Platy Died In Quarantine...can't Figure Out Why...

[jnms]

Hi, I recently brought 4 platys, and have quarantined them before putting them in the main tank. As I don't have a separate tank, I used one of those large plastic boxes you can get from the market. It holds around 50ltrs of water, and I have added approx 35ltrs into it.

I have a small filter which is fully cycled, and a heater keeping the temp at around 24C (too low?). The 'tank' is bare bottom and has nothing else in it.

I have found that the Ph in this container/tank always rises to 8.2 - my tap water is 7.2. I have kept the Ph consistant though, as opposed to constantly trying to lower it.

In my large 200ltr tank the Ph always remains at 7.2 so I can't work out why the smaller 'tank' Ph levels rise.

Other water readings are:
Am: 0.0
Ni: 0.0
Na: 20ish

One platy died this morning, and had given no signs of ill health. The other three remain active and appear to be fine.

Is there anything I am doing wrong, or can do in order to figure out what happened to the platy?

 

[smegforbrains]

From your PH readings, it sounds like a chemical in the plastic container's compund is reacting with the water.


I think it would be well worth it spending £20 on a 4 gallon tank for quarantine purposes.


It's possible the Plays already had some kind of illness, I would keep a close eye on the remaining ones, maybe extend quarantine by another week or two until you can determine the cause.

 

[jnms]

Ok, thanks. I had wondered if it might be the plastic. That's quite a shame...

So generally the size of the container has no effect on the waters Ph?

 

[WILDER]

If the ph change fast they could of died of ph shock.
Does the heater melt the plastic.