Alkalinity/Hardness

The dechlor may have been the problem with the Farlowella but it is new. I wasn't using it when all the other cory's died. The cory's didnt have anything visibly wrong with them like ich or fungus. I'm going with starvation for the cory's and temp/dechlorator brand/me stealing all the algae on the glass/Congo's picking on him at first, for Fleco's distress. The last cory cat that died had been in there for 4 months so I think that may have just been because of the Congo's picking on him and him being stressed cause he was alone. Thank you guys for all you help! This kinda stuff is so confusing... and dishearting for me as I am just jumping back into this hobby with this tank. You guys know, you feel like a terrible parent with your fishy babies die.

 

Ahh, I agree it that might help some fish spawn, couldn't a sudden water temp drop possibly caused a fungus or ick problem? What I wonder is I agree it sounds like the DeChlor, but combined with a sudden water temp drop would have definitly messed with the more sensative fish, like a double whammy.

Some fish like loaches would have a problem with the sudden temp change and ich might result. The sudden change of temp along with a water change is a recommended way to get corys to spawn. It simulates the spring rains/floods from what I understand.
Carol

 

The dechlor may have been the problem with the Farlowella but it is new. I wasn't using it when all the other cory's died. The cory's didnt have anything visibly wrong with them like ich or fungus. I'm going with starvation for the cory's and temp/dechlorator brand/me stealing all the algae on the glass/Congo's picking on him at first, for Fleco's distress. The last cory cat that died had been in there for 4 months so I think that may have just been because of the Congo's picking on him and him being stressed cause he was alone. Thank you guys for all you help! This kinda stuff is so confusing... and dishearting for me as I am just jumping back into this hobby with this tank. You guys know, you feel like a terrible parent with your fishy babies die.

I understand how you feel, believe me. Almost all of us have had some kind of similar situation when we got going. Right now I have a beautiful tank, yes, but if I told you all the things I did wrong when I first set it up I'd fill 3 pages. And worse of all, around christmas I lost my favorite pair of angelfish to a mistake that me... supposedly someone here that knows what I'm doing... made with a piece of driftwood. It was a dumb, stupid mistake, I should have known better, and before I could correct it, my favorite 2 fish had died. Dude, I was crushed and I know EXACTLY what you mean.
The important thing is to not just give up and toss everything out thie window. Fishtanks are tough, and a lot of work to make right. And there is a lot of stuff to learn, yes. But like you said, you've already learned alot. Now it's time to either fix the tank or rebuild it, whatever you feel will make things right.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, my Swamp Tank went thru 5 or 6 (I'm not sure which now) rebuilds before I got it right. But if I might suggest something before you start thinking of tearing things apart, go see if you can find a book called: "Aquarium Designs Inspired By Nature" by Peter Hiscock. It is an amazing book not only on fish, but on fish Environments. And it really contains a wealth of great info on what fish live where in the world, what the conditions in that part of the world are, and how to build a tank to recreate these conditions. It's a great book for someone that doesn't want to build just a fishtank, but a real home for their fish. And if you like fish it's just a really good read.

Some fish like loaches would have a problem with the sudden temp change and ich might result. The sudden change of temp along with a water change is a recommended way to get corys to spawn. It simulates the spring rains/floods from what I understand.
Carol

Oh, OK. I know that's how to spur on Neons and other Amazon rainforest fish. Didn't know it worked on Cory's, but it makes sense. Guess we can probably rule that part out.

 

definately will put the book on my wish list. your swamp sounds so cool. I am not going to tear down the tank though. I got another large piece of drift wood and a couple low light plants that will hopefully work in there. Cryptocoryne wendiI and hornwort. see what happens Thanks again for all your help!!!

 

definately will put the book on my wish list. your swamp sounds so cool. I am not going to tear down the tank though. I got another large piece of drift wood and a couple low light plants that will hopefully work in there. Cryptocoryne wendiI and hornwort. see what happens Thanks again for all your help!!!

I'm not a huge fan of Hornwort (gorws too fast) but WendtiI crypts are one of my favorites, and I've had great luck with them