Losing fish...any ideas appreciated

On Thu, 02 Jun 2005 14:49:33 GMT, "LaVerne Storey"
wrote:

Hi Gil,

Jumped on this late as I've just this week started setting up tanks again
after an 8-year absence due to work.
My questions and comments are woven below; bear in mind I'm VERY
old-fashioned about aquaria:

Hi All,
This is really a continuation from the Sick Mollie in my son's tank and
subsequent loss of two Mollies last weekend. I did my normal check this
morning and now one of the Rosy Barbs is on her way out. Checked the water
pH 8 (normal for our tanks), 0 Ammonia and Nitrites and Nitrates are at 5.

For most freshwater fish in general, and Mollies specifically are you adding
about 1/2 to 1 tsp of salt per gallon to the water? It greatly helps in
controlling
bacteria problems and helps the fish maintain their "slime coat" easier.
For lots of live plants, I'd probably go with the 1/2 tsp per gallon.

No new fish added for months. Tank has been running since last August.

Tank is around 15UK galls. Current occupants are 1 mollie and 4 Rosy Barbs
(around 10 inches of fish maximum). Plenty of plants. Water changes are
weekly 20-30%. We've had very few problems with this tank until now.

Why would you do more than maybe 10% water changes monthy, if that
much? I would, personaly, find 20%+ weekly to be way too stressful on
both fish and plants. What type of filter are you using?

I just can't figure out what is going on here or what to do next. If the
remaining Rosy Barbs would be OK with Gouramis I suppose I could move them
and then strip down the tank - this is the only thing I can think of for
now. But I hesitate because I don't want to risk infecting any of the
other
fish in the other tanks.

Does anyone have any clues as to what might be happening or what I can do
next to keep the remaining fish?

Wild-ass-guess here that the fish are being over-stressed by all the water
changes disturbing their enviroment, the water doesn't have time to "age"
and promote healthy fish.
Go with the very cheap and old-time salt fix and see how it works for you.

Please email me with the results.

Mack




Hi Mack,

You just prove my opinion that there are many ways to maintain our
fish. I hold an opposite view to you. I change 20% weekly. I have 5
tanks ranging from 75 to 29 to 10 gallons and have followed this
partial water change procedure for over 2 years.

While Mollies like some salt, not all fish do and I believe some
plants don't like salt. One size does not fit all! g

dick