there's no question that the pH is going to change when co2 is removed..because it will go up. the question is what is causing the flashing? I think it's either an external contamination, or parasites.
Can CO2 make fish flash
- Thread starter rrkss
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there's no question that the pH is going to change when co2 is removed..because it will go up. the question is what is causing the flashing? I think it's either an external contamination, or parasites.
Is the BBA dying or turning red? Maybe it's raising the level of something irritating (TDS?). Are you usig more or different ferts than before?
I agree parasites are possible, low populations may not bother otherwise healthy fish but a change in conditions could favor them. Occaisional flashing can also be no big deal. Try changing water a little more often & see if it continues.
I agree parasites are possible, low populations may not bother otherwise healthy fish but a change in conditions could favor them. Occaisional flashing can also be no big deal. Try changing water a little more often & see if it continues.
Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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:iagree: I don't remember even seeing a fish do that when I added my CO2 to my tank.
I've had parasites just "show up" after tank is stable for quite a long time. SOMETHING made them proliferate. Did you have BBA you were trying to kill?
I posted this question over a year ago and this situation has been since resolved. No there are still no parasites in the tank as some of you have suggested. These fish are going strong for 2 1/2 years so far without any illness due to aggressive QT procedures when they were purchased.
BBA has been cleared up from the tank after I changed the conditions to make it unfavorable for this algae. The tank no longer runs CO2 as I got tired of weekly pruning but is still nutrient enriched and heavily planted.
The fish don't flash anymore as I did a controlled test and was able to isolate the CO2 injection to the cause of these symptoms. My CO2 was at 40 ppm+ at the time and a simple reduction in CO2 cleared the problem up. I am surprised that they did not have heavy breathing at the time. Maybe due to the solenoid switch shutting it off at night and high oxygen saturation.
Oh for those curious, I had a pressurized CO2 system hooked up to the tank with a soleniod switch hooked to the lights to switch the CO2 off at night. Here is an old photo of the system.
BBA has been cleared up from the tank after I changed the conditions to make it unfavorable for this algae. The tank no longer runs CO2 as I got tired of weekly pruning but is still nutrient enriched and heavily planted.
The fish don't flash anymore as I did a controlled test and was able to isolate the CO2 injection to the cause of these symptoms. My CO2 was at 40 ppm+ at the time and a simple reduction in CO2 cleared the problem up. I am surprised that they did not have heavy breathing at the time. Maybe due to the solenoid switch shutting it off at night and high oxygen saturation.
Oh for those curious, I had a pressurized CO2 system hooked up to the tank with a soleniod switch hooked to the lights to switch the CO2 off at night. Here is an old photo of the system.
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