calling all chemists and fish gurus!

[Galaxie]

Find out the ph of the fish store you are using. It may be hard to get them to acclimate from 7.0 ppm which is standard neutral....to your 8.0 ppm. You might try a very slow acclimation. I've never had to do this, but other folks here can give you details I'm sure.

Also, I'd stick with the water you've been using for changes.

 

[abraham]

40ppm really isn't that high. What kinds of fish are you trying to add? Amazon types?

You know, if it's really an issue, use the well water or mix them. Prime or Amquel+ in the water will take care of any ammonia that may cause a problem.

Roan

I didn't think so either, but I've lost a pair of kribs, 5 rummy nose, and 3 congo tetra. Not all added at the same time of course, but over the span of a few weeks. I just don't get it? I'm starting to think that maybe winter is just a bad time to get fish here in Michigan. I could see them getting cold during shipping. Although none of these fish show any signs of sickness. They've eaten and acted fine. I've witnessed several of the deaths. The fish just stop swimming and sit in one spot, with in a half of a hour they would just be dead. The exception is the rummy nose. They start to do a slow role over to belly up. In the process of trying not to role they swim around wildly spinning. It's sad.

In all of my 30 plus years in keeping tanks I've never had anything like this happen and quite frankly I'm starting to get bummed out :sad: Any help ot ideas would really be appriciated.

Abraham

 

[ashlyjames]

PH is 8.0
Amonnia is 0
nitrite is 0
nitrate is 20-25ish. Hard to tell for sure. The color was slightly darker than the 20, but not as dark as the 40.

I am concerned (and it's the reason I checked my source water) because I can't seem to add any fish to the tank now. They only make it about a week no matter how I acclimate them. The fish in the tank are great. Maybe the high nitrate is the issue???

This hobby is fun...this hobby is fun.....this hobby is fun....


Abraham

IMO you should go with the tap water since it is closer in all important parameters to your tank water. This reduces stress on the fish during water changes.
Also add more plants if possible to gradually reduce the nitrates.

 

[Roan Art]

Do you happen to know what the KH and GH of your water is? Tap, well and tank. I'm wondering if there are some huge differences there.

Some -- or should I say "a few" -- LFS use RO water and it's possible that the pH isn't an issue, but rather the GH instead.

Something you could try is setting up a small QT tank (if you don't have one) with the well water. Cycle it fishless, and use Prime or Amquel+ to deal with the ammonia. Then try a couple of new fish in THAT tank.

Also, can you give me a run down on how you acclimate the fish? Where did you buy them from -- which state?

Roan

 

[abraham]

Do you happen to know what the KH and GH of your water is? Tap, well and tank. I'm wondering if there are some huge differences there.

Some -- or should I say "a few" -- LFS use RO water and it's possible that the pH isn't an issue, but rather the GH instead.

Something you could try is setting up a small QT tank (if you don't have one) with the well water. Cycle it fishless, and use Prime or Amquel+ to deal with the ammonia. Then try a couple of new fish in THAT tank.

Also, can you give me a run down on how you acclimate the fish? Where did you buy them from -- which state?

Roan

Sadly I don't have a teat for hardness, But when I had my SW, it tested hard, I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was were it needed to be for SW.

I haven't tried a tank with the well water I might do that.

As far as acclimating the fish, I let them float for about 45 minutes then do the slow add tank water thing until I've doubled the water content in the bag, then I release them into the tank. That's a good thought, Maybe I need to drip acclimate?

These fish have come from three different stores, so I'm not thinking that they are all on R/O. Two of the store are chain stores and one a LFS.

Abraham

 

[Galaxie]

Abraham,
The last time I had a problem with fish slowly dying off after a few weeks (and no clear signs of disease), I treated the water with Jungle internal parasite medication, fed the fish the same type treatment (metronidazole impregnated), and installed a UV sterilizer. Whatever the problem was, its gone now.

This is a livebearer tank, so it may have been free swimming or passed along through the mating ritual contact. The whole time, about 7 months, my sole Ottocinclus has been happy and healthy. I had lost a handful of swords and mollies before the problem was resolved. My other tank has tetras and corys who have all remained healthy. ...using the same tap water for all.

 

[Roan Art]

Sadly I don't have a teat for hardness, But when I had my SW, it tested hard, I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was were it needed to be for SW.

When you get a chance, pick up a KH/GH kit. It's a good thing to have.

Hrm. Going to go check something in the SW area, post in a bit.

As far as acclimating the fish, I let them float for about 45 minutes then do the slow add tank water thing until I've doubled the water content in the bag, then I release them into the tank. That's a good thought, Maybe I need to drip acclimate?

Yah, don't do the bag thing tho. Putting a foreign object like that in your tank could introduce all sorts of nasties. You really don't know what's on the bag.

Gently pour the water and fish into a small container -- I use one of those Critter Keepers, the smallest one for small fish or a small quantity of fish, that you can get in the reptile section of an LFS (they have a lid) -- and add a drop of Prime to detoxify any ammonia. Drip acclimate into that. You can even float it if you are careful, but I don't bother. I usually pour 3 oz (small Dixie cup) of tank water in the container every 15 minutes until it is full. By that time it's pretty much at the tank temperature, but you can check with a thermometer if you like. Then I release them with a net one at a time in 3-5 min intervals. I like to watch each fish to make sure they are doing okay before I put another one in.

These fish have come from three different stores, so I'm not thinking that they are all on R/O. Two of the store are chain stores and one a LFS.

Okay, I thought you had mail ordered them

Roan

 

[Roan Art]

Abraham,
The last time I had a problem with fish slowly dying off after a few weeks (and no clear signs of disease), I treated the water with Jungle internal parasite medication, fed the fish the same type treatment (metronidazole impregnated), and installed a UV sterilizer. Whatever the problem was, its gone now.

Hey, Jon

These new fish or old fish? Cause he's saying it's any new fish he tries to introduce. No problems with his old fish.

Roan

 

[Galaxie]

Hey, Jon

These new fish or old fish? Cause he's saying it's any new fish he tries to introduce. No problems with his old fish.

Roan

Oh, I see. My new fish weren't lasting more than a month, therefore I had no old fish. I retract my metronidazole statements as internal parasite does not seem the case here. :coffee:

 

[abraham]

Well, After some googleing this morning, I found that chlorimine removers only remove the chlorine from the chlorimine and leave the ammonia. That puts me right were I am with the well water! I'm going to slowly start using it and see what happens. Unless there are any other words of wisdom out there for me. Wish me luck!

Abraham