Blast The Cory Cats Are Not Doing Well.

[snowflake311]

I tested my water today and ammonia 0 Nitrates 5 nitrites 0 ph 7. I did a 30% water change for them They are in a 20 Gal tank no other fish. The Temp is 72 F. This is not fair all my other fish are fine I have had some around for years. It must have to do with them being scalesless I think.

I called the water company to get a read out of everything that is in the tap water. This is what I have.

Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products
(There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.)

Bromate (ppb) 2.1
Haloacetic Acids HAA5) (ppb) 2.5
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) 8.4

Inorganic Contaminants

Arsenic (ppb) 1
Barium (ppm) 0.012

Microbiological Contaminants

Turbidity (NTU) 0.5


Radioactive Contaminants

Alpha emitters (pCi/L) 3.22
Beta/photon emitters (pCi/L) 5.23
Radium (combined226/228) (pCi/L) 0.85

Inorganic Contaminants

Copper - action level atconsumer taps (ppm) 0.11
Lead - action level at consumer taps (ppb) 2


Additional monitoriing
As part of an on-going evaluation program the EPA has required us to monitor some additional
contaminants/chemicals. Information collected through the monitoring of these contaminants/chemicals
will help to ensure that future decisions on drinking water standards are based on sound science.

Bromodichloromethane (ppb) 2
Bromoform (ppb) 1.1
Chloromethane (ppb) 5.5

So can anyone figure out what is killing the cory cats? I feed them waffers and flakes. Something is not right. If these guys die I give up for good.

 

[snowflake311]

"Source water assessment and its availability
Zephyr Cove Water System surface water intake is considered to be moderately to highly vulnerable to
microbiological contamination from a nearby sewage pump station. The water system is presently in
compliance with all state and federal maximum contaminant levels for drinking water."

Gross I know. Could these microbiolgical contaminates be it?

 

[StrontiumDog]

What area are you from?

Edit: just looked USA

Personally can't heelp you with the water stuff.

Is it the same Lfs you're getting your fish from

 

[snowflake311]

No the one I got theses guys from they use RO water. The other stores are in the same county but not the same area so I think their water is different. I asked one store wat the ph was they said 8. mine is 7. So I'm pretty sure they have different water.

 

[StrontiumDog]

So I take it you are not using RO water then?

Seems to me they neeed a bit more care with aclimatizing.

best thing I can sujest is PM Coryologist. He's a top bloke and knows his stuff.

 

[snowflake311]

No I do not have RO water. I did the drip method for 30 min for these little guys to get adjusted. They did great the first 2 days now they are not.



Thanks I might message the cory guy.

 

[Tolak]

That is a pretty standard water report, we print them for different areas around the south side of Chicago at work. My water has most of that junk, probably more being Chicago, but you will never know.

With a proper drip acclimation you want to double the water volume every hour, for 3 hours. This means the fish are in 87.5% tank water after 3 hours. You didn't mention substrate, I would start with a bare bottom tank, there is then no risk at all of barbel damage. This is a main source of infection for corys.

Double dose with a dechlorinator that takes care of metals. Large water changes every other day, if bacteria are of concern there are a few tricks for that. I use these for fish that are shipped, but you may want to try them with your fish.

Since they are going into their own tank, treat the tank with acriflavin+, drip this tank water into the bag. Don't feed for the first day, the next day feed frozen brine shrimp with a little metronidazole sprinkled on. You will be feeding this every other day for at least a week. After a couple of days do a large water change, treat the water with copper sulfate pentahydrate, Coppersafe by Mardel is one product available in shops.

The acriflavin knocks back bacteria, metro takes care of internal protizoans, copper takes care of external issues such as velvet. For corys I would use half the dose of copper, being scaleless they may be a bit more sensitive, I've used a half dose on cory fry with good results.

This method, which I've been using for years, helps stressed fish with a lowered immune system cope with anything that may be no problem for my healthy existing fish, but a problem for shipped fish. I've skimped on this, and had problems when I though a shipment came in good. I've used it for fish that got pretty well chilled during a long ship, and they came through fine.

