Shaina

Ok, so on all of your recommendations I picked up an API test kit from Petsmart last night, and testing my 10 gal (populated by 2 water wisteria and 4 neon tetra (3 I've had for 2 weeks; I got 3 yesterday and 2 died: I'm assuming the reason is as follows). Readings were:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: ?? - Couldn't test, liquid wouldn't come out of second test bottle (I even held it over a sink and squeezed really hard: nothing. I'm going to exchange it for a new kit tomorrow).
pH: 7.6 -> Retest w/ high pH soln and get pH = 8.2

So naturally I am like WHAT!? about the pH reading. I mean, I have neon tetras! The tank contains regular aquarium gravel (natural-style), a few granite rocks, and a Spongebob Squarepants decoration I got a few years ago at the LFS (the fish love swimming through the windows). In theory, nothing that should raise my pH.

So I test my tap water: pH = 8.0!

Is there anything I can do about this? I don't want to use additives to lower the pH if I don't have to, since I understand that could really make my pH moody. On the other hand, there's no way this is good for my tetras.

Help!

sgould

I wouldn't be concerned with the pH. Your fish can get along just fine with it. How did you acclimate the 3 new ones to the tank?

Shaina

Thanks for your reply!

I acclimated them before I knew my pH was so ridiculous. I floated their bag in the tank for 10 minutes, then added a bit of tank water (say, 1/10 the amount in the bag) every 10 minutes for the remainder of the hour. After an hour of this acclimating, I netted them and put them in the main tank. Do you think I should try the drip method, or continue what I was doing over a longer time? I feel awful about losing these fish...you'd think only having 6 fish I could keep them alive...

I don't know the water parameters of the LFS they came from: I'll ask next time.

On the up side, if I ever go Cichlids they should *love* my water (trying to look on the bright side here...)

sgould

That's a good acclimation method. No fish do well with rapid changes in water conditions, but my understanding is neons are particularly touchy. Having said that, your acclimation was sound, so I don't think that was the issue. I would be interested to hear your nitrate levels. How often are you doing water changes, and how much water when you do? How long has the tank been set up?

Don't get discouraged...sounds like you are doing the right things.

Shaina

Thanks for the encouragement -- it's much appreciated.

(1) The tank has technically been set up for 3 years, although I did a complete overhaul a year ago. Since then I've had 3 guppies in there, two weeks ago I added the three tetras. Sent the guppies to my mom's tank (a 20 gal with danios and cories), then got these ill-fated neons 3 days ago.

(2) I'm trading in the faulty nitrate kit for a good one tomorrow, so I will retest everything then, including nitrates: I'll be sure to post my results. I'm having a mini algae bloom right now as well (basically some brown algae started cropping up a few days ago, which I've left alone since I was hoping to get 3 otos next week and I understand they love brown algae...now I'm thinking adding more fish might not be such a good idea :-/).

(3) I was sketchy on water changes for a while, but for the last 6 months I've been doing:
- ~25% weekly
- ~40% every 4th week
- I have a gravel vac, so I roughly do all the gravel every week, and really get under the rocks and fake plants every other week (1/2 the tank each week)
- I alternate rinsing either the filter floss or the biosponge from the filter in tank water each week (this is new-I did both up until about 3 weeks ago, then decided to alternate to reduce the risk of killing my bacteria).
- When replacing water I have this stress coat stuff my LFS said would do water conditioning and help protect my fish, so I fill some empty distilled water jugs w/ tank-temp water (approx), put in this treatment stuff, let it sit a few minutes, then put it in the tank.

One thing I did do was add 1/2 a Seachem root tab to each of my 2 Wisteria clumps, burying it under the gravel yesterday afternoon: would that mess with my fish?

Okay that was long: sorry if I'm over-detailing, I'm just trying to get this right

ShaynaB

I have neons too, and my PH is ridiculously high like yours. (Gotta love city water...) Only one died when I purchased them... I think if you acclimate them right, ph isn't going to matter that much. None of my fish seem to care that it's so high. They're happy little buggers.

Sometimes fish don't make it through the stress of transport. I think that's why the one neon died on me and it's possible that it could be your problem too. When I put him in, I could tell he wasn't doing very well.

Your tank maintenance looks pretty good... I'm not sure about the root tabs, though, because I'm not brave enough to do a planted tank yet! I'm sure someone will come along that knows about the root tabs.

capekate

Hi Shaina
I agree... neon tetras are very fragile in transport. Buying them from a place like PetSmart doesnt help either lol... BUT for some of us, that is the only option we have.
Your tank routine sounds good, but for one thing. IMO I would never be rinsing out my filter media once a week. There really is no reason to do this and you are disrupting the beneficial bacteria growth every time you do. Why take a chance? Every one here has different routines for rinsing and changing out filter media, such as the floss and sponges so you can get all kinds of answers on this one. But I think that most would agree that doing this every week is unnecessary. Also... you should only be vacuuming half the gravel one week, half the next. With the rinsing of the filter media along with a full vacuum and cleaning you run the risk of a mini cycle every time.

~ kate

bpsmicro

Bottle #2 of the Nitrate kit is a suspension, not a liquid in the normal sense. It's actually a liquid with "bits" in it. That's why the instructions say to shake vigorously for a full minute. I usually have to shake the heck out of it, and still tap it hard on my desk to persuade it to let the 10 drops out.
Yours may have been stored upside down or on its side for a while, and the tip is clogged. You may find bashing it on a table (hard!) a few times will dislodge the guck. You could also try taking the dropper off and rinsing it, but be careful because that stuff isn't good for you (wear safety glasses and wash your hands after).

Brad.

Lucy

I have neons too, I started out with 3, added 2........2 died. Been planning to add more, but the ones at the store all look sickly.

I would suggest you quarantine any fish you plan to add in the future. I failed to do this. (One of my many beginner mistakes)

About the nitrate #2 solution. I had the same problem when I first got my kit. Shake it, bang it and shake some more.

This article might help you.
Important Information for API Freshwater Master Test Kit Users!

Shaina

Shayna- Thanks for the feedback .

capekate- I actually got my fish from my local LFS (a regional chain that seems to really know their stuff), but got the API kit from Petsmart. And thanks for the tank maintenance advice: perhaps I've been rather overzealous...

bpsmicro- Looks like I missed the text that said it was a suspension -- I'll try shaking it some more before I bring it back--thanks!

Lucy- Thanks for the link! I would love to quarantine my fish, but unfortunately my only tank is smaller than some people's quarantine tank, and I don't have a backup yet -- I've been watching sales to try to get a backup filter to run on my 10 gal and a heater that I can use in a clean container to serve as my quarantine, but have had no luck thus far.

Shaina

After much shaking, banging, inverting, and still more shaking, followed by waiting, the test results are in:

pH = 8.2
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrites = 0 ppm
Nitrates = 10 ppm

I'm glad I can do this at home now, rather than having my LFS do it.

Does this help with figuring out what happened to my poor fishies?

Lucy

Your water parameters look good.
I agree with my other FishLorians, sometimes, you just get sick or already stressed fish.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

Shaina

Ah well thanks; at this point I'm just hoping it was travel stress and not some disease that will wipe out my so-far very happy other three neons.