I set up a 35 gal gal tank with a dolomite substrate as a Tang's. after a fishless cycle and water changes the pH was holding around 7.8 (tap is 7.4). I then added about 2 cups of crushed coral to the fluval filter. With the pH steady at 8.0, I added 4 J. transcriptus and 1 L. leleupi . For a week or so everything was fine, but one by one the transcriptus stopped eating and died. Other than not eating they didn't display any signs of illness. Ammonia/Nitrites = 0, Nitrates < 20. Despite the coral and dolomite the GH and KH are at 8 and 6 degrees respectively. I'm assuming I need to get the hardness and pH up before trying more Tang's.
I haven't checked my water for copper, phosphate, or iron but my soft acidic tanks do well as does a guppy tank with pH 7.8. Has anyone heard of something that might cause excess Ca and other minerals to precipitate out? I do get a fine light gray "dust" on my rocks that I siphon off with water changes. I'm puzzled that the water hardness and pH isn't higher. Any thoughts?
I haven't checked my water for copper, phosphate, or iron but my soft acidic tanks do well as does a guppy tank with pH 7.8. Has anyone heard of something that might cause excess Ca and other minerals to precipitate out? I do get a fine light gray "dust" on my rocks that I siphon off with water changes. I'm puzzled that the water hardness and pH isn't higher. Any thoughts?
