Just a little tip that I'm sure you already know. Wait about a week after your LFS gets them in before buying any. I have seen alot of dead neons within a few days of my LFS getting their order.
Neons dying, and a cory cat too... because of high pH?
- Thread starter macphoto
- Start date
Thanks... I might just add a couple of guppies as suggested, and wait a while for more neons.mooman said:
Then again, as of this morning my two remaining neons are still alive... they stick together, but how stressful is it for them to not have a larger group to swim around with? Maybe I should try for one more batch, using this more careful acclimation method.
--Mike
That's probably easier said then done at PetSmart, but I'll probably stick with the LFS right down the street for now (especially since they are for certain on the same water system as my house, and the neons I got from there seemed to do better than the ones from PetSmart).Boohoo said:
--Mike
I don't think any lfs on earth is going to use RO water for the majority of thier fish. I suppose a few might use it for expensive delicate specimins like adult discus, and stingrays. And many will use it to mix up sea water for salt tanks, but for neons...no way.
An update...
Things are looking much better now. I decided to try one more batch of neons, which I bought Friday morning. With the 2 survivors I had in the tank already, that gave me a total of 7. I lost one the next morning, and the LFS replaced him. But no deaths on Sunday, and none this morning either. They're schooling together, eating excitedly, and in seemingly good health.
I also bought a pair of peppered cory cats, and they're doing fine too... they seem to really enjoy each other's company.
What I did differently than before: 1) Used the "bucket method" to acclimate the newcomers, gradually adding tank water to the bucket over the span of about 4 hours, even putting in a thermometer and small heater to maintain the temp the same as the tank. 2) Added a plant to the bucket to give the fish a place to hide and feel safe. 3) Added StressCoat to the tank, and used it during subsequent water changes.
I did have a dreadful ammonia spike, which I have been diligently battling with so many water changes that I've lost count. I'm monitoring for the nitrite spike that I assume is to follow. Is this what is called a "mini-cycle"? This didn't happen before (I mean, aside from the initial cycle)... perhaps because the previous batches of new fish didn't live long enough to produce enough waste. Or... right before I added the new fish, I pulled out the filter media and swished it in a bucket of tank water to remove the loose waste matter. I wonder if this could have dislodged some of my bacteria?
--Mike
Things are looking much better now. I decided to try one more batch of neons, which I bought Friday morning. With the 2 survivors I had in the tank already, that gave me a total of 7. I lost one the next morning, and the LFS replaced him. But no deaths on Sunday, and none this morning either. They're schooling together, eating excitedly, and in seemingly good health.
I also bought a pair of peppered cory cats, and they're doing fine too... they seem to really enjoy each other's company.
What I did differently than before: 1) Used the "bucket method" to acclimate the newcomers, gradually adding tank water to the bucket over the span of about 4 hours, even putting in a thermometer and small heater to maintain the temp the same as the tank. 2) Added a plant to the bucket to give the fish a place to hide and feel safe. 3) Added StressCoat to the tank, and used it during subsequent water changes.
I did have a dreadful ammonia spike, which I have been diligently battling with so many water changes that I've lost count. I'm monitoring for the nitrite spike that I assume is to follow. Is this what is called a "mini-cycle"? This didn't happen before (I mean, aside from the initial cycle)... perhaps because the previous batches of new fish didn't live long enough to produce enough waste. Or... right before I added the new fish, I pulled out the filter media and swished it in a bucket of tank water to remove the loose waste matter. I wonder if this could have dislodged some of my bacteria?
--Mike
