Hi
I've had two peppermint bn's die in the last 48 hrs and I cant work out why?
The first one looked to have whitish marks on its abdomen just before it died and then the next morning I found another one in a similiar condition. This morning I woke up and a third one let my teeny tiny barbs nip all its fins and tail away - but no white abdomen??? The fourth is fat and happy with no nipping or white abdomen!!! I've kept the sick one quarantined but I would really like some advice on what's going on? Would my GH or KH have something to do with the problem?
My tank paramentars are as follows:
Tank size is 280litres (minus a few ornaments and an inch of free space below the lid )
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 10 ppm
Nitrite = 0 ppm
PH = 7.2
KH = 80 ppm
GH = 180 ppm
tank temp = 27C
tank mates are as follows:
1 peppermint bn
1 bumblebee catfish
1 teeny weeny baby bristlenose
4 khuli loach
2 clown loach
2 flame guraumis
4 giant danios
1 pearl danio
3 leapord danios
5 glass catfish
2 paradise fish
4 itty bitty teeny weeny albino barbs
2 albino tinfoil barbs
2 rams
2 golden panchax
1 betta
I've had two peppermint bn's die in the last 48 hrs and I cant work out why?
The first one looked to have whitish marks on its abdomen just before it died and then the next morning I found another one in a similiar condition. This morning I woke up and a third one let my teeny tiny barbs nip all its fins and tail away - but no white abdomen??? The fourth is fat and happy with no nipping or white abdomen!!! I've kept the sick one quarantined but I would really like some advice on what's going on? Would my GH or KH have something to do with the problem?My tank paramentars are as follows:
Tank size is 280litres (minus a few ornaments and an inch of free space below the lid )
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 10 ppm
Nitrite = 0 ppm
PH = 7.2
KH = 80 ppm
GH = 180 ppm
tank temp = 27C
tank mates are as follows:
1 peppermint bn
1 bumblebee catfish
1 teeny weeny baby bristlenose
4 khuli loach
2 clown loach
2 flame guraumis
4 giant danios
1 pearl danio
3 leapord danios
5 glass catfish
2 paradise fish
4 itty bitty teeny weeny albino barbs
2 albino tinfoil barbs
2 rams
2 golden panchax
1 betta
I can't wait!!!!!
So there is nothing on the surface of the skin - my healthy peppermint has a nice fleshy/darkish abdomen whilst the ones that have died it had turned pale and whitish?! I havent noticed any laboured breathing however the one that's now quarantined was very lethargic (hence it letting the other fish eat its tail etc) Normally these guys are so quick it reminds me of a scene out of Alien Vs Predator! 
/www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/d...columnaris.html
the sick ppmint was dead this morning 
the healthy one is still in the tank - would it be worth while treating the tank - similiar to a preventative or would it be pointless? I'm so very sad as these guys had so much personality!!
I guess I will never know what was wrong which is the most frustrating. My housemate suggested that it could be a heavy metal related thing such as copper etc that the ppmints are particularly sensitive to. All my other fish are just dandy which is something I guess.
