Patchspud

Hi All. It's been a whie since I have been on line but rather selfishly I had no problems and sort of got out of the habit. Sorry.

Well the tables have turned. I have a 21 (uk) gallon tank which has been a ightmare since I bought it last year.

I stared it off with platys which were doing rather well and breading like mad. Then all of a sudden they stopped and alot of the adults died. I passed on the babies to friends as they were in a nursery tank in any event. The only problem I found was pH fluctuating more often than the Manchester weather which is very often.

Once I sorted that and re-cycled, I changed the tank to cold water fish. A couple of fan tails which I had had for some years in another tank and 3 plain small gold fish. All was well until this last 2 weeks when my PH has gone up the wall again and I have lost all my cold water fish.

I just do not know what is going on. I have kept tropical and cold water fish for many many years and rarely had a problem even managing over the years to bread Angeld fish as well as tiger barbs.

Is there such a thing as Sick Tank Syndrome? Could it be the tank itself? I am at my wits end with it and it is currently cycling again with no live stock at all. I am going to buy some new plants at the weekend but that is it.

Sorry for the novel but if anyone could help I would be really grateful.

Thank you.

Cody

i have a tank that was when ever things looked good, it would fail on me. were you adding anything to correct the ph, your normaly better to just leave it since the fish will adjust to it, and the ph buffers need to be added frequently and normaly cause the ph to flucuate, as you no would harm your fish, it sounds like you no all about cycling and what not, is it that your tap waters ph keeps changing or is there anything that you think would cuase it to change

Patchspud

I can't think of anything that would do this. I don't use chemicals if at all possible at all. I do do frequent partial water changes, never overfeed ad only clean filters in fish tank water. It has puzzled me now for some time. It is upsetting due to the lack of fish but also infuriating.

My largest tank has been set up for over 15 years and to honest apart from feeding I neer touch it. My fish last for years and years and breed for fun in there.

I am a great believer in leaving a tank to it's own devices save for filter cleaning ever 6 months or so. I am truely baffled.

Thanks for the swift answer.

Cody

its wierd i know people that do the same thing and have tons of success and others that give the fish the best care but can keep them alive, what are your ph levels and how often and how much are they changing

Patchspud

I'll have to post the levels later as I just did a partial change so they won't be true. Last one i did earlier this evening was about 5.5 Argh!!!!!! I didn't bother testing anything else as I had just flushed the last of my fish. When it goes it always goes to the acidic end of the scale, never the other way around.

Cody

when you do water changes, do you shipon the gravel or just change the water, your ph can be come more acidic when there ae waste build ups i had a problem like this about 6 months ago, i cant remember exactly but i know it was becuase of waste build up and it causes the ph to go lower which wasnt as big of deal, but the lower ph affected somthing else that would be fatal to my fish, wish i could remember ill do some reaserch to see if i can refresh my memory

Patchspud

Thanks for that. I do clean the gravel but only if it is clearly dirty. I'll post the levels tomorrow after the new water has had time to settle and I'll post levels from my tap water. Just going to run a glass now and leave it.

I appreciate your help. More tomorrow.

Shawnie

im sorry about your fishies dieing..and not knowing why is sooo darn frustrating...Im wondering what all the water parimeters are ...maybe its in a mini cycle? and what are using to test ph, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? maybe thats off a bit?

ph is usually adaptable by all fishies..its a fluctuating ph that usually is more harm..up then down etc....godluck on finding out the issues....I hope you can figure it soon!

Patchspud

Hi Shawnie

I use liquid testers not strips - always have. It's called Nutrafin made by Hagen. Top product over here.