Seacoll

I have had some troble latley with my 15 gal tank. I recently had this tank with only a couple of fish in it:

1 Male Bata
1 Albino Cory

I went to the store and bought 1 chinese algae eater. Lost this Alae eater within 12 hours. A couple of days later I lost my Cory. So I went to the store to return my Algae eater (get replacement) and get a new Albino Cory. I also took a water sample. They found nothing wrong only slight Nitrite but that did not concern them. They replaced the Agae eater. Off I go home and introduce my new algae eater to the tank and the next morning "dead!" again. So I bag it to take back a few days later, basically giving up on there Algae eaters. Well next my new Cory of 10 days goes belly up. So off I go again (water sample in hand), to return my algae eater. Water tests are fine. So this time I'm intorduced to "Blue Rams," and buy three. Based on my water pH etc... I now have 3 blue rams for my tank . I love these fish!! I come home tonight (3 days in the tank) and cannot find one. After 20min. of searching I find the bugger actually stuck in one of my fake plants, I don't think he's going to make it. Guess who's going back again for a replacement. Does anyone have any ideas:

I completed a tank vac. and 1/3 water change yesterday and was careful to add the proper temp. water in the tank.
Tested at time of post.
pH=7.0
total alkalinity = 0
chlorine 0 ppm (well water)
temp. 78 F +/-
Nitirte (NO2) = 0
no amonia.
General Hardness approx. 20
Carbonate Hardness 10 ppm

Current fish in tank
7 Neon Tetras
1 Male Bata
3 Blue Rams ?
1 Calaco Cory (busy little bugger!)

I plan on another water change on the weekend and some genearl tank cleanup. Rinsed my filter this evening.

Seacoll

I hope I can get this right (luv the rams), please note I'm away till Friday.

Tayful

I'd recommend figuring out what the problem is before you get anymore fish, and any new fish you introduce could have diseases also.

Other things, I wouldn't recommend keeping a betta in that tank, and corydoras catfish should be kept in groups of six or more, but considering the size of your tank you can't do that - and you're getting a bit overstocked.

Lucy

Hi Seacoll,
Welcome to Fishlore
I agree with Tayful. Your betta should be in a tank by him/herself, I've heard they will sometimes tolerate cories.

Your post didn't mention when you added the neons. Did you add them all at once? I'm pretty new to all this, but could adding them throw your water parameters off?

Rams are pretty and I love neons, but your fish are not compatible. This may help you:
http://www.petco.com/assets/livefish...aterchart.html

I thought Fishlore had a compatablity chart, but I couldn't find it.

Also, your tank is overstocked
7 neons = 10.5"
1 betta = 2.5"
3 rams = 9"
1 cory = 2.5'
Total inches of fish: 24.5

You may want to consider returning some fish or getting another tank.

I hope this helps you. Good luck with your tank.

Seacoll

I here you both, the tank is getting too full. I'll be busy with water changes etc. for a while. Regarding the Bata. I've had this fish for at least a year and had no issues with agressive behavior. This is a tough guy and easity moved into a smaller environment though. I'll keep an eye on him. Do you think he's bullying the other fish in the tank? I have a breader net & can put him in to test this out. Between work, home etc.. the timelines on the new fish are fuzzy. My plan is to eventually make this a GBR tank only or purchase a larger tank over then next few months for the GBR's. This tank has been around and in/out of service over the last 30 years and I've always had great success with a single Cory, but I suspect you both have way more experience than I.

Thks.
Seacoll

PS: My water has been pretty stable except for one wing nut who suggested I change my pH. The first water test wast 6.8. My well water runs about 6.8. After looking at the GBR's & my other fish they can all handle my pH of 6.8 from my well.

Lucy

Is it Friday already? lol

I don't have that much experience except reading this darn forum too much!
It sounds like you have a plan in place. Good luck, oh and we love pics!

Seacoll

Hi Lucy,

No I'm just lookin' thru all of the other stuff on the site before I log off.

susitna-flower

HI, SEACOLL, WELCOME TO FISHLORE...

To keep your fish healthy, until the cycle is finished you do need to do water changes every day of 25-50%. Good Luck.

Seacoll

Do you think I have a cycling problem or am about too? I'll definatly keep an eye on the tank now!

Seacoll

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

Yea, the Male Betta shouldn't be in a tank with those other fish, particularly the Rams.

The tank is also overstocked so you'll want to do extra water changes (probably 2 per week) for it to keep the water chemistry levels good.

Seacoll

Well my trip got moved to Friday so I tried to take some pictures only one turned out. Here it is my fist photo of my dominant female GBR . I did lose the male. Once I get the tank stable I'm gettin' one more.

I checked my tank levels and the only slight change I saw was a trace of Nitrites, up from 0 2 days ago, so I did another tank vac&partial water change today. I think that my gravel had way too much waist in it and when the rams started diggin' they triggered a change in the water.

Seacoll

Attached Images

P3260019-2.jpg (59.9 KB, 6 views)

Seacoll

Well, last night I checked my tank yet again and my nitrite readings were 0.1 ppm which was odd (after a 33% water change 2 night ago). So I thougt I should check my well water. The nitrie readings from my well water are 0.1 ppm. So it looks like I'm never going to get down to 0. Anyhow I checked my tank tonight and it looks like I have the following readings:

Amonia 0
Nitrite ~0.2 (up from 0.1) but its a judgement call with color readings, had my wife verify. I'm going to leave this and check again tomorrow.
pH 7.0 (stable)

I thougt of something else, about 6 weeks ago I changed my charcoal media and bought charcoal with some Amonia control stuff. I wish I could remember the brand etc. So I'm off to the store tomorrow for some new media, thought I would try the Perigen if they have it. I typically never change my foam filter, just clean it out in my well water (i.e. squeeze the crap out of it, then put it back in the tank). This has worked really well over the last 5 years (and yes sometimes I'm just that cheep)

I think I'll also get a nitrate kit just to be sure.

Does anyone have any warnings or suggestions when I change my media. I do know that I'm a bit overstocked and possibly my Nitrie problem is from that. However I thought I would keep on trying and see if I can learn something. Also does anyone find it strange that my Nitirite goes up but my amonia readings are consistantly 0 .

Seacoll