Which Type Of Rasbora? Lighting And Stress

Hi, I have recently put the first fish in our tank, we thought we were buying 2 Harlequin and 2 gold Rasbora. But now I'm not so sure about the Harlequin, are they Lamb Chop Rasbora instead? I have attached photo.

I'm not trusting the lfs, as immediately I'm treating them for White spot!! Am treating with Anti - white spot no6. Perhaps they came with it, or maybe I have stressed them, which leads me onto my next question.......

How much light do they need? I have a 15w Bright day white light and 15w cool blue moon. When should I turn each one on or off for this breed of fish. I have 5 medium sized plants.

I appreciate that I need to get more of the same fish, but was told to leave it at least a week/10 days before putting more in, But there seems to be one fish that is so much more dominant and is nipping the others, it is bigger and has more of the white spot.

I have an Interpet PF2 internal filter, and have the flow set to about 3/4 capacity which they do play in, should it be stronger or weaker? When it was full blow capacity I felt they were constantly battling with a current.

My readings are:
No2 - 7 (use Ro water as tap water is 40/50, I add minerals)
No3 - 0
GH - 1
KH - 6
ph - 7
CL2 - 0

Answers will be very much appreciated as I am getting stressed that they are stressed!!

Thanks

They look like harlequins to me. Also can't see any sign of whitespot. Most fish do best with 6-12 hours of light, in my experience, and there are few fish who have very specific requirements for lighting. Generally around 8 hours seems to be the best balance between algae and happy plants. Blue bulbs are generally not for freshwater and I have heard reports of mixed success with them.. would be interesting to see how you fare.

Are you using a test strip? Not very accurate, you would be better off getting liquid tests.

Thanks for that.

Won't use the blue light then and will light for approx 8 hours, and will get liquid tests (have already got for Nitrates as that was a previous concern).

Hopefully I've got the White spot early as they only have a few dots each, (but one with a few more).

Any ideas if this is a male or female one?

Ooops meant to write GH - 16

I'm guessing you have the Fishbox 64 tank which is the tank I used to have? I replaced the blue bulb with another daylight and had more success with plant growth. As Kitty Kat said 8 hours is fine for your photoperiod. I have mine on a timer 3pm - 11pm. I also had the filter on full pelt to give as much turnover to the tank as possible with that filter. I had Harlequins in there and they loved playing in the current.

I think I can see a bit of whitespot in the lower fins of the fish you posted. There's load of threads on here which advise on the best way to treat it.

They may be Lambchops --- Harlequins tend to have a bit rounder of a body shape and at least that one fish appears pretty slender. Also, I see a faint bluish line across the spine which many Lambchops have, so there is a good chance you have Trigonostigma Espei there

Hi Jamepsss,

Yes, I've got the Fishpod 64. I'll look into changing blue light and putting lights on timer.

Where did you direct the flow from pump (up, down, to the wall or out into middle of tank)? And did you have the venturi allowing bubbles?

They do enjoy playing in the current, and I was told it strengthens them, but can they also relax?

Thanks

Thoroughly modern said:

Hi Jamepsss,

Yes, I've got the Fishpod 64. I'll look into changing blue light and putting lights on timer.

Where did you direct the flow from pump (up, down, to the wall or out into middle of tank)? And did you have the venturi allowing bubbles?

They do enjoy playing in the current, and I was told it strengthens them, but can they also relax?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I had the flow directed from the back corner into the middle. Didn't bother with the venturi, the output was just low enough to make a ripple on the surface.

They'll be fine and will find places to relax when they feel like it.

They look just like my Harlequins tbh unless I also have Lambchops and just don't know it

They look like Harlequin Rasboras to me. The black markings on the Espei Rasbora are shoped like rounded lamb chops and the rasbora in question doesn't.

Hi there TM and Welcome to our beginners section!

