110 Gallon South American Biotope

[eaglesaquarium]

AN UPDATE!!!  (I know, its been SO long.)
 
I've set up the 10 gallon tank, and its cycled.  I'll still be keeping a close eye on the ammonia anyway for a week. 
 
Here the 4 bloodfins are checking out the new digs.  (This is about 20 minutes after they were added to the tank.)

 
 
They will stay in this tank for 7 days.  Assuming that they survive that week, which they SHOULD, then I will move them to the bigger tank (after a FULL water change, of course).
 
 
I've got BBA in the big tank now... I think from lack of CO2.  I've removed the extra aeration, and added a half-dose of liquid carbon to the tank.  Hopefully that will help.
 
 
Fingers crossed everyone! 
 
 
 
(Incidentally, I've used this EXACT 10 gallon tank set-up with a neon tetra - it was being used as a hospital tank for an injury single "pop-eye".  The neon stayed in there for two weeks - without improvement, or without getting worse, so I put him back in the main tank, as he seemed stressed and lonely.  He's still going strong 6 months later, and the pop-eye in nearly completely back to normal, except that he appears to be blind in that eye now.  Still swims around with the shoal of neons well and eats well - never ate in the QT that I had noticed - hence the "depression" diagnosis I gave him and why I put him back in the main tank.  He ate immediately when he rejoined his shoal.)

 

[greenmumma141]

*fingers crossed*  
 
What an awesome little neon

 

[snazy]

Lovely stuff eagles. Hope it turns out well this time for you. Fingers crossed.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 
 

 
 
I give up!

 

[snazy]

What happened?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Dead.  All dead.  No reason given.  Just dead fish.  I think that a sledgehammer is in order!

 

[This Old Spouse]

The cories too???

 

[eaglesaquarium]

No, the cories are still fine.  This was the 10 gallon trial, with a lid.  4 bloodfins checked in... 

 

[This Old Spouse]

Well, what the ...? Is there somewhere you can get a complete analysis of the water done? This is just craziness.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

We've got one more variable that COULD be the problem.  The water itself coming from that particular sink has a chemical of some sort that's causing the issue.
 
 
The best way to test this would be to take water from the sink that we know is producing no problems, and trying the fish in water from that sink.  This would involve a great deal of rearranging things.
 
 
I honestly wonder if its even worth pursuing right now.  Its just too late in the school year for it to matter, maybe I'll take up the banner again come September.  
 
 
 
This sucks, it just flat sucks.  I can't even begin to describe my level of contempt for all of this right now.  Just beyond description.  

Well, what the ...? Is there somewhere you can get a complete analysis of the water done? This is just craziness.

 
 
I might have to research that - I'm sure there is.
 
 
Actually, I'm going to see an Environmental Scientist at Widener University this afternoon, I might just ask her what her thoughts are on the matter regarding testing.  I know that she has contacts at the EPA, and that they do some water quality research over at Widener. 
 
Great thought TOS!  There is still hope!

 

[snazy]

That's "woeuful"...
Well it's one step closer at least.
Let us know what turns out to be the cause. It surely is something toxic to the fish, but why not the corys is beyond my imagination.

 

[daizeUK]

Really sorry for all the troubles you're having
 
The water sounds like a prime culprit.  But so strange that the cories are fine!  I hope you get this sussed out! 

 

[greenmumma141]

So sorry eagles. Can't even imagine your frustration!! It makes sense that if it's not in the air, then it has to be the water. You've got some mighty little cories there, that's for sure. Hopefully you get some answers!!!!

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'm just so sorry.  
 
I asked about having the water tested because of something that's happening in my house right now. I have two dogs and three cats. One dog developed diarrhea just over a week ago. Then my other dog got it a few days ago. I just emptied the cat's litter boxes and turns out they have it too. Our drinking water comes from a lake just behind our house, and twice a year the water "turns over" exchanging the warmer water underneath for the colder water on top (colder because the ice just went off) and sometimes this turnover stirs up bacteria that has mostly been dormant. This in turn affects the animals. Not that this has a thing to do with your situation, but it just made me think of the water, which will test just fine using the API test kit, but if you have it professionally analyzed this bacteria will show up. Happily it's not affecting my fish, but who knows about yours?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The survival of the cories is the part that really confuses me.  But, they are quite different from the tetras and guppies, so its not altogether crazy.  Things like this happen.  I wonder what could be so different in my tank though, than what is in the tank in the next room!

 Its the same plumbing, up until it splits off to branch into the different classrooms. 
 
 
I've also had a zebra danio (rescued from a failed eco column project) in this same 10, in my prep room - he survived in there for nearly two weeks before I was able to rehome him.
 
Indeed, it will be quite some time before I get a result.  Stay tuned - well, I'll let you know when I have news...