Dwarf Chain Loaches Dying

[mattsr]

Hello All, About 6 months ago I brought 4 dwarf chain loaches. One of them unfortunately died the day after purchase, however the other 3 seemed fine. About 2 weeks ago, I found another one dead. Last Saturday I purchased 4 more, as I know they like to be kept in a group. This morning- ie 4 days later- another one has died.

Other inhabitants are gouramis, corys, platys and a flying fox as well as 4 rock shrimps, all of whom have been well and healthy for over a year now. Ammonia and Nitrite are both zero, PH7.2 and nitrate about 60.

The tank is 220 litres, Eheim 2126 filter, well planted, sand substrate.

Any Ideas???

 

[The-Wolf]

nitrate about 60.

that could quite possibly be the answer.
I'd try and bring the NO3 below 30ppm for any tank that houses botias

 

[mattsr]

nitrate about 60.

that could quite possibly be the answer.
I'd try and bring the NO3 below 30ppm for any tank that houses botias

Yes, thanks I know the nitrate is a little high but I didn't realise that loaches were that sensitive to it? As I say all the other ihabitants seem fine. I will add some Nitrate minus to try and bring it down.

 

[loachman]

nitrate about 60.

that could quite possibly be the answer.
I'd try and bring the NO3 below 30ppm for any tank that houses botias

Yes, thanks I know the nitrate is a little high but I didn't realise that loaches were that sensitive to it? As I say all the other ihabitants seem fine. I will add some Nitrate minus to try and bring it down.

It'd be easier/better to do some water changes over the next few days.

 

[mattsr]

nitrate about 60.

that could quite possibly be the answer.
I'd try and bring the NO3 below 30ppm for any tank that houses botias

Yes, thanks I know the nitrate is a little high but I didn't realise that loaches were that sensitive to it? As I say all the other ihabitants seem fine. I will add some Nitrate minus to try and bring it down.

It'd be easier/better to do some water changes over the next few days.

Yes, I'll do that as well.I don't know why the nitrate is high though. I'm well within the fish/volume parameters as far as I can tell and I carry out fortnightly 25% water changes, and monthly clean the filter media in tankwater.

 

[2pods]

You could try a Nitrate sponge ?

I have one in my Rio 400 and I usually get no more than 10 or less when it's in.
They do need changed every 6 weeks though

HTH

Peter

 

[dwarfgourami]

I'd also try weekly water changes rather than fortnightly. But it might be worth testing the tap water too.

 

[2pods]

I'd also try weekly water changes rather than fortnightly. But it might be worth testing the tap water too.

I didn't read it right about the fortnightly water changes

I agree with what dwarf gourami said.
I normally change 25% weekly


Peter