I'm just posting despite needing to run out the door.. to ask other members to please check on the other aspects of what's been posted: I'm seeing what I think is testing with strips but they're showing nitrite at 7 (which would mean fish not long for the world if correct) and no ammonia readings of course. This may be a newcomer who needs advice on emergency water changing technique and then advice on good liquid kits and also the pitfalls of trying to change mineral content from your baseline tap water.

Will check in later, all the best:
~~waterdrop~~

waterdrop said:

[..]I think is testing with strips but they're showing nitrite at 7 (which would mean fish not long for the world if correct) and no ammonia readings of course. This may be a newcomer who needs advice on emergency water changing technique and then advice on good liquid kits and also the pitfalls of trying to change mineral content from your baseline tap water.

Click to expand...

I think that might be a nitrite-nitrate mix up for the number.. Thoroughly modern can you confirm that the reading really in nitrite? Or was it nitrate?

Kitty Kat said:

waterdrop said:

[..]I think is testing with strips but they're showing nitrite at 7 (which would mean fish not long for the world if correct) and no ammonia readings of course. This may be a newcomer who needs advice on emergency water changing technique and then advice on good liquid kits and also the pitfalls of trying to change mineral content from your baseline tap water.

Click to expand...

I think that might be a nitrite-nitrate mix up for the number.. Thoroughly modern can you confirm that the reading really in nitrite? Or was it nitrate?

Click to expand...

+1, i'm sure he meant nitrate as he cant be having 40/50ppm of nitrite in his tap water

I do agree on the fish being a harlequin rasbora, a male harlequin to be specific

neo83 said:

Kitty Kat said:

waterdrop said:

[..]I think is testing with strips but they're showing nitrite at 7 (which would mean fish not long for the world if correct) and no ammonia readings of course. This may be a newcomer who needs advice on emergency water changing technique and then advice on good liquid kits and also the pitfalls of trying to change mineral content from your baseline tap water.

Click to expand...

I think that might be a nitrite-nitrate mix up for the number.. Thoroughly modern can you confirm that the reading really in nitrite? Or was it nitrate?

Click to expand...

+1, i'm sure he meant nitrate as he cant be having 40/50ppm of nitrite in his tap water

I do agree on the fish being a harlequin rasbora, a male harlequin to be specific

Click to expand...

Thank you Every one

Yes, Sorry, I should have taken more care when writing readings, it's Nitrates 7, Nitrites 0.

They're all happily playing in water current at the moment and I'm less stressed.

I hope to get a mixture or sexes in the future so I will look closely at the male one so I will be able to tell the difference.

Thanks again



Thanks

Welcome to the forum TM.
With nitrates at 7 and nitrites at zero, you are fine for those chemicals. Now all we will want to know is the ammonia readings. As WD noted, your readings are typical of someone using a test strip. The specific things being measured are test strip items, not the things that matter most. Your strip is showing very soft water that has a neutral pH which is fine for most tetras and similar fish. If I believed the numbers, I would advise you avoid the more common livebearers completely. As far as damage to your fish, ammonia is the unknown in your chemical testing mix. Ammonia in trace amounts can be deadly so an accurate measurement of it using a liquid type test kit is recommended. Please get back to us with your ammonia readings ASAP. As WD noted, you may be in need of a large emergency water change but we cannot tell from what you have said. What you have not said is what you have done to prepare the filter for your first fish. If all you did was set up the tank and circulate water for a few days, as many fish shops would recommend, you need to do a huge water change, at least 50%, very soon to reduce your ammonia levels. If you have an ammonia test to guide you, you may find that more or less than 50% would work. Please do not get any more fish, snails, etc. until you get that ammonia reading and give us a chance to help you.
Your rasboras will do fine with whatever lighting regime suits you and your habits. They need some light when eating and can do fine the rest of the time with typical room lighting that gets into their tank. The lamps you listed will be fine for them.
It sounds like you have struck a nice compromise on filter flow where you are getting the most filter flow you can without stressing the fish.