White tips on rasboras fins???
- Thread starter Elfinbrook
- Start date
Oftentimes there are nitrates present in tapwater.
A fully cycled tank should maintain 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and ever-increasing nitrate levels (unless planted...plants consume nitrates) If you've never had nitrates, then you should probably be adding a nitrogen supplement of some kind for your plants, as they aren't getting enough afaik.
After 4 months going with no problems, then yes your tank should be cycled. I'd be inclined to look at your filter at this point. Especially since you said that adding an airstone seemed to improve the condition of your fish.
Having to guess, I'd say that you have a single HOB filter on there, and it's creating a dead spot in your tank, as well as not aerating enough water. It would also account for an ammonia reading in a long-standing tank. I run two HOB filters on any of my tanks over 40G (one on each end) to make sure there is enough water movement. And if you need more aeration, the marineland emperor line is awesome
A ph of 6.0 or less is low, but I can't say it crashed if I don't know your tap water and base readings. Was the PH always low? Ottos are usually the first to go when the water parameters take a dive, poor little fellows. Are you running some kind of DIY co2 injection? I know that can drive the PH down.
It's really hard to give any solid advice without knowing the specifics of your setup.
A fully cycled tank should maintain 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and ever-increasing nitrate levels (unless planted...plants consume nitrates) If you've never had nitrates, then you should probably be adding a nitrogen supplement of some kind for your plants, as they aren't getting enough afaik.
After 4 months going with no problems, then yes your tank should be cycled. I'd be inclined to look at your filter at this point. Especially since you said that adding an airstone seemed to improve the condition of your fish.
Having to guess, I'd say that you have a single HOB filter on there, and it's creating a dead spot in your tank, as well as not aerating enough water. It would also account for an ammonia reading in a long-standing tank. I run two HOB filters on any of my tanks over 40G (one on each end) to make sure there is enough water movement. And if you need more aeration, the marineland emperor line is awesome
A ph of 6.0 or less is low, but I can't say it crashed if I don't know your tap water and base readings. Was the PH always low? Ottos are usually the first to go when the water parameters take a dive, poor little fellows. Are you running some kind of DIY co2 injection? I know that can drive the PH down.
It's really hard to give any solid advice without knowing the specifics of your setup.
Sorry - should have given more info on my tank. It is a 60 gallon heavily planted tank with corkbark background and two large pieces of mopani driftwood (previously cured). Substrate is ecocomplete and I run a Fluval 305 canister filter with filter media of biomaxx, floss and a phosphate-free carbon substitue called Renew. The outflow current is strong, and my rasboras like to swim with the current. My tapwater pH is 7.0, but my tank's pH is currently under 6.0 (usually 6.8 - 7.0). I don't know what accounts for the suddenly low pH. I don't currently run CO2, and don't use Fluorish Excel regularly. The plants look good. I do weekly 35% water changes and use a plain pond dechlorinator. Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are usually always zero. I understand that the plants use up nitrates, which may account for the zero reading. I turn the airstone on at night after lights out (only a moon lite is on during the night). You mentioned I may need to dose nitrogen for my plants, is this true? One problem I have is that due to the placement of the driftwood and rocks, I can't gravel vac very well in some areas. Would some ghost shrimp be a good idea? Now that my only bottom feeder is gone, can you recommend a good scavenger for me? Sorry I sound so ill-informed; I do read and research aquarium keeping; its just so daunting starting out in the hobby and trying not to make mistakes.
The good news is that I noticed a healthy tiny baby ramshorn snail scooting across the tank glass today. :cool2:
The good news is that I noticed a healthy tiny baby ramshorn snail scooting across the tank glass today. :cool2:
I don't deal much in heavy planted tanks, but what I've read is that when your nitrates zero-out for any extended period of time, your regular plants suffer (they aren't getting enough) and algae tends to become a problem because it doesn't need it to grow. Don't think it'd have any effect on the fish though.
The lack of good gravel vaccing could also lead to buildups of bad chemicals in spots. You should try to get under your decorations and driftwood atleast once a month, even if it takes physically removing it from the tank while you do so.
Otherwise, I'm out of ideas to what might be causing it. Unless your tap water's KH/GH dropped recently, and the new lack of buffering capacity is allowing your driftwood to drive down your PH.
The lack of good gravel vaccing could also lead to buildups of bad chemicals in spots. You should try to get under your decorations and driftwood atleast once a month, even if it takes physically removing it from the tank while you do so.
Otherwise, I'm out of ideas to what might be causing it. Unless your tap water's KH/GH dropped recently, and the new lack of buffering capacity is allowing your driftwood to drive down your PH.
Thanks for advice. I will do a more thorough job of gravel vacuuming and keep an eye on water parameters, including hardness.
