Jewels

Thanx so much for the care -sheet Capekate (kate is a favorite name for me, by the way!). I took your advice regarding the ongoing care of the only survivor "Alpha" and since they were all small fish (still worth $46 AUS down here!), I've been giving him/her 4-5 feeds of the frozen Discus food that Discus Expert (also online as "Rainbow Rodney") sold me. This has, I'm pleased to say, relly picked the poor fish up! He/she is no longer off the food and sulking on the bottom with no pectoral fin flapping, but looking plumper, more active and generally healthier. When I get my Discus on credit and another one, I have decided that I will go for not only colour but also get larger fish........Many thanx Capekete! (et al)......Cheers Jewels

capekate

Hello Jewels
glad to hear your Discus is doing better. I hope that the change of water and getting rid of the phosphate has helped. I wouldnt put in any more of that PH down in there again. It must have been too much of a change for them and stressed and weakened them. keep us posted! and some photos would be wonderful!

Marc

Keeping in mind that your tank is under 30 gallons... you do not have anywhere near enough room for Discus and Angelfish together, let alone Clown Loaches. Each fish gets over 6" in length, Discus and Angels getting very tall, and some clown loaches topping off at 13".

Now... ignoring that, with the fish you have, and how that tank is, your initial problems sound alot more like nitrate poisoning combined with whatever shock may have been induced from the introduction of chemicals. It is almost always a good idea to keep chemicals out of the tank unless necessary, and something like pH does NOT need to be kept too precise in most cases. Do not add any more phosphate remover. It sounds like most of your problems will stem from water quality issues, so I'd say to do a waterchange before adding ANYTHING, just because that would more than likely be the best solution. Just add water and dechlor, and nothing else!!

What temperature do you keep the tank? 85 fahrenheit is a good number, since the other fish in the tank will tolerate it.

I'd recommend doing 50% water changes every other day for the next week or so, and consider whether or not you'd like to make it a Discus tank, since what you have now is not so good in the long run.

Jewels

Hi Marc Capekate et al,
I'm aware of my size limitation, and fully intend on selling fish back to aquarium shops and replacing them with smaller ones when they (each) get too big. All the advice from Capekate and other online has helped. Honestly, before those ratbags, whoever they were (and who the local Detectives are still after), stole my fish and mangled my tank everybody was very happy and healthy! Including 3 small Cobalt x Turquoise Discus....
The only fish thet I let get big was my Bristlenose Catfish, since they do such a good cleanup job (named "Harry the Hoover"!). All the others were thriving as long as I did a regular water change at least once a week, more in the hot weather here in Australia. And yes, all I used to put in was Chlorine remover and fish conditioning solution which comes as one liquid here....Good stuff.
I have been giving them all 5 small serves of the frozen Discus food a day, and they are all looking much happier and healthier. I will, as advised by the guy who did my total water test advised, 'play it by ear'. I will do another water change in at least a couple of days. Sooner if they get miserable looking, stressed or skinny. I feel like a bit of a fool for leting that guy at a shop talk me into adding all that stuff to the water, but I've learnt my lesson, albeit the hard way!
Honestly my tank was happy with exactly the same mixture of fish and plants for years prior to the breakin, where they were probably stolen, as there was only one dead body in the water that was left after a major leak...From the burglars knocking it as they raced around vandalising the place and stealing stuff.......
I'm a biogeographer and ecologist, and the only thing that might be a concern is if too much breeding occurs, when I'll get advice about what to do, from a reliable source this time!
I ended up with triple phosphate remover in there, and then did a third of a tank water change the next day, after they all picked up....
Yes Kate, when I'm not so busy I'll post some piccys of the cross Discus, as a matter of interest...... just for everyone else. they were lovely looking fish! I'm going to replace the 2 dead Cobalts with 2 Brilliant Blue Discus, I've decided...... Cheers Jewels