Corys Dead In New Tank

[davebbwood]

I am a fish keeper and my tank is now 4 weeks old. Am building a mixed community, nothing too clever and added two Peppered Corys last Monday. One died yesterday and the other today. No signs that I can see of any decease. Levels in the tank seem goo although pH a little high I think at 7.9 when I last checked.

Is this somthing that can just happen or does anyone have any ideas on what I should look for before trying again.

Only think that had happened is that a Harlequin Rasbora died in the tank last week and was devoured by the single yellow apple snail in the tank and by the two Corys.

Many thanks in advance,

 

[youngfisher]

The only way to lower pH is to take out things like ornaments etc. which may have rised the pH.

When you say the readings are good, what are they exactually?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi davebbwood

Welcome to the forum!

We need a lot more information before we could be of any help at all. What is the size of your tank, what is the temperature, the test readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? Did you do a fishless cycle, or are you cycling with these fish? What kind of substrate do you have? Could you have been overfeeding them?

Why is your pH so high? Please test your tap water to see if it is because of your water source or something going on in the tank itself.

 

[davebbwood]

Thanks, I will do a set of tests again tonight. When tested last Monday I had 0 Ammonnia, O nitrides and acceptable Nitrates. pH was 7.9 but I didn't do a tap water test so I will try that tonight and post all the results.

There is a chance we have been overfeeding although we have tried to use the "if it all goes in 5 minutes then it is the right amount. We are using just flake and occasionally (approx every fourth day) an algae flake for the bottom feeders.

Substrate is gravel and I noticed on a site this afternoon that Corys like sand or small round gravel.

Will come back with test results tonight.

Thanks again.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi davebbwood

The trouble with gravel is that food can filter down between the pieces and breed harmful bacteria. Since they are on the bottom so much, corys are often the first to be effected. If these fish were used during cycling, they might have been in a weakened condition and more likely than usual to become ill.

 

[davebbwood]

Ahh, I didn't answer your question regarding cycling - excuse my ignorance if I get terminology wrong but I am new to this.

We started the take four weeks agod and ran for 1 week empty with some "bacteria starter" chemical added to the water.

After 1 week we added 2 x Harlequin, 2 x Cherry Barb and 2 x Roberti Tetra

After 1 more week we added 2 x Harlequin, 2 x Fliying Fiox and 2 x Bushy Nosed Catfish (which seem fine by the way)

Then after one more week we added 5 x Rummy nosed tetra, 5 x Scissortail and the two ill-fated Cory's .........

So I think we did fishless cycling for a week ?

Have I been too ambitious ?

Hi davebbwood

The trouble with gravel is that food can filter down between the pieces and breed harmful bacteria. Since they are on the bottom so much, corys are often the first to be effected. If these fish were used during cycling, they might have been in a weakened condition and more likely than usual to become ill.

 

[bagu]

Ahh, I didn't answer your question regarding cycling - excuse my ignorance if I get terminology wrong but I am new to this.

We started the take four weeks agod and ran for 1 week empty with some "bacteria starter" chemical added to the water.

After 1 week we added 2 x Harlequin, 2 x Cherry Barb and 2 x Roberti Tetra

After 1 more week we added 2 x Harlequin, 2 x Fliying Fiox and 2 x Bushy Nosed Catfish (which seem fine by the way)

Then after one more week we added 5 x Rummy nosed tetra, 5 x Scissortail and the two ill-fated Cory's .........

So I think we did fishless cycling for a week ?

Have I been too ambitious ?

Hi davebbwood

The trouble with gravel is that food can filter down between the pieces and breed harmful bacteria. Since they are on the bottom so much, corys are often the first to be effected. If these fish were used during cycling, they might have been in a weakened condition and more likely than usual to become ill.

eeeek yoou have been mate =/ you needed to take reading of water stats to see the Ammonia Nitites and Nitrates =[

i think it hadnt cycled properly so your fishes are being burnt by the ammonia spikes I say buy a water test kit, take readings and do a water change incase

 

[davebbwood]

I got home last night and found that my wife's prognosis on Cory Number 2 was worng - he was back in action and looked as right as rain !

SO I am hoping that I do not have the issue I thought I had yesterday. I did take tank readings yesterday though and they were

ph = 7.9 (note a sample of tap water read 7.4). This is the same as last week.
Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites all 0.

The water is nice and clear and fish seem active and well. From teh responses of you kind people I have a couple of questions

- SHould I leave it a week or two now before adding anymore fish, the tank is 160 litres.
- Should I add some finer gravel or sand to the substrate to avoid the trapping of waste etc ??

Many thanks.

 

[nightlife20]

i know this is an old thread, an im draggin it up...

but why has the op only got 2 of each shoaling fish...?

to get the best out of barbs, rasboras and tetras they really need to be in groups of 5 or more...


when i set my 3ft ack up im hopin to turn it into a barb tank, with maybe a few catfsh just for the bottom.