I have a buddy who gets fish, mostly corys, shipped straight from the Amazon. He does none of these things, save for the drip acclimation procedure, no dechlor, nothing. Old school method; a little chlorine helps with bacteria & fish, he does great with it, and his fish are some of the few I'll just do a real quick drip acclimate on. He has breeders buying his stock, shops, you name it, no problems.

You may want to consider this, though you will want to do some smaller water changes for a while to get your nitrifying bacteria accustomed to having the properties of being able to split the ammonia from the chlorine in chloramine, then processing the ammonia.

 

[snowflake311]

Thank you. That's very helpful info.

The tank has sand in it.

 

[snowflake311]

It's been 8 days since i got them and I lost one. I thought one other was a goner because his eyes were bugged out and his gills looks puffed. I Did nothing just waited to see if he would die o me. Turns out he got better on him own. So I still have 3 I just did another water change and they are swimming and eating. Weird fish one died and I thoguht one was going to but he got all better.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Harlequins]

Sorry to hear one of the cories died

Good luck with the rest,i'm keeping everything crossed for you

 

[SBL]

The only prob I ever had with cories was tumbling rocks from a pleco and week long trips away with no water changes months before. Course, I was 9 and never changed any water, just added regular tap whaen my Papa told me to. I still don't even use de-chlorinater alot. I'll reduse a tank at 67 D with no fish in it, fill it with 80 D water with no Chlorinater and then just drop the fish in and they really don't mind, actually triggers spawning behavior in HRPs. Then I'll add a small amount of NovAqua. I really don't think once fish are accustomed, they don't mind. Before anyone flames me, I ahve had no ,oses doing so, so I don't care what you say, it doesn't seem stressful at all actually. My Bichir will stop for a second when put in and then root in the gravel for reamining morsels dropped by last feeding.

 

[snowflake311]

The only prob I ever had with cories was tumbling rocks from a pleco and week long trips away with no water changes months before. Course, I was 9 and never changed any water, just added regular tap whaen my Papa told me to. I still don't even use de-chlorinater alot. I'll reduse a tank at 67 D with no fish in it, fill it with 80 D water with no Chlorinater and then just drop the fish in and they really don't mind, actually triggers spawning behavior in HRPs. Then I'll add a small amount of NovAqua. I really don't think once fish are accustomed, they don't mind. Before anyone flames me, I ahve had no ,oses doing so, so I don't care what you say, it doesn't seem stressful at all actually. My Bichir will stop for a second when put in and then root in the gravel for reamining morsels dropped by last feeding.

Ok good for you. You must have perfect water and hardy fish lucky you. The other 3 I have are doing fine and I'm not worried about them.

 

[SBL]

I'm not saying anything smart or trying to. I just have this as my experience. I would call my cousins water magic, his fish never died of disease(he had 3-4 cases of ick and nothing died, with no treatment) and his fish grew 2x faster then mine he fed his way less, maybe 2-3 times a week.

 

[stryper]

The only prob I ever had with cories was tumbling rocks from a pleco and week long trips away with no water changes months before. Course, I was 9 and never changed any water, just added regular tap whaen my Papa told me to. I still don't even use de-chlorinater alot. I'll reduse a tank at 67 D with no fish in it, fill it with 80 D water with no Chlorinater and then just drop the fish in and they really don't mind, actually triggers spawning behavior in HRPs. Then I'll add a small amount of NovAqua. I really don't think once fish are accustomed, they don't mind. Before anyone flames me, I ahve had no ,oses doing so, so I don't care what you say, it doesn't seem stressful at all actually. My Bichir will stop for a second when put in and then root in the gravel for reamining morsels dropped by last feeding.

Ok good for you. You must have perfect water and hardy fish lucky you. The other 3 I have are doing fine and I'm not worried about them.

 

[snowflake311]

Stryper did you have a comment? Why did you just quote?

Update the 3 I have left are doing great I just need to get them some friends. I have been working a lot this week and never got to put an order in for more. Next week I will. I went to my lfs to check for some but they had none.