haakuturi Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 OK, so I've had issues with keeping my fish alive for ages, and finally tested the water this evening. Results are: Temp - 28.7ºC (Heater is set to 20ºC!) pH - 8 NO2 - 0 mg/L NH3/NH4 - 0mg/L GH - 120 (Moderately hard) KH - 80 This is an AR-510 aquarium (I'll have pics up soon!) with the following fish: 1 Corydoras 1 White Cloud Mountain Minnow 3 Glowlight tetra 1 blackline tetra 1 bristlenoses The minnow and the bristlenoses have been in the tank for at least a year and never had any problems. The blackline was originally part of a school of about 10, same with the glowlights. One by one they disappeared and corpses were never found! Although at that time I also had a large (for the tank) Siamese Algae Eater who liked to chase and nip at everything that moved, so I'm suspicious that was a big contributor... The Algae Eater has been found a new home at Animates Mt Eden (about 2 months ago). I also originally had 3 corys - again 2 have disappeared without a corpse! What's going on in my tank? I've been considering taking drastic action and pawning the remaining fish off to somebody with a hospital tank (any takers?!) and emptying the tank, cleaning it thouroughly with bleach etc, and letting it cycle for a few months. Then starting afresh with something completely different (like pretty cichlids!). Has anybody got suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 welcome to the forums haakuturi just a few questions did you buy the tank originally as a complete setup? what substrate and decorations do you have in there? ph level would be good for africans how do you clean the tank now a picture would be good as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haakuturi Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Wow thanks for the quick reply! I've had the tank setup for easily 2 years. It's a complete setup (AR-510 - about 75L, with inbuilt filter/lights/hood). substrate is just dark gravel plants are mostly Java Fern attached to a big piece of wood (looks damned good if I say so myself). I'm a bad bad person when it comes to cleaning the tank, but generally I just suck up all the general muck with the siphon thing and normally take out 2 buckets worth of water. Replace it with Aqua Plus'd water and away she goes again I'm working on the pictures - links'll be up in a few Pics - http://picasaweb.google.com/cerddorion/Aquarium?feat=directlink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 The fish you have prefer PH 7.3 down to about 6.6. yours is 8 which is as pointed out good for africans. Your GH is 120. Hard water is between 18-30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haakuturi Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 The fish you have prefer PH 7.3 down to about 6.6. yours is 8 which is as pointed out good for africans. Your GH is 120. Hard water is between 18-30. The Nutrafin test I have says GH of 101-200 is moderately hard. Mine's at about 120. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Are you referring to dh or ppm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haakuturi Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 /shrug. It's the GH test - says to multiply the numbers of drops taken to turn the water from pink to blue by 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Sounds like ppm which would give dh of 6. What did you use to get a KH reading of 80? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haakuturi Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Basically the same test - only using the appropriate drops to turn the water from blue to pink. Multiply drops by 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I use SERA and JBL test kits. Formula is 1 drop = 1* (German scale) maybe you are using a different scale. Even so your Ph is too high for the fish you keep. IMO. How often do you do water changes ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haakuturi Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Short answer - not very... Monthly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 doing weekly water changes may help your system function better remember it is an enclosed system and food added produces waste from the fish which can slowly pollute your water bacteria can keep your tank in balance but with older water it can only take a little overfeeding to tip the balance and cause a spike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haakuturi Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I'll bear that in mind - thanks But would the pH realistically be a reason for fish to be disappearing? I am actually keen on the idea of starting from scratch, but I'd want to find my fish new homes first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 It could be a combination of things which are not always easy to find. Regular water changes would go a long way to sorting your problem. Tap water is usually around Ph7 -7.2 which would be much better for your fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 your cory probably kindly tidied up any corpses for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haakuturi Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 your cory probably kindly tidied up any corpses for you I think the snails are more to *thank* for that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.