:help: I recently just finished setting up my new 20g Long Tank which I have already started planting it heavily ( rotola, hydro difformis, ludiwigia red) and have a nice piece of driftwood and about 2" of eco complete. Currently running two filters ( one new , one from established tank ) but have only one 75W stealth heater.
I began adding fish after 4 days of the initial setup after doing a water test with API liquid test - reading 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, and 5 Nitrate. Heater is set at 86 Degrees (placed on left side of tank) therometer (placed on right side of tank) reads 78 Degrees. Yesterday afternoon I moved my young Male Juvenile Blue Ram (1.5"), Bolivian Ram (1.5"), 1 Balloon Blue Ram (.75"), 1 Balloon Gold Ram (.75") [ It had a pink belly when found dead ], 2 Trilli Cory Cats (.75") into the tank and initially I did a 30 min aclimation then slowly let one by one get use to the tank. Initially all the fish chose a spot in the tank to hide and barely moved. After 15 mins, the cories started to begin the search and digging through the substrate for food - but there was no food so i threw in a sinking wafer - which kept them company for awhile. But all other rams were hiding or just next to the heater - but the tank wasn't really cold. (78Deg on the right side when heater was set to 86)
The Rams all look quite stressed (most had black stripes on their sides) and end fin looked a little squished but their side fins were flapping very very fast. except the balloon gold ram (which only had a pink belly) but was swimming normally. I kept the light off since I didnt want to add more stress to them. This morning I woke up early before work and did a head count hoping they all made it. After 30 minutes of searching; couldn't find the gold ram - I thought one of the fish ate it. but there was no way since they are all the same size. Instead I found it between one of the plant leaves DEAD! I took it out of the tank and tried to look at it as if I was doing an autopsy - but looked perfectly fine; no blackness on body, fins looked real good nice pink and blue speckles, belly was pink , but DEAD. :help: I wasn't really sure what could have done it; so did another water test - and readings were the same. I added fish only after 4 days bc Im thinking my tank suddenly cycled with the plants. Hopefully when I come home tonight my rams will be swimming instead of all hiding between wood and plants :headshake2:
I began adding fish after 4 days of the initial setup after doing a water test with API liquid test - reading 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, and 5 Nitrate. Heater is set at 86 Degrees (placed on left side of tank) therometer (placed on right side of tank) reads 78 Degrees. Yesterday afternoon I moved my young Male Juvenile Blue Ram (1.5"), Bolivian Ram (1.5"), 1 Balloon Blue Ram (.75"), 1 Balloon Gold Ram (.75") [ It had a pink belly when found dead ], 2 Trilli Cory Cats (.75") into the tank and initially I did a 30 min aclimation then slowly let one by one get use to the tank. Initially all the fish chose a spot in the tank to hide and barely moved. After 15 mins, the cories started to begin the search and digging through the substrate for food - but there was no food so i threw in a sinking wafer - which kept them company for awhile. But all other rams were hiding or just next to the heater - but the tank wasn't really cold. (78Deg on the right side when heater was set to 86)
The Rams all look quite stressed (most had black stripes on their sides) and end fin looked a little squished but their side fins were flapping very very fast. except the balloon gold ram (which only had a pink belly) but was swimming normally. I kept the light off since I didnt want to add more stress to them. This morning I woke up early before work and did a head count hoping they all made it. After 30 minutes of searching; couldn't find the gold ram - I thought one of the fish ate it. but there was no way since they are all the same size. Instead I found it between one of the plant leaves DEAD! I took it out of the tank and tried to look at it as if I was doing an autopsy - but looked perfectly fine; no blackness on body, fins looked real good nice pink and blue speckles, belly was pink , but DEAD. :help: I wasn't really sure what could have done it; so did another water test - and readings were the same. I added fish only after 4 days bc Im thinking my tank suddenly cycled with the plants. Hopefully when I come home tonight my rams will be swimming instead of all hiding between wood and plants :headshake2:
