On Wed, 1 Mar 2006 21:32:55 -0500, "Bill Stock"
wrote:

I've got six Cherry Barbs in a 10 gallon tank with 4 SAEs, three Otos and a
few snails. I know it's over stocked, but the SAEs will be moving on one
day. I normally feed the Barbs freeze dried Blood worms and let the rest of
the crew feed off the Algae. I occasionally feed the clean up crew some
Algae wafers, although I think it's affecting their efforts. But the Barbs
have been less than thrilled with their food lately.

You didn't mention any other food besides blood worms. While blood
worms are good food and many fish enjoy them, they don't provide a
complete nutritional diet for your fish. Your barbs like and need all
sorts of food, including some vegetable matter, so a balanced "general
purpose" flake food might be appreciated. If you are already feeding a
flake food and just didn't mention it here, my fish guy told me that
he often feeds marine flakes to his freshwater tanks - he said the
ingredients are very similar and the marine flakes have more "smell
enhancers". I did a sniff test on an open container and yup, those
marine flakes did smell a lot stronger. And my fish loved them.

My first thought was that the Nitrates might be getting too high, as I only
change the water every 10 days or so. But they tested at less than 5 ppm
after tonight's water change.

You are really pressing your luck with such infrequent water changes
on a small tank carrying a big load. It's time to get a bigger tank,
or add a couple of more 10's or 15's. Or both. It is so much easier
keeping a 29 healthy than it is a 10.

Next time, do your water test before your water change, that's where
the real info lies.

-- Mr Gardener