Dana

As it's only 6 week old, I've been doing 10% twice per week. This was a big change, so I've just done a 25%er. Did the tests twice, same result. I have specific buckets in bright red with "touch this bucket, and die" in block lettering on them LOL. (my cleaner is lovely, but a tad dozey lol). Could this just be a spike being a new tank? I've checked around and it appears to be common feedback that spikes happen in new tanks, before it settles down. Was just surprised, as the dwarf gourami in question is the one that jumps to steal food from my fingers. I know my posts can probably sound a bit daft, but I love this hobby and just want to get it right, without killing any fish. Their personalities are just starting to come out, my previously shy clown loaches latched onto my hand tonight which was briliant! (clean hands, no soap). The only other thing I've done is give them their weekly blood worms. Poor red didn't even want those

WEIRD!!! Tested before I used excel, ph7.6, ammonia, No2 and No3 all at zero. Used excel, no other changes Noticed a gourami is very slow and not eating tonight. PH is at 8.5, Ammonia is at 1.0ppm, N02 is at 2.0ppm and No3 is at 20! Obviously water change has been done but what on earth has happened!!!

It's working. Smaller parts have disappeared and the main area is turning red

Blimey. What an idiot. I know i'm a bit of a daft novice but even I know better than that!

Mine is looking a tiny bit paler, no red. It's more stringy and I've noticed bits are "falling off" So, something is happening. Knowing my luck, it's probably getting worse :sml1: I'll see what happens.

Blimey....so more complicated than men then :sml1:

you all WERE a big help :thup:

I've applied a full dose the whole tank. It was on every plant so the syringe was not really an option. Shall see if any impact is made, and if not, I'll start with the syringe process on larger water changes.

Well what do you know... Increased the temp, gave more variation in food.....and I can't tell which loach was greying out. All fat with strong black stripes. They are now chasing coming out of the caves and greeting me each morning for food. I'm very surprised at how quickly it's resolved itself. Must have been the pecking order thing?

All good advice. Will slowly raise the temp of the tank. I'm sure off of these things will be resolved with a few tweaks as yes, you are right, it is not an established tank. In regards to the loaches, I listened to the LFS, but knew they would grow too large for this tank over a long period. Another excuse to get a bigger tank further down the track LOL. Perhaps I get this one ticking long first

Great. Thanks once again all for the advice. I'll try it and let you know. Shall also do a better search on other threads lol

I note though that the ammonia spiked at the same time the nitrates rose, increased water changes and they both dropped to zero.

Perhaps I wasn't searching with the correct keywords. I know it's annoying when people start duplicate threads. Test kit showed it went up to 5ppm about 3 weeks in, then dropped back to zero. Been like that since. That's on the no2 and no3 tests. 215ltrs, 4 dwarf gourami, 6 c/loach, 4 ghost cats and a bristle nose. I've been waiting for the level to increase but so far it hasn't. Although it's only 6 weeks old. Something is out of whack though, brown algae and now this horrid thing. Seriously, my tank has more black curlies that the pits on my overweight aunt. I'll pick up some flourish tomorrow. Some threads on other forums suggest a mild bleach treatment. No way lol!!

I note there are a few historical threads about BBA. Not alot about issues that were resolved though. I have BBA, getting worse. Nitrates at 0ppm. Has anyone had success in getting rid of this manky stuff by adding Flourish? I don't overfeed, clear fish waste twice per week so perhaps the phosphates are in my tap water? It's bore water so who knows what's in that stuff. Any advice would be appreciated as the plants ain't looking so hot!

Cheers. AR980, 215 ltrs, 99W x 47D x 60H cm PH 7.4-7.6 Ammonia 0ppm No2 0ppm No3 0ppm Steady 26 degrees 4 dwarf gourami, 6 clown loach, 4 ghost cats, 1 bristlenose. I feed at both ends, and you are right, the dominant do separate to one end. The pale one is eating, just very very skittish, more so than expected. The greying out does match the description, especially when young, but the behavior is what is making me nervous. Decor is rock with 5 decent caves, lots of plants. 10% water changes twice per week. Been running 6 weeks. Quick pic below. Changed all three light tubes last week which is helping with the brown algae The plants are a mix as I'm experimenting. Not very well LOL. They need some attention, but are growing and striking roots. WP_000575 (2) by danaj2009, on Flickr This is what the other five look like, the pale guy wont come out much for a photo. IMG_1086 (2) by danaj2009, on Flickr

I bought black gravel. That's what it looks like with all the dirt washed off LOL

I've six of these guys for about 3 weeks. All going well until about a week ago when I noticed one was paler than the other 5, and his stripes are getting more and more grey by the day. They're only about 4cm and I know they can take a while to colour up, but this is getting worse. It's skittish aswell which is new. He's swimming and eating, but the others have now started chasing him away from food. He's putting in alot of effort to chase it though. Fed flake, blood worms, shrimp pellets and they like Bob's algae wafers aswell as munching on his cucumber. Any ideas? Can't see any other physical ailments.

Sorry to hear you've lost fish. I've found detergent has a way of hanging around. Even after thorough rinsing. It leaves a residue very fine, and toxic. I spent 11 hours cleaning my new tank with vinegar purely to avoid detergent. Either that or it's chlorine in your tapwater or not cycled. More likely to be these reasons than bacteria or a parasite. Tank water can smell a bit funky, it's supposed to. Hope you manage to sort it soon &c:ry

Oh, and lots of plants.

Interestingly enough, going through these pics, I noticed a colour change in the boys since I introduced blood worms, and they've been chowing down on Bob's algae wafers. First pic is beginning Sept, next pics are 4 weeks later. Yes, light is different, but colour representation is pretty bang on. Their colour is far more intense these days. Boys by danaj2009, on Flickr IMG_1134 by danaj2009, on Flickr Red by danaj2009, on Flickr

:sml1: Some days I wake up and struggle to ID myself in the mirror, I'm not quite sure how well I'd do at Fishy rears lol.

Sigh...for Mr.Fussy Pants :slfg: the end for Ira by danaj2009, on Flickr

What a Gourami butt looks like...wonder no more... He's smiling cause I'm waving blood worms in front of him to get him closer to the camera... Gourami Butt by danaj2009, on Flickr

Thanks. I posted due to reluctance of introducing chemicals not required. I've checked and slightly adjusted temp. Watching them eat is my "time out therapy" so no doubt i'll spot anything (excuse the pun) Cheers for the practical advice once again.

It's been suggested that I apply a light treatment for preventative measures to my 6 clown loach who have been in the tank for just over a week. They appear to be fine, with one little guy being a bit pale, but still very active and eating. I do know that they are very susceptible to white spot however. Thoughts? And should it occur, would ghost cats, dwarf gourami and a bristle nose be impacted by the 30 degree heat treatment method? I've researched this and the answers are many and contradict each other.