Can't keep cory's alive...

[Fsh~WithNoEye's]

PLEASE HELP...

I have this problem where Cory's just won't live in my tank...
It is a normal 150 litre community tank with nothing nasty in it.

Took a water sample to local fish shop the other day and they said everything was fine, thought it could possibly be that they are not getting enough food.
So waited a week, and bought 3 more...
Day 2 - 1 has died within a day
Day 3 - 1 is looking like its going to die soon, other is look healthy.


If anymore info is needed just ask and I'll let you know..

Thanks in advance,

FSH..

[webcricket]

Fine can mean lots of things. You need exact numbers. I'd look into getting a drop test kit (like Aquarium Pharmaceuticals master test kit) so you can test your own water. If you have a Petsmart nearby, print out the item page online and they will price match the $14 price, that way you're not paying the ridiculous $30 in store price.

How long has your tank been up and running? How often do you do water changes and how much?

Corys are very sensitive to water quality - any ammonia or nitrites or high ammounts of nitrates (over 40 ppm) and they go downhill quickly.

[khombre]

I second that. Please get the exact values of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. How long has this community tank been running? And what was your water change schedule on this tank? How often and how much per water change? No fish will die with 1 day of hunger so I really don't think its a feeding problem. :dive2:

[Zen4t5]

Yea they are scaleless fish. That's why they are also sensitive to meds and salt. They don't have scales to protect them like other fish.

[Fsh~WithNoEye's]

Ok,

Will get a test kit and get some figures for you.
Tank has been up and running for around 2 months now.

Initially has 4 cory's.

2 lasted for 1 month and the other 2 lasted 6 weeks..

Now on week 8/9 i decide to try them again, and there dying even quicker...

Was water changing 10% every week, but was advised to cut that down to every 2 - 3 weeks and give the water and filter a chance to get into a true biological state.

The fit and healthy cory is still looking very fit and healthy, no problems with him so far.....

Strange one..

FSH

[Zen4t5]

Just out of curiousity, what other fish are in the tank too?

I think that a 10% water change once a week during cycling is too little. The bacteria is meant to change ammonia to its harmless form. When you are cycling, you don't have enough of this bacteria and ammonia spikes are common. That's why frequent waterchanges are important during the cycling period. It is the only way to remove the ammonia. Doing a 25%-40% water change at least twice a week during cycling has usually worked for me. For regular maintenance, I do a 25% water change at least once a week.

[khombre]

Hey there, 10% weekly water changes are way too few when doing a fishy cycle. In fact, some even do 25-50% daily to handle the ammonia and nitrite spikes. New tank syndrome is killing your fish. Don't worry about doing "too much" water changes. When doing a fish cycle, the more partial water changes the better chance for the survival of the fish. Don't worry about the good bacteria, water changes will not ruin your establishing colony. Good luck :)

[Fsh~WithNoEye's]

But the tanks been up and running for 9 weeks now, I'm done cycling after weeks.....

Fish:
2 x dalmation molly
2 x black molly
2 x pineapply swords
5 x cardinal tetra
5 x green neon tetra
1 x dilver dollar
2 x crib
4 x zebra danio
1 x lepard danio
2 x blue platy
2 x female guppy
1 x gold guppy
2 x neon blue guppie
1 x plec
1 x shrimp
2 x silver tip tetra

1 x panda cory...

[khombre]

Hmm... you mean you have ammonia=0 and nitrites=0 right? Have you tried buying from another source? Do they look real healthy when you buy them? :huh:

[Zen4t5]

Fish:
2 x dalmation molly
2 x black molly
2 x pineapply swords
5 x cardinal tetra
5 x green neon tetra
1 x dilver dollar
2 x crib
4 x zebra danio
1 x lepard danio
2 x blue platy
2 x female guppy
1 x gold guppy
2 x neon blue guppie
1 x plec
1 x shrimp
2 x silver tip tetra

1 x panda cory...

What are your water change habits now?

Your tank is a bit overstocked for a 150 liter (40 gallon) tank. That could be leading to possible bad water quality. We'll be able to figuire out more once you put those numbers up.

I believe most plecs can get very large and might outgrow your tank. Do you know what kind of plec you have?

[Fsh~WithNoEye's]

Hmm... you mean you have ammonia=0 and nitrites=0 right? Have you tried buying from another source? Do they look real healthy when you buy them? :huh:

The first 'source' was of 2 x bronze and 2 x juli cory's... the bronze ones lasted about 4 weeks and then both died at exactally the same time.
The juli's lasted a further two weeks and then died at exactally the same time.
So this would possibly rule out the source being the problem.

The latest three came from a different 'source', and you possibly the one that dies within one day was of poor quality. But the other 2 looked very healthy until one of them died.

The remaining one is looking very happy and healthy.
I am starting to wonder if the cribs are boing a little terrotorial and bashing the cory's a bit - not sure if this would be enough to kill them though.

I disagree with the comment that 'the tank is over stocked', on the basis of my re-calacualted 250 litre capacity and the fact that most of the fish I have are not going to get much bigger than they currently are.

I'm not sure what type of plec I have, think he is the most common type, nothing fancy... I'm waiting for my fish store to get in a Zebra for me!!

Thank you all very much for your help, I'm still waiting for the test kit to arrive and will post the results in due course. I will also try and get a few pictures of the tank and fish.

Thanks peeps,

FSH

[khombre]

I'm not sure what type of plec I have, think he is the most common type, nothing fancy... I'm waiting for my fish store to get in a Zebra for me!!

Commons can grow to about 2 ft. But I believe your gonna swap it right? Don't know much about the zebra pleco's max size though. Anyway, would it be possible for your to test your water right now and post your levels for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? :dive:

[Zen4t5]

Yea that's fine for a 250 liter tank. If you got rid of the pleco, you would have room for a couple more fish. The colors must look good in your tank. Yea put up some pics.

[CatLover]

Sometimes ammonia can be worse towards the bottom of the tank, so maybe the cories could be suffering it more than others? When you change the water, do you vacuum? (or use one of the siphon things with the nozzle that sucks up junk)

[Fsh~WithNoEye's]

No, not intending on swapping my pleco... he's only 3cm long at the moment and not growing very fast, I doubt very much he'll reach 2 ft !

He's a picture of the tank at present.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h317/zub-typer/Fish/IMG_3206.jpg

**** photobucket resized the pic..I'll work on a bigger one later..

Enjoy

FSH

[khombre]

Nice looking tank by the way. :dive2:

[Zen4t5]

Yeah I concure. Beautiful.

[CatLover]

beautiful tank! I love your planting arangement

[Fsh~WithNoEye's]

Finally got test kit;

Results;
Ph:- 7.2
Ammonia :- 0
Nitrate :- 40
Nitrite :- 0

Cory no. 3 has died...
Got baby crib's!

Plant leaves have yellowed and are dyeing..

Little help please.

Cheers.

Z

[Fsh~WithNoEye's]

Someone please..

[Red Tailed Wonder]

how many hours do you have the lights on?

congrats on the cribs!

flag

[SubluxT7]

your nitrates are not "overly" high, but it wouldn't hurt to do a water change ;)

Sandy

[Fsh~WithNoEye's]

your nitrates are not "overly" high, but it wouldn't hurt to do a water change ;)

Sandy

Thanks,

Light are on from 1200 - 2200 each day, and the room is fairly well lit from the window before the light comes on.

I have water changed and nitrates are around 15 now...

Thanks again,

All Croib died, have found out that I need to add liquifry to the water to feed them.. i had originally thought that the mother and father would feed..

Z

[SubluxT7]

sorry about your babies FSH :(

Sandy