Dying Fish

If your water is truly R/O water and not just softened with a water softener then you could mix your water from outside with the water from inside depending on why you're using R/O water in the first place. If the water is just hard and maybe has a high pH that would work fine and you wouldn't have to spend extra money on something like R/O Right or equalibrium. If the water is possibly contaminated by heavy metals or pesticides, etc. just stick with your water from inside with the R/O right added. As for your tetra, is it a black phantom? I wonder if it could possibly be a bala shark. Are you positive that it's a type of tetra? I think someone said it already but if you're on well water and it's R/O water, then don't waste money on a dechlorinator.
 
Also, just a side note, and I don't think it is the cause of your problems, but look over your decorations, If anything looks like it is deteriorating, just replace it. That way you can be sure you aren't adding to any issues that may be caused by your water :) !!

P.S. is there any sort of tests she could do that check for vital minerals/metals to determine if they are low and thats the problem? Also if it is her water, is that what is suddenly clouding the tank? Why is is happening now, and not before? (just curious, plus I thought it might help you figure things out!!)
GOOD LUCK
 
just a side not water softners do not put salt into the water, the water inters into a vat or cylinder, where a probe of some sort magnitizes the water or something to remove heavy minerals and what so, then a salt water is flushed into the this probe which causes all those heavy ninerals and what so to fall to the bottom, then the water softner unit flushes the vat or cylinder to expel the deposits from the vat or cylinder. the salt never touches the water you drink, and if the water tastes salty then there is a problem
 
Okay...Fishtilla the Hun here: Latest update Neon Tetra: dead. Unidentified Tetra: dead (figuring out what kind it was is probably a moot point now). Here's what's left: Female Mickey Mouse Platy, Female red Swordtail, Mail Black Lyretail Molly and 4 Zebra Danios.

I put the Kent R/O Right in yesterday afternoon. The neon tetra was dead this morning....the big tetra died sometime between 7:30 and 11:00 this morning (looked fine when I fed everybody this morning).

I just did a strip test, and here are the results: Nitrate: 40 ppm Nitrite: 0 Total Hardness (GH): 75 Total Alkalinity (KH): 40 pH: 7.2 and Ammonia: 0

Just for the record...I have no idea what any of those numbers mean. All I know is that the instructions say my Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia are in the safe zone. Other than that, I'm the blind trying to lead myself around (and killing fish in the process).

The whole water supply in my house is on an RO system because the water in our area stinks (literally...lots of sulphur and who knows what else). The R.O. takes out everything (including the good stuff for the fishies apparently) and makes it taste like bottled water you would buy.

I am interested in a comment a few msgs up...is there any kind of a test kit that can test for the good chemicals/minerals that should be in the water?
 
AmyB said:
I just did a strip test, and here are the results: Nitrate: 40 ppm Nitrite: 0 Total Hardness (GH): 75 Total Alkalinity (KH): 40 pH: 7.2 and Ammonia: 0
QUOTE]

Just a note. I bought the test strips too when I first started. I found out that they are not even close to accurate and you'd be much better served to purchase a liquid test kit!
Click to expand...
 
Just a note. I bought the test strips too when I first started. I found out that they are not even close to accurate and you'd be much better served to purchase a liquid test kit![/QUOTE]

Okay, I'm game. Does anybody know which test kits are best/most accurate?
 
The liquid test kits are the best, you can get a master test kit from aquarium pharmaceuticals from www.bigalsonline.com for really cheap (sorry to lazy to find the link :laugh: ). In the meantime you could take a water sample to the LFS and ask for actual numbers on their readings, that should help to make sure that your test kit isn't off. The nitrate is a bit higher than alot of the folks on here seem to keep it, but I doubt that in itself is the problem. It can be a sign of other problems though, try to feed the fish a little bit less for a while
 
I dont know about the MOST accurate, But Very Nice Indeed are the liquid test kits by Aquarium Phamacueticals. Kas may show up and give you a link to a place to buy them on line. I forgot to notice where in te world you are located. Big Al's, the online pet supply thatsells these tests most cheaply, doesnt ship everywhere. Many places they arereadily availableat fish stores, just a bit more pricey.
If the problem has been with the RO water I think it would be reasonable to expect that the RO right wouldnt necessarily stop all deaths immediately.
I'd say keep it up. Since you already bought it.
The ideas about mixing well water with the RO, Are sound, But If I were You I'd be sure to know exactly what all is In your well water first.( as someone pointed out already)
I Don't know why you would need a dechlorinator with well water, RO filtered or otherwise.
I dont know about the cloudiness, how do you maintain your filter?
I wont comment on your test results until we know you have accurate ones.
I think you are approaching this in a smart way. I bet you'll get it taken care of.
What can it mean that all the deaths are in the AM.... no live plants,right? temperature change much?
 
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