Cory deaths (and not pandas)

[Stefan3289]

I have a 29 gallon tank with sand substrate and a group of moss balls. The stocking originally was:

3 honey gouramis
3 bronze cories
5 San Juan cories

Before I cleaned the water just now I noticed that I couldn’t see any but 2 of them..and of course after cleaning the tank, the stock is now

3 honey gouramis
2 bronze cories
1 San Juan Cory

I have tried all different kinds of cories from albino, peppered, panda, San Juan, Bronze...I don’t really have an explanation

Water parameters are:
0 Nitrite
0 Nitrate
0-.1 ppm ammonia
6.8 ph
Temperature is usually around 76/78, and never drops below then as if it goes below 75 the heater kicks in.

Similar thing happened when my whole 10 cardinal neons disappeared within a few days. I am getting frustrated as the fish look good, then just disappeared

Any ideas?

 

[CassCats]

Theres an ammonia spike, but could be from the deaths.

But your lack of nitrates is suspicious, usually means there's no cycle. Did you change the filter media? Wash it in tap water?

Or do you have other plants aside from the moss balls? In some cases an excess of plants can cause 0 nitrates, but im suspicious of a crashed cycle if you dont.

 

[Stefan3289]

Theres an ammonia spike, but could be from the deaths.

But your lack of nitrates is suspicious, usually means there's no cycle. Did you change the filter media? Wash it in tap water?

Or do you have other plants aside from the moss balls? In some cases an excess of plants can cause 0 nitrates, but im suspicious of a crashed cycle if you dont.

The only plants I have in there are 6 moss balls and they’re all pretty small. How would the tank cycle have crashed as this has happened more than once

 

[CassCats]

How do you clean the filter?

 

[Stefan3289]

I recently got a new one as the other one leaked, but normally I’d put the bio part in a bowl that has aquarium water
I either replace the carbon or I rinse it out with tap water and let it dry and for the sponge I do the same. The filter itself I rinse it out as well with tap water and use a old tooth brush to clean the tube and magnet

 

[Gypsum]

I'm fuzzy on the chemistry here, but could the lack of nitrates be attributed to whatever is (or isn't) in the tap water and have nothing to do with crashed cycles? My nitrates always show up as 0 on the API liquid test kit. Without fail. I don't think the tanks are crashing.

Stefan, what's your GH?
How often do you change water?
What chemicals do you put in when you change the water?
Is there enough surface disturbance to oxygenate your water?

 

[mcordelia]

I'm sorry to hear that your fish have been doing so poorly don't be discouraged, i'm sure you will be able to get to the bottom of it with the help of the smart folks on this forum! I have nothing to add to the questions you've already been asked, but looking forward to your responses and trying to figure out what's going on with your tanks.

 

[CassCats]

Okay then we can rule out your methods of cleaning the filter.

How did you originally cycle this tank and how long has it been set up?

 

[Stefan3289]

I'm fuzzy on the chemistry here, but could the lack of nitrates be attributed to whatever is (or isn't) in the tap water and have nothing to do with crashed cycles? My nitrates always show up as 0 on the API liquid test kit. Without fail. I don't think the tanks are crashing.

Stefan, what's your GH?
How often do you change water?
What chemicals do you put in when you change the water?
Is there enough surface disturbance to oxygenate your water?

That’s what I thought 0 Nitrates means as I never had an issue with them and this is the only tank I’ve had an issue with as my 75 gallon also has 0 with no issues.

my GH is 160 ppm
I do weekly water changes at about 50%
All I add is aquarium salt and “prime”
Yes I have a hanging filter that spread the water along with an air stone

 

[FFGuest6357]

I recently got a new one as the other one leaked, but normally I’d put the bio part in a bowl that has aquarium water
I either replace the carbon or I rinse it out with tap water and let it dry and for the sponge I do the same. The filter itself I rinse it out as well with tap water and use a old tooth brush to clean the tube and magnet

If you’re rinsing any filter media of the filter itself with tap water, that tap water may contain chlorine or chloramines and that would most certainly kill off your bacteria and restart your cycle.

 

[CassCats]

Cories are salt sensitive, I would avoid using it unless absolutely have no choice for medical treatment.

 

[Stefan3289]

Okay then we can rule out your methods of cleaning the filter.

How did you originally cycle this tank and how long has it been set up?

So I used the quick start in combination with some old gravel and decorations from my 10 gallon tank until everything balanced out to 0 for a few days (took about 2 weeks) I then started putting 2-3 fish in every 3-5 days

 

[Stefan3289]

Cories are salt sensitive, I would avoid using it unless absolutely have no choice for medical treatment.

I definitely will stop then as I am used to using it in my cichlid tank as they can get nippy with each other

 

[Stefan3289]

If you’re rinsing any filter media of the filter itself with tap water, that tap water may contain chlorine or chloramines and that would most certainly kill off your bacteria and restart your cycle.

How would you recommend to clean the carbon and sponge along with the inside?

 

[FFGuest6357]

How would you recommend to clean the carbon and sponge along with the inside?

Nothing but tank water. Try to stagger your filter maintenance with the tank cleaning.

Beneficial bacteria lives everywhere in the aquarium, so it’s best not to clean everything at once.

For filter maintenance day, schedule it on a day when all you’re doing is a water change. Drain the water into a bucket. Take your sponges out the the filter, GENTLY squeeze them out in the bucket of tank water. For added effectiveness, do your sponges and inside filter parts on separate weeks.

as for the inside of the filter, same deal, get your pipe cleaner, clean out your lines and rinse everything in tank water.

I only do filter cleaning once a month.