what to do?

fish_r_friend · January 28th, 2006

my tank just recovered from ICH and 3 fish died about a week ago. then 3 days later anotherfish died

.So i was just wondering if any1 had any thing similar happen to them.

the fish i have as of now are 4 serpae tetras,3 zebra Danio's,1 platy and a common pleco

atmmachine816 · January 28th, 2006

fish off get rid of the pleco hel get to big for ur tank second r u medicating them at all third do a major water change is wat i owuld say and once ur done treating everthing get 1 more danio wait for gunie or buterly for more advies

Gunnie · January 28th, 2006

Are your ammonia and nitrite levels at zero?

fish_r_friend · January 28th, 2006

my nitrate levels are 3(yeah i know their high) i dont know about ammonia

Gunnie · January 28th, 2006

Your nitrite level is past toxic. Do at least a 50% water change right away.

fish_r_friend · January 28th, 2006

I just did a 60%water change i can't cheek the nitrate yet thought

Gunnie · January 28th, 2006

Very good. You may have to do another water change tomorrow. I think that's the reason you were losing your fish. Hopefully that will stop now.

fish_r_friend · January 28th, 2006

the pet store where i got them said it might have been the ich medicine. thanks for ripling so soon

fish_r_friend · January 28th, 2006

also does anyone have any suggestions for a bottom feeder?

newbie101 · January 28th, 2006

How big is your tank? It all depends on that.
cory catfish, (but more than 1 hopefully, they like to have a friend or 2) bushynose or bristlenose (i think theyre the same) plecos, ottos, um...thats all i can think of at the moment

fish_r_friend · January 28th, 2006

my tank is 20 gallons

fish_r_friend · January 28th, 2006

PS my platy is lonely soon going to get another one soon :

newbie101 · January 28th, 2006

you actually might be able to get away with the common then.....well, you better wait for the experts on stocking to come along

rob2uk · January 28th, 2006

If you want something to to clean up the algae and uneaten food, you could do worse than Pseudogastromyzon myersi, also known as Sucker Belly Loach.

I have 2 in my tank, they do a pretty good job

newbie101 · January 28th, 2006

oh right the loaches and general "algae eaters"...how could i forget my kuhli loaches?

fish_r_friend · January 28th, 2006

how big do they get?

newbie101 · January 28th, 2006

common plecos can get to about a foot long I think

my friend has a 10 gallon tank with a huge one and a sad-looking betta

actually its her brothers but he never feeds them

rob2uk · January 28th, 2006

The Sucker Belly Loaches don't even reach 2 inches

newbie101 · January 28th, 2006

cool thats good 2 know

Gunnie · January 29th, 2006

Those "suckerbelly" loaches are also called hillstream loaches and are great algae eaters. However, they prefer strong current in the tank, and are really a coldwater fish, so please keep that in mind. Butterfly has some in her tank. She can tell you more. I had one a couple of years ago and they are quite fascinating when you see them, but stay hidden most of the time, at least mine did.

http://www.loaches.com/hillstream_loaches.html

fish_r_friend · January 29th, 2006

cool i will have to do more research

fish_r_friend · January 29th, 2006

i just did another water change and the nitrates are still hight

i cant do another water change till weds thought my gravel vacuum broke.any suggestions would be nice for a new gravel vac.I had a top fin vac

EmpPleco · January 29th, 2006

For a good bottom feeder, I would recommend a Emporer Pleco (aka Flash Pleco, L-204).. They reach 5-6" in length maximum, very cool to look at and don't take up much room at all. I have one (hence my name) and he is very happy and healthy in my 20 gallon tank along with 6 zebra danios and 4 glass cats. He is very active at night and will clean up the substrate very well at this time.

chickadee · January 29th, 2006

Emma-

What has come over you? LOL

Rose

newbie101 · January 29th, 2006

come over me?

chickadee · January 29th, 2006

to forget your kuhlis

newbie101 · January 30th, 2006

oh yes that
i dont know

i think that was my evil twin that doesnt like kuhlis (which makes it a very evil twin indeed)
:P

Butterfly · January 30th, 2006

Those sucker belly loaches are Hillstream loaches as Gunnies said. They don't actually eat the algae they eat little critters that grow in the algae and are invisable to the naked eye. So yow WANT algae to grow in their tank. They also like cooler water 65-70 degrees F. They also eat shrimp pellets and clean up stuff that fall to the bottom.
Common Plecs get well over 12 inches long and are not good choices for tanks 12 inches ar less deep as they need room to turn around. they are also heavy waste producers. 10 g tanks are not suitable for them at all.
Kuhlis will clean up the bottom but will not eat algae and are exceptionally entertaining

corys will clean -up the bottom but will not clean algae off of stuff.
bristlenose get about 5 inches will clean up the bottom and keep algae cleaned off of everything. Thats all I can think of.
Carol

atmmachine816 · January 30th, 2006

clown plecos dont get more than 6inches and they eat food off the bottom but arent real good algea eaters