problem with german blue rams and golden rams

i dont think its the air pockets. i have never once seen anybody say that the air pockets from their substrate killed their fish.

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Not really an air pocket but a gas pocket that is highly poisonous.

And you really never once have seen this happen to anyone???

Its happened to myself. I can point you to a couple other forums where others have had it happen. I can honestly tell you it can and does happen.
 
Not really an air pocket but a gas pocket that is highly poisonous.

And you really never once have seen this happen to anyone???

Its happened to myself. I can point you to a couple other forums where others have had it happen. I can honestly tell you it can and does happen.

from what ive read and experienxed it unlikely.

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While it is possible to buy locally bred and raised GBRs, it is still far more common to find fish-farm raised GBRs that not only recieve a bunch of antibiotics, but steroids as well. Captive bred does not neccessarily mean healthier. While with discus it is absolutely the case that the majority of domestic discus are much more hardy...it varies greatly from breeder to breeder. It is the same with GBRs...captive bred does not always equal good quality stock.

I find your water parameters curious....you have no nitrates. Even in my planted tanks I ALWAYS have nitrates. Either your tank is not cycled or your test kit is not working properly.

While your right about it being varied between breeder to breeder as the quality, I think the GBR and other rams as well as Discus have become not so fragile over the years due to such. You can now keep these fish in a multitude of different more easily maintained water conditions without having to run RO and all sorts of stuff to make their water so acidic and low in PH. My groups of GBR in my tanks that breed I think are work to that.

As far as the OP water conditions I to myself Questioned it and asked earlier what they were using to test. Strips or liquid test? are the Liquid test kits, If being used Calibrated? if not they may show improper readings. I also know if using an API Liquid Nitrate test kit if you dont shake the living crud out of bottle number 2 it will give you a low to no reading as the powder in the bottle settles and sticks to the bottle.
 
from what ive read and experienxed it unlikely.

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Ok, Guess we will have to agree to disagree. But in my 33+ years of the hobby its very possible and it does happen and not something Id rule out.
 
Hi Con
Those are all recent quotes, and unfortunately things haven't changed regarding Asian imported GBRs, which most big box stores sell, and are probably what the OP has. As long as people remain in the dark and keep buying them there's no reason for the farms to change their practices.

I'm glad to hear that you and others are breeding hardier stock. These are adorable fish and I'd like nothing more than to see domestic bred ones widely sold and the demand for cheap imports to dry up, but it'll never happen unless we get the word out. Keep up the good work!
 
I also find it odd that there are 0 readings all across. I keep the belief that you will ALWAYS have at least nitrates in a cycled tank. Is the OP adding water close to the same temp. as the actual tank? if the temp of the new water is too different, it could send the fish into shock(thats what it sounds like to me)
 
I also find it odd that there are 0 readings all across. I keep the belief that you will ALWAYS have at least nitrates in a cycled tank. Is the OP adding water close to the same temp. as the actual tank? if the temp of the new water is too different, it could send the fish into shock(thats what it sounds like to me)

It would have to be a large amount of water and a great difference. when I change my water the temps vary 2 to 3 degrees with no issues for my rams.. But I top off evaporation with cold and no issues either.
 
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