Cories with short barbel, Nitrate sensitivity

[pinkertd]

They will grow back, some faster than others. All my tanks have cories on round store bought gravel and do fine. I ran into a problem once when I added root tabs for the plants. If they appear red at all I would add some antibiotic. I believe if they've actually managed to scrape the skin on their mouths it can be an entry for the bacteria and can lead to septicemia. Increase your wipe downs and water changes to speed healing along.

 

[NUMB3RS]

I would do frequent water changes, btw nice tank setup, love the angels

 

[terror]

thanks currently considering if i can use sand?

I have a powerhead near the floor of the tank

planning to getthis sand

will i have trouble with my powerhead?

btw here are some more pics of my angels.

 

[pinkertd]

Beautiful angels!!!! I know nothing about powerheads, hopefully someone else comes along.

 

[terror]

Beautiful angels!!!! I know nothing about powerheads, hopefully someone else comes along.

thanks Really appreciate the help

 

[inkyjenn]

eesh. powerheads + sand = blowing sand. that blowing sand can get sucked up by filters and muck up impellers and burn out motors. put your powerhead output a little higher up so that you dont blow the sand around so much. you can test by turning off your filters and adjusting the height of your powerhead till it stops kicking up clouds. let the sand settle (just like if you added it new) before turning your filters back on

 

[terror]

thanks. My powerheads output goes to an overhead filter I added a brick to elevate the powerhead. Found that its not nitrate which causes my cories barbel to be damaged I added some nitrate absorbing media and my anubias inside the tank turned yellow due to lack of nitrogen.
still waiting for the aquaclay i ordered

btw my angels have grown

 

[Wycco]

I ran into a problem once when I added root tabs for the plants.

Woah... You can't use root tabs in aquariums that have Cory in them? I didn't know that- my cycling tank has root tabs embedded in the sand. Do I need to take them out?

 

[pinkertd]

Found that its not nitrate which causes my cories barbel to be damaged

I know it's got to be the bacteria in the biofilm on the tank bottom. Nitrates wouldn't cause that. it's going to take a while for them to grow back after you get your substrate in, but give it time. Your angels are looking incredibly nice!

Woah... You can't use root tabs in aquariums that have Cory in them? I didn't know that- my cycling tank has root tabs embedded in the sand. Do I need to take them out?

I had been using Jungle root tabs occasionally without incident. I bought a different brand off and Drs F&S and didn't like them from the start. They began to melt before I even got them into the substrate, so because of them melting immediately, I may not have gotten them far enough into the substrate. They seemed to stay in the substrate forever as if once they melted into pieces, that's as far as they would break down. I kept sucking it up with gravel vacs for a long time and that is when I noticed barbel erosion for the first time ever just in that tank where I used those tabs. I never put anymore back in and the barbels are growing back but it is taking forever. I actually think the ferts burned them off.

 

[Wycco]

I'm using SeaChem tabs- they're a brand I trust. Mine are properly buried and didn't crumble before sinking them- but I'll have Kuhlis and Corys so the Kuhlis could displace them.

Do you think I should take the tabs out (if I can now). It'll be several weeks yet before I get the Cory- and the tabs have been in a week. Probably hard to remove them now (and probably spread too much to do effectively).

In my case- do you think I'm OK as long as I don't put more tabs in?