My Tank setup

I've given them algae wafers last night, the snails seem more interested than the ottos.

Also woke up to a dead rice fish it had a brown 'bruising on its underside' ive read people saying ottos eat slime off other fish could this be why?
I'll do normal water tests/water changes after work
Thanks
 
deanc

I know the SAE will do that on some fish, if they do not it could have been done after the fish died, if its a new fish could have been a LFS or a transport concern.

Apparently they "can" eat the slime off Discus

Keith:):)
 
I'll see what's going on when I et home from work, hopefully it's just a one off, the one that died has been there a while now

This is the picture I took this morning (sorry if it upsets anyone)

3897f9f3737dcf4730397bbaf0a3c280.jpg
 
So I tested water and found 0.3mg/l no2 and around 30-40mg/l no3 but no ammonia,

Also another fish has died. So I've read that more oxygenation can help so il going to do that. I'll do a water change tomorrow.

Any ideas what could have caused the spike? I dosed ferts yesterday and Sunday, could it be that I dosed 2 days in a row?

Thanks
 
deanc

How are you doing oxygenation?

Filtration when was it cleaned and how was it done?

Spiking can be caused by several things, it is possible something is in your water, do you treat it first before you add it to the tank?

Disturbing the substrate can also cause it as well.

I store the water for at least 3-4 days, this removes the Chlorine naturally.

I add Seachem Stability at every water change.

What type and amount of ferts do you use.

I add a measured amount of Seachem liquid ferts every day.

How are you doing the water testing also brand and type please?

Keith:):)
 
Oxygenation - plants and i positioned spray bar to break water surface.. The higher from water line I put it the higher bubbles and oxygenation?

Filtration I cleaned the fine filter floss in tank water that was done Sunday (external filters need less maintenance? )

I use fluval Aqua plus conditioner when adding new water and have been since the tank had beef setup

I added new plants Sunday but substrate wasn't disturbed too much

The ferts I use are lush macro (there's a link to it in a previous comment I think) i dose as recomended every mon/wed/fri then micro ferts I use florido g7 and dose that once a week after a water change.

Water testing is with a Hagen liquid test kit (the sort with test tubes and you add each reagent and shake)
 
deanc

Not often concerns have me still wondering if I have missed any thing.

For extra aeration I would use an airstone 24/7

I will get Roy to have a look at your post as he is in the UK and might have a lead on your water.

To help that can you add your location in your profile please.

Also go to your LFS and see if they know of any water concerns in your area.

It could even be the water board working in your area.

(external filters need less maintenance? )
Click to expand...

Also clean those filters in the tank water.

The next step will be checking every thing done in the home and that room particular, over the last 3-4 days.

Its like a big fishing trip, keep trying until you get a fish.

Keith:):)
 
Sorry, it bugging me too second guessing everything.

I'll try stop off at LFS and grab an air pump later.

I'll also test the tap water when I'm home see if that has any nitrates etc.

I know they've been messing with gas pipes lately. That shouldn't affect water though?

I always rinse filter media in tank water.

As for home/room nothing has changed other than the new plants/Rock/fish and christmas decorations

If I find anything else out I'll get back to you

Thanks again
 
I picked up an air pump and stone on my way home and that's setup. I tested tap water turns out about 5-10mg/l nitrate. Is there anything that can be done about this?

I still did a water change. Thanks
 
Oh, no one smokes here, and we don't have flies as its winter. I use deodorant in a different room so I don't polute.

I read the bottom link I don't think our tap water exceeds the 50mg/l limit so is there an other ways to remove nitrate?
Or how can I promote denitrifying bacteria?

Thanks

The air pump seems to be working. I've had no deaths since
 
http://www.tfhmagazine.com/freshwater/feature-articles/keeping-up-with-nitrate.htm

This seems worthwhile reading as it is from a quality source.

I do not know if there is a water chemist here on ASW if there was I would pass all this over to them.

Also read the causes and fix any of the causes you have.

Its the old saying "Prevention is better than the cure."

By any chance do you have any Carbon in the filter if so remove and clean the filter immediately.

Keith:):)
 
Thanks for that article very helpful,
I've already cut feeding down. I'll clean the filter when I get home (im sure the foams will need washing)
And I'll work through the list.

I was looking at some nitrate removal chemicals would they be okay as a quick fix while I find a way around tap water issues?

Also I haven't used carbon in my tank since you told me not to :p

Thanks
 
I was looking at some nitrate removal chemicals would they be okay as a quick fix while I find a way around tap water issues?
Click to expand...
deanc

Once you start playing around with chemicals you never know what will happen.

I have read that if you let sludge stay in your filter there for too long then you get your nitrates.

I do not think it is your tap water at a high dosage as you have discovered.

When I had the HOB on the 45lt tank I washed it out on a weekly basis.

If you had not been doing very regular big cleaning of your filter it could easily build the gunk up.

It could also be built up, by over feeding, insufficient water changes or fish digging the substrate even constant adding or changing plants around.

Keith:):)
 
Thanks ive always been a bit wary of chemicals so I'll stay clear.

I'll give the filter a good clean tonight, also im thinking of adding some more biological media as not much came with the filter

The substrate moving may have been a cause as I've been moving plants etc

Thanks
 
deanc

I always add a measured amount of Seachem Stability at every water change this keeps the good bacteria healthy.

What brand and type of filter do you have?

It will help if you do a partial deep gravel vac at every water change.

Keith:):)
 
Thanks I'll look out for some of that.

My filter is a fluval 206

I have soil am I still able to do that? Also would more plants help?

Thanks
 
deanc

I don't think it would be advisable if you are using soil.

Could the soil be leaching ???? to cause your concerns.

I certainly would not be planting more plants for a while floating or on DW would be OK

Add as much of the Bio Filter material as you can fit in.

One little tip soak it in old tank water overnight, this will remove any air in the material.

Just a check what percentage water change do you do.

I recently change from 2 x30% to 2x40% weekly for the shrimp tank and its looking a lot better including the Shrimps are breeding more again.

Keith:):)
 
I'll give that a miss then

I'm not sure, if so how can I get around that?

I might try find some more floating plants the dwarf water lettuce I had went missing

I'll also try go to my LFS today and get more media fill up all the baskets.

I usually take about 10-12litres, 48litre tank so roughly 20-25% weekly, but lately this has been more regular.

When I change water I add the tapsafe and micro ferts. But haven't dosed macro ferts since I found this spike to see if that's the issue

Thanks
 
So I just did a 50% change scrubbed the funk off plastic parts in the filter (there wasn't much)

Added 500g more ceramic noodle media

And finally tested the water although there's still nitrates we are getting somewhere, it's down to around 10-20mg/l

Also running 2 airstone still doesn't look great but it's doing the job

3c78f1b923e0abb8c565c9493fe90da9.jpg
 
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