Neons Losing Balance

[Rcyphermd]

I have a 220 gallon tank with hundreds of cardinals and neons. I have been a hobbyist for 40 years. Tank has a uv light, about an inch of sand, and bioballs. Ph 6.8 temperature.76.. I am losing 5 or 6 fish a day. They seem to lose their balance and die. My dealer suggested using clout, which I did. No change. I am using polyfilter and carbon as well. Suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[afremont]

I have a 220 gallon tank with hundreds of cardinals and neons. I have been a hobbyist for 40 years. Tank has a uv light, about an inch of sand, and bioballs. Ph 6.8 temperature.76.. I am losing 5 or 6 fish a day. They seem to lose their balance and die. My dealer suggested using clout, which I did. No change. I am using polyfilter and carbon as well. Suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help.

Can you give some more details about their behavior? Do they end up belly up and unable to upright themselves or are they spiraling or going in circles? How long does this process take from first symptoms until death? Any visible symptoms on the fish?

 

[fidjet2]

what are your other water stats- ammonia, nitrite, nitrate??
are there any other tank mates??

 

[Rcyphermd]

It happens about 2 days after I purchased new neons, cardinals and gold tetras. They start spinning and losing their balance. They end up upside down dead, or caught in the filter. Nitrites and nitrates are both low. Tank has been set up for 5 years. No ammonia. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[AshP1986]

Nitrite should be 0 not just low... nitrate should be 5-30

Old tank syndrome?

Did ONLY the new fish die?

 

[Rummynose]

You shouldn't have any nitrites in your tank at all. Unless you've added more than 2-3 new fish at once and the filter is trying to catch up growing additional bacteria. Then what you're dealing with is a mini cycle. You need to keep on top of things keeping ammonia (which you say is 0) and nitrite as close to 0 as you can. You said your nitrate is low, but that means different things to different people. What is your reading of Nitrite and Nitrate?

Could there be a significant difference between your tank's ph and that of the store?

Uusually, spinning means head injury, it can also be parasites or bacterial or fungal infection.

Also, when do you change your water and how much water do you change each time? Have you done a water change after you found dead fish in your tank?

 

[Rcyphermd]

I rechecked ....nitrites are 0, nitrates 20. Ph keeps dropping from 7 to 5.7. I have been adding buffer to raise it. Thanks form your suggestions.

 

[Malawi MaD]

Ph keeps dropping from 7 to 5.7. I have been adding buffer to raise it. Thanks form your suggestions.

That's your problem, the PH is shocking the fish with it fluctuating to much. Got any coral sand? If you buffer your water with what ever your using then stick the coral sand in your filter it will hold and stable the PH in your tank (plus stables the hardness of your water)

 

[AshP1986]

What causes ph to fluctuate?

 

[Rummynose]

If you have soft water, meaning low reading of kh and gh, the minerals are low! Those buffer your ph, meaning they keep the ph stable.

Another cause could be if you're not doing good maintance of your tank. Organic waste left in the tank, water changes too infrequent, not often enough, and too small amounts can cause depletion of those minerals also.

 

[AshP1986]

Hm good to know luckily my fishies like hard water since that's what comes out of the tap at the school.... now I just need to find out the hardness of the water at my new house im moving to since the fishies will be there for 3 months out of the year... ( and even with just a 10 gallon tank I am NOT looking forward to this move)

 

[Rummynose]

Hm good to know luckily my fishies like hard water since that's what comes out of the tap at the school.... now I just need to find out the hardness of the water at my new house im moving to since the fishies will be there for 3 months out of the year... ( and even with just a 10 gallon tank I am NOT looking forward to this move)

When it's time to move just use a rubbermaid container with a lid, put all (well, most) of the tank water in with the fish, don't put the decorations in with them so they don't get hurt when the container gets jostled. Drain the whole tank, everything out of it, water, decor, substrate, very important, because it is very easy for a tank to crack when you move it!!! If you have a battery operated airstone you could place it in the container with the fish, it will benefit them. Ensure your filter stays wet so the filter stays cycled. Set up the tank asap when you arrive!

Maybe you can test the water before the move, but even if it is a little different, you will use most of the old tank water to put it back into the tank, use some of the new water (conditioned) to top it off, slowly with each water change your fish will adapt!

 

[AshP1986]

Thanks rummy!

Hmmmm I might need a truck lmao! My little 2 door can't even get a cooler in it