02 diffuser plus indicator [turned off at night]
Water temp 28C
PH 6.8
KH 3-5
CH 10-13
Nitrite levels negligible
Small amount of nitrate
Juwel filter sponges cleaned as per Juwel recommendations
Regular testing for PH NO2 KH CH
Mixed population of 8 small discus, 10 neons,4 bronze cats, 10 ottos, 10 pygmy cats, 2 small gouramis,
1 ancistrus.
All fish have fed well from the start : Flake, Prima ; frozen bloodworm and discus mixtures plus regular brine shrimp and occasional daphnia.
One feature has been relatively rapid breathing by the neons in particular but otherwise the tank has settled very well; readings are constant; fish are feeding and interacting well. Plants are growing well though not as profusely as the Dennerle literature would suggest!
Late last night the breathing rates of the smaller fish went right up and all the larger fish went up to the surface. Basic tests for ph, NO2 and KH done and were satisfactory. 16% water change done . Another 16% water bchange done early next morning. Fish returned to normal patterns for an hour or so but some are now returning to the surface [not all but most have fed ]
O2 test has shown 2mg per litre which looks very low.
We have adjusted the pump outlet to agitate the surface better and kept the CO2 off for the moment. The carbon sponge is in to take out any toxins and a treatment used recently for bacteria control.
Any ideas please on the immediate problem and any other reasons why the oxygen levels appear to be so low?
Trigon 350 [ set up 2 months ago] c 270 litres of water plus wood and plants [ we had duck weed for a while but have taken all that out to allow full open water at the surface.
Dennerle substrate
Dennerle recommended list of plant additives etc followed.
Water change programme of 25% fortnightly. Tap water adjusted to tank levels before being put in
C02 diffuser plus indicator [turned off at night]
Water temp 28C
PH 6.8
KH 3-5
CH 10-13
Nitrite levels negligible
Small amount of nitrate
Juwel filter sponges cleaned as per Juwel recommendations
Regular testing for PH NO2 KH CH
Mixed population of 8 small discus, 10 neons,4 bronze cats, 10 ottos, 10 pygmy cats, 2 small gouramis,
1 ancistrus.
All fish have fed well from the start : Flake, Prima ; frozen bloodworm and discus mixtures plus regular brine shrimp and occasional daphnia.
One feature has been relatively rapid breathing by the neons in particular but otherwise the tank has settled very well; readings are constant; fish are feeding and interacting well. Plants are growing well though not as profusely as the Dennerle literature would suggest!
Late last night the breathing rates of the smaller fish went right up and all the larger fish went up to the surface. Basic tests for ph, NO2 and KH done and were satisfactory. 16% water change done . Another 16% water bchange done early next morning. Fish returned to normal patterns for an hour or so but some are now returning to the surface [not all but most have fed ]
O2 test has shown 2mg per litre which looks very low.
We have adjusted the pump outlet to agitate the surface better and kept the CO2 off for the moment. The carbon sponge is in to take out any toxins and a treatment used recently for bacteria control.
Any ideas please on the immediate problem and any other reasons why the oxygen levels appear to be so low?