Copied thread "20 gal neon killing tank

[Roc]

This is also posted in water paramaters

Ok 1st let me state what I do know

20 gal 24X12X16
2 X 55 watt 10000K on for 6 hours a day
Topfin 150watt heater set for 79 degrees
Prussuized CO2 about 2 bps
HOB Emperor filter

Ferts:
KNO3 -1/4 teaspoon every other day
K2SO4 - 1/4 teaspoon every other day
KH2PO4 - Mixed 1 1/2 teaspoons with 240 ml of water add 4 ml every other day
Plantex CSM+B - mixed 1 tablespoon with 1 cup water, add 4 ml every other day (not same day as other ferts)
Tank up and cycled since June 06
heavly planted:
10 X Rotala sp. 'Colorata'
10 X Lagarosiphon madagascariensis
30 X Myriophyllum matogrossense both ‘Red’ and ‘Green’
2 X Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Brown'
6 X Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig'
10 X Hygrophila polysperma
10 X Microsorium pteropus ‘Narrow leaf ‘
8 X Nesaea crassicaulis
1 X Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Cuba'
1 X Nymphaea lotus 'Zenkeri'
5 X Blyxa Japonica
6 X Alternanthera reineckii
Blyxa japonica
Vesicularia dubyana
Vesicularia sp. ''Christmas''
Riccia fluitans

Water Parameters

Tap water:
KH - 40ppm
PH - 7.5

Tank Water:
KH - 30 ppm
PH - 6
Amonia - 0
Nitrate - 20ppm
Nitrite - 0

Drop checker shows a perfect balance (although the test do NOT)

Ok here is the issue, I have 3 Clown Plecos in this tank all been in it for about 6 months all are fine, I have 15-25 Red Cherry Shrimp that have been in tank for about 2 months all fine, I recently tried to add some Neons 1st 12 of which 8 died (I thought I had just gotten some bad fish as they died about 2-3 a day) so I talked to the store and they gave me 10 more (they died 1-2 a day). At this point there is 1 neon left, none of these fish showed any issues before there deaths.

Any ideas?

Obviously I don't want to add more fish until this is figured out, I didn't dose today just in case someone thinks that could be it.

[crazie.eddie]

Could you test the water parameters from the tank where you get the neons from? I bought cardinals a long time ago from one LFS, which were cheaper, but the water parameters were different from mine. None of the ones I bought from there survived. I bought more expensive cardinals from another LFS, but they use tap water for them, which happened to be the same as mine. All of which survived.

How do you acclimate them?

[Roc]

Originally Posted by crazie.eddie

Could you test the water parameters from the tank where you get the neons from? I bought cardinals a long time ago from one LFS, which were cheaper, but the water parameters were different from mine. None of the ones I bought from there survived. I bought more expensive cardinals from another LFS, but they use tap water for them, which happened to be the same as mine. All of which survived.

How do you acclimate them?

The place I bought them is very close to my home, I don't know what there water parameters are however most of the fish I own came from the same shop (Albany aquairum for those from the bay area very good shop)

When I bring them home I float the bag for about 20-30 mins, then I add a little bit of tank water to the bag and let sit for 5-10 min, I do this 2 or 3 times before i empty the bag through a net and put the fish in the tank. Keep in mind that the fish didn't have a massive death this was slow. I also don't know why the water has such a low PH and KH compared to my tap water




Post from the other thread:

Originally Posted by theinjected1

Are you shutting the CO2 off at night? If not, might be a problem for sensitive fish. Not sure, but the first thing that came to mind.

CO2 is on a Solinoid, comes on and goes off with the lights

[ianmason]

Turn the C02 off 20 mins before introducing the fish, this can shock them. I think all cardinals from all over (im in UK) are tough to aclimatise to new water. Every time my LFS's get batches in they quarantine them and I always see a good number die before they go on sale. My Girlfriend bought 6 and 5 died, I have had about 20 in total and a couple always die from each batch.

Saying that I just transfered 2 from my main RO water tank to my girlfriends Tap water tank and they were fine.

Were quite lucky in the UK to have a sp[ecalist fish release device. Basically it slowly sinks and mixes your tank water with the water the fish has come from. it takes about 40 mins. Once full, you net the fish and drain the mixed water to a bucket. ill try to find a link.

[ianmason]

http://andysworld.org.uk/aquablog/?postid=249

Here you go...