"Karen Garza" wrote in message
hlink.net...

Okay, I think I may have to try a new test kit then. I suppose it's
possible that I am removing the nitrate with my water changes. I do a
minimum of one weekly 30% water change and gravel vac. Sometimes I do an
extra 30% water change each week. I didn't think it was too much water
change, but I could be wrong. Wouldn't it be possible (maybe even
preferable) to even do a daily 50% water change if the fish are used to it?

I don't think that's a good idea at all. 50% water change daily is more likely
to leave you with a lot of dead fish than not. Despite all the chlorine
removers
and water conditioners, water changes to impose stress on fish. Every time
you change water, you also change the ion balance in the tank, forcing the
fish to adapt. There is only so much change they can cope with.
Too-frequent water changes tend to result in fish that mysteriously get
diseases such as fungal infections, fin rot, or other bacterial maladies.
The stress weakens the fish to the point where bacteria or fungi that
are always present (and normally pose no problems) take hold
and end up being fatal.

I'd limit water changes to no more than 25% weekly (assuming a
working biological filter). Step one is to work out whether your
nitrate readings are real or not. If they are, check out ammonia
and nitrite, which would be the suspects next in line. At any rate,
zero nitrate (assuming that is a correct reading) is not a problem
at all for your fish. It can be a problem for your plants, which need
nitrogen to grow, and zero-nitrate tanks also tend to have algae
problems (thanks Tom for making me see the light! :-), but you
fish will be perfectly happy with zero nitrates.

But if your neons are dying, there is something wrong. It's a
matter of elimination to work out why...

Cheers,

Michi.

--
Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
ZeroC, Inc. http://www.zeroc.com