Re: Quick neon deaths: cuplrit=conditions, other fish, disease????

[Joseph Thomas]

"NetMax" > wrote in message >...
> "Joseph Thomas" > wrote in message
> m...
> > A search through this group for neon tetra deaths results in a huge
> > number of threads from those who've had similar experiences to mine:

> If you are determined to have Neons, set up a small tank and fill it with
> water (and new Neons) from where the Neons originated. Then gradually do
> water changes over a week such that your Neon tank's parameters shift
> towards your main tank's parameters. For example, do a 20% w/c on your
> main, followed by a 20% w/c on the Neon tank using the main tank's water.
> After 2 days, do another 20% change on the Neon tank using main tank
> water, etc etc, doing w/c on the main tank as required. This method
> better ensures that whatever parameters might shock the Neons, are slowly
> introduced at a speed they can absorb them.
>
> NetMax
>

NetMax, I appreciate your advice.

Joe

[Poe Lim]

I agree with NetMax; check the water parameters from your LFS where you get
your Neons from, and match them, then slowly bring them to that of your main
tank. I suspect the usual pH in the LFS would be in the 7.2 range; from 7.2
to 6.0 or less is a huge drop. When I buy new fish, I always ask the shop
for their water parameters, and try to match them as closely as possible in
a seperate tank, then bring it to what I need before adding the fish to the
others. That's a pretty low carbonate hardness; is that from your mains, or
are you doing something to soften the water?

Cheers,
Poe

"Joseph Thomas" > wrote in message
m...

> PH 6.0 (possibly lower), KH 1 degree, GH 1 degree
> Temp: 82 F

[Joseph Thomas]

"Stan" > wrote in message >...
> It happens no matter what you do sometimes. It would be curious to know
> if any of the neons at your LFS are still alive. I have lost count how
> many neons and cardinals I have seen all die at the LFS over the years.

You may be on to something there. Perhaps I erred by going to a
different store than the one I usually visit- which was out of neons
that day. I hadn't realized neons were that sensitive, and (poorly)
assumed they were more hardy, being one of the most common types
available.

In any case, I haven't been back to that store yet. It was a Petco,
so I wouldn't be surprised if they have a regular stock rotation.

[Joseph Thomas]

"Poe Lim" > wrote in message >...
> others. That's a pretty low carbonate hardness; is that from your mains, or
> are you doing something to soften the water?

It's only slightly higher from the tap: 2 degrees GH, 3 KH. Something
in my tank is obviously lowering it- perhaps the driftwood? I
purchased the driftwood from my LFS. They sell it resin coated.

Two days after I lost the tetras, I lost a blue ram. Two days later,
I found another dead. There's only one ram left now, but I fear it's
doomed. It looks fine, but as of this morning it has been spending
time near the filter intake. I haven't seen it do that for the 10
days I've had it so far. I feel hepless to do anything about it.

Over the weekend, I did do a 40% water change in order to raise the PH
a little. This brought it to 6.4. I hope this wasn't a mistake....

[Racf]

"Joseph Thomas" > wrote in message
om...
> "Poe Lim" > wrote in message
>...
> > others. That's a pretty low carbonate hardness; is that from your
mains, or
> > are you doing something to soften the water?
>
> It's only slightly higher from the tap: 2 degrees GH, 3 KH. Something
> in my tank is obviously lowering it- perhaps the driftwood? I
> purchased the driftwood from my LFS. They sell it resin coated.
>
> Two days after I lost the tetras, I lost a blue ram. Two days later,
> I found another dead. There's only one ram left now, but I fear it's
> doomed. It looks fine, but as of this morning it has been spending
> time near the filter intake. I haven't seen it do that for the 10
> days I've had it so far. I feel hepless to do anything about it.
>
> Over the weekend, I did do a 40% water change in order to raise the PH
> a little. This brought it to 6.4. I hope this wasn't a mistake....

Don't worry about the pH...ignore folks who tell you to...Your water
being that soft is wonderful, so do not screw with it. Get a TDS meter
and track your water quality with it. Do not subject your fish to more
than a 50 TDS change in 1/2 hour. Rams love soft acidic water. I have
2 males whom need girlfriends. My LFS (where I have credit) never gets
any females at least so far....

Petco.......when I go there I always inspect their fish....and they are
always sick...dieing...or dead......except their Africans (which are the
cockroach of Aquaria). I use 3x magnifying glasses to see all the
bobo's.

Believe it or not Wal-mart sometimes has some decent fish. The one by
me sells very few so they can be monitored for a few weeks........must
acclimate them very carefully from their high tds water to our
conditions. Last time I got a couple Cories in some 850 TDS water and
their tap water was 150. Thats a lot gooo in there......