Caper Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Is my tank overstocked? or The pH in my tanks has remained constant since the day I got them. Approximately 7.6, maybe a little less since I find it hard to read. The tank I'm speaking of in particular has in it 25 fishies: 4 white cloud minnows 4 guppies 1 platy 1 sailfin molly 2 mollies 4 ottos 9 (maybe off by a couple, they keep hiding) neons I'm beginning to think that some of my fishies that have died I only had for a year before they went to heaven. Overstocking, pH...what else could I be doing wrong? Are my fishies dying sooner than they should? Opions please?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Need to know tank size, filter type/size. the PH should be ok, it's at an acceptable level, and really its changes in PH that cause problems no so much the level. Have you done the other usual water tests? amonia, no2, no3?? Is it just one tank that is a problem or all your tanks? could be your water supply is the problem. Something in the tank leaching like wood that had garden spray on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted August 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Duh, sorry: 29gallon 2.5' long 12.5" wide 18.5" high The filter is an Aqua-Tech hang on power filter that came with it (10-20, don't know what that means :oops: :-? ). Ammonia is 0 as is the nitrites, don't have a nitrate test, can't get them here. Got the nitrite kit on the mainland, because can't get them here either! Only plastic plants, gravel that was purchased as "aquarium" gravel, and 2 resin ornaments. My 10 gallon, 3 goldies & 2 ottos, *knock on wood*, is fine. My other 29 gallon, with ottos, red eye tetras & barbs is fine (and oh, this tank has a bigger filter that came with it, purchased tank & filter second hand). Once a month, all tanks get a thorough cleaning including the filters. Mostly once a week, with the occasional 2 week span they all get a 25% water change. The 10 gallon & the 29 gallon with the guppies, have the same kind of filter. A bio cartridge that only gets rinsed in tank water, & a, I think its referred to as a mechanical filter (might be calling it the wrong name) that has carbon in it as well. The 29 gallon with the barbs, has a bio filter (more like a foam kind) and white "bags" over a frame that holds carbon. Geesh, hope I explained all this right :oops: :-? :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 You aren't overstocked. Here is a good site to help work our stocking levels http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/tanks-uk.htm Small fish live less years than bigger fish. When you buy them it is hard to tell what age they are although 12 months is a little short. Have you still got carbon in the filters? If so, remove it. As it ages (after 3 months or so) it releases toxins back into the water rather than adsorbing them as it is supposed to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freakyfish Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 I dont think your over stoked in that tank but i dont agree with having neons and sailfin molly as i have found they like to eat them This thorough cleaing your tanks get once a month What does it involve? Also Caryl carbon will not release toxins back into the water at any stage Reactivation is required for this and even your oven wont get hot enough for this so i assume the fish tank wont either lol Im not familiar with that filter but see if there are any stickers on the pump filter to show flow rates or anything Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted August 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 Thanks all I'm glad I'm not overstocked was starting to wonder if that was a problem. When you buy them it is hard to tell what age they are although 12 months is a little short I agree that's what has me worried that they don't seem to live beyond a year, some less. If when I bought a fish, and it was still growing wouldn't that mean it hadn't reached maturity...oh heck, not good at explaining :oops: Obviously I can't tell how old the fishies are :oops: :-? I know that some I probably lost cause of stress when first bought...but months later??? Caryl, the cartridges that contain the carbon are changed at the very least once a month. Im not familiar with that filter but see if there are any stickers on the pump filter to show flow rates or anything Nope, and not in the little booklet that came with the tank either. Maybe I'll check to see if I can find out on the web or if the company has an email address. Monthly cleaning: remove 25% water use algae scraper to clean inside walls (this time only did the front of tank to see how my ottos make out with the cleaning) give a good vacuuming (which I move my arti plants and ornaments, used to take out & clean till I had my ottos) clean filter, take apart what I can (bio filter sits in the last bucket of water till ready to start up again) replace cartridges (1,29 gallon & the 10 gallon, have a blue filter that contains carbon) (the other 29 gallon has the bags over the form thingy that you put carbon in) replace water (it's still summer here, so I just get my water ready at least the day before, they are in platic water jugs...and oh yah, add water conditioner) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 couple of things, first unless your filter