Search found 40 matches

by birddancer
Sun Oct 07, 2012 8:00 pm
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

I should also add that I did use NITE OUT 2, after the PH got to 6.4. I believe that and the plants had alot to do with the re-stablization of my tank.
by birddancer
Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:54 pm
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Well! It's been a couple weeks since my last post but I am pleased to announce my tank has bounced bank to full health. :D :D I wanted to come by to thank EVERYONE for their advice and suggestions. I definitely couldn't have done it without you. After my last post, I did leave the tank alone for alm...
by birddancer
Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:14 pm
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Sounds like a plan. But with it hitting .5, I would do a 20% change. :) And hope it is a false reading. Glad your Seachem sensor is working. Watch the way the fish are behaving and breathing. If they are swimming where they should and not gasping, they are probably okay. if they are at the top, gas...
by birddancer
Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:29 pm
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

It is the worst to lose fish, and certain ones are like losing old friends. I am very sorry for your loss. Everything can be fine one day, and a mess the next. Watch the plants carefully. Sometimes they do not adapt well and if they die, they can turn a tank really fast. They will absorb nitrates a...
by birddancer
Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:53 am
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

I have the Seachem in tank indicator too, and it does tell you if there is toxic ammonia (that's why you have the seachem instead of the API). If I use a lot of Pirme, I expect to see .25 on API and I use a lot more oxygen. I would put the indicator in something that has ammonia (like liquid) ammon...
by birddancer
Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:49 pm
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

If you have nitrates, you shouldn't have nitrites, unless something is seriously wrong. By the time you start producing nitrates, the nitrite bacteria are in full swing. You might be cycled. Do you use Prime? If you use Prime and API tests you can get false positives (an ammonia test from seachem w...
by birddancer
Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:05 pm
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Did a 50% last night now this morning it tested;

KH 1
GH 5
PH 6.0
AMM .25
NITRATE 40
NITRITE 0.0

Going to do another 25% tonight. Am I doing the right thing? Why can't I see any Nitrites yet?
by birddancer
Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:50 am
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Hi Guys,

Finally got a solid reading for GH and KH (albeit just after a 50% water change.

GH - 5
KH - 1
by birddancer
Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:47 pm
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Thanks Starsplitter, to answer your questions; I've been doubling my dose of dechlor to 5 mls per 20L of new water added. I also increased my plants by about 70% and dropped two new airstones in (already had 1 tank long bubble wall and an existing airstone), which has made a big difference to overal...
by birddancer
Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:56 am
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Has anyone had any experiences with Ammo Zorb sachets or Seachem Matrix added to canister filters to help get Ammo down ?
by birddancer
Sun Sep 23, 2012 12:50 am
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Dechlor is an abbreviation for dechlorinator. Any product that locks up chlorine or chloramine. Prime is a good one, and it sounds like you have that. Keep on using it. Salt: Only if there is nitrite. (Dose is 1 tsp per 20 gallons) For more info about the use of salt during nitrite problems google ...
by birddancer
Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:16 pm
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Yes, the ammonia is coming from the living fish. It is lingering, not being removed by the bacteria because the bacteria are not doing very well. I would be following the instructions to very slowly alter the conditions. As long as the pH stays low the ammonia is in the non toxic form (ammonium) bu...
by birddancer
Fri Sep 21, 2012 5:37 am
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Sorry Diana,

Can I also ask that in your post it says to use salt when nitrites are present? Should I do this? Many people I speak to say its unnecessary if not actually harmful to fish.
by birddancer
Fri Sep 21, 2012 5:31 am
Forum: Fish Health & Treatment
Topic: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank
Replies: 41
Views: 32432

Re: Sudden loss of fish including loaches 6ft tank

Is there a sub for Dechlor? I haven't seen that in Australia before. At least not at my two LFS.