Dead fish, n00b..vent/ thread

i bet user error!!!!

More seriously, lets talk about this though. is your tank cycled? are you using uppers or downers? conditioning your water? tankmates? tank size?

generally any fish can be acclimated to completely different water parameters without death or stress.....so i doubt it has to do with the hardness or ph of the water.
 
Actually, hardness is not an issue if you buy your rams from your local breeders. They tend to do better in your tank than those from other areas where hardness degrees keep changing constantly as they are transported around. The issue lies in your cycling problems. Rams don't take kindly to elevated ammonia and nitrite.
 
What are your water parameters?

Also depending on your water source, ammonia and nitrite may be present in the water, overloading the present biofilter.
 
Actually, hardness is not an issue if you buy your rams from your local breeders. They tend to do better in your tank than those from other areas where hardness degrees keep changing constantly as they are transported around. The issue lies in your cycling problems. Rams don't take kindly to elevated ammonia and nitrite.

Dead on... I have not asked about their water parameters, and their location is 25 minutes away so while it may be close, I have an idea that there water quality is going to differ...
My tank cycle is more likely the issue.. My ammonia has not gone above 1.0 ppm, temp is 78, and all fish have been eating. The Rams are under stress.. As soon as I can get a nitrite reading I will feel better. I will have a QT as soon as I can get a more stable set of water parameters...

I am doing 20% WC daily and running Stability for my cycle... It's been 72 hours and still no nitrite reading so i am beginning to wonder if I have a bad bottle?

I will be checking again this morning.

What are your water parameters?

Also depending on your water source, ammonia and nitrite may be present in the water, overloading the present biofilter.

pH holding 8.0, temp 78, Ammonia 1.0ppm, nitrite 0.0, nitrate 0.0...

My tap water had medium hardness, 7.8pH, 0.0 ammonia and no nitrite/nitrate tests came positive.

I use an API master freshwater test kit...
 
Sorry guys... completely missed these...


Don't use those pH upper and lower chemicals. What are GBR's? (Rams?) And yes-you've got to get it cycled 1st.

Have not adjusted or tweaked the pH in any way.... I am running Sea Chem Stability

i bet user error!!!!

More seriously, lets talk about this though. is your tank cycled? are you using uppers or downers? conditioning your water? tankmates? tank size?

generally any fish can be acclimated to completely different water parameters without death or stress.....so i doubt it has to do with the hardness or ph of the water.

Stress might be a factor.. I have a bully firemouth in the tank at about 2.25" but no damage... Things seemed fine until it started hovering the top 1/3 of the tank.

I condition my water with Prime or Aquasafe... Things are under control.. Just need nature to take it's course and the Stability to kick in for me...
 
Those bottels of instant cycle rarely work, as you have an uncycled tank with fish in you are going to need to do lots of water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites under .25ppm (this may mean more than once a day) or take the fish back and do a fishless cycle.
 
What is the stock of the tank and how large is it? Firemouths need atleast a 30 gallon tank or more, rams stay pretty small, but I'm not sure if they are all that compatible with each other.
 
What is the stock of the tank and how large is it? Firemouths need atleast a 30 gallon tank or more, rams stay pretty small, but I'm not sure if they are all that compatible with each other.


I have 2 FM's, one is the bully I want to QT... and this is a 30g.. 36" long

The other is hanging on but could be more active.. I have 1 ram 2 FM's and 4 neon tetra atm... I am painting a room that will will have my QT and should have it up and running in the next day or so...

Getting ready to make 3-4 5G changes throughout the day to try and pull my 1.0 Ammonia reading down... Still 0.0 on the nitrites..
 
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