flow rate has dropped a lot don't clean it, they work far better full of gunk. second is it all different fish that are dieing or mainly the neons? Of the fish you have the neons would be the difficult ones to keep, plus in NZ for a last few years the neons coming in seem to be a really poor/weak strain maybe they are the same there, I was never able to keep neons alive for more than 6 months or so when all my other fish did fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted August 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 couple of things, first unless your filter flow rate has dropped a lot don't clean it, they work far better full of gunk. Oh, I thought that was a must to clean them monthly. If they're full of gunk, isn't that worse????? :-? No, the last time I lost neons was when I had the bad outbreak of Ick. I haven't lost any since then. I've lost platties, a sailfin molly, & guppies. I was just going to edit my post...regarding the sailfin molly. I was trying to remember if it has been since I got him that the neons are hiding most of the time. They didn't when I had the other sailfin. But this guy was a little agressive when I first got him as far as chasing, I think he was showing "I'm the boss here". So, from what you folks have said re:ph, as long as it is stable I shouldn't worry about that being a problem then, right? Also, I have an airstone in the tank (29 gallon with the guppies & other fishies in it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 What sort of filter are we talking about? If its an internal one with filter floss I think you need to rinse that out regularly. But bio filters work best when not cleaned often because they need to build up the good bacteria to process the water. I don't clean my external cannister often and sometimes all I do is rinse off the mechanical filter (foam pad). Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted August 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Jude, it's a hang on filter. I'm really, really, getting frustrated. Lost a neon on the weekend, no apparent reason that I could see anyway. And, (posted in disease section) I think I have another fish with dropsy. I don't understand what is happening. Water parameters are fine, although I can't test for nitrates. But, I thought with an established tank and water changes that shouldn't be a problem???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 each tank is different, some tanks need twice weekly 30-50% w/c's because the nitrates get so high whereas some could go 3 weeks without one and still be fine. perhaps do an extra small one (like 25%) each week and see if that makes a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damiana Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 I had the worst run with neons a while back, I second the notion that there's been a bad strain here lately. It was awful, nothing was working. I stopped keeping neons and I stopped having problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 the neons we get are mass bred from asia i beleive, they're often inbred and not the healthiest and that makes them touchy to keep sometimes. a bunch of neons i had were totally ok but ive seen bunches just rife with ickies. some gold rams i bought a while ago all died of unknown causes, they breathed heavily and died with 2 days, it wasnt flukes and i exhausted most leads into what could be the cause. i put it down to poor stock coming in from overseas and wont buy them again unless theyre from private breeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me love fishy Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 I also find neons die pretty easily. I have some cardinals and they seem to be alot hardier but are more expensive, but if I have to replace them less often might be more economical in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Freakyfish wrote: Im not familiar with that filter but see if there are any stickers on the pump filter to show flow rates or anything I googled the name Regent Aqua Tech but can't find any info on them :evil: :-? There is a customer number in the booklet but will have to wait till tomorrow to call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Also Caryl carbon will not release toxins back into the water at any stage Reactivation is required for this and even your oven wont get hot enough for this so i assume the fish tank wont either lol Brad Actually, some activated carbons do and it is well documented. A good rule of thumb in a clean aquarium is one month max. If the aquarium is dirty, the AC will reach the saturation point much more quickly and need to be changed more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2006 Fuddel...I just posted a question about carbon :-? :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carznkats Posted September 5, 2006 Report Share Posted September 5, 2006 Hi Caper. when you do your maintenance you should probably use your tank water to rinse your media. Also when you need to change your media leave some of the old media to seed the new media as these will contain the beneficial bacteria needed to breakdown ammonia etc. It would probably also be good to do a 10-20% water change weekly. Good luck with the fishes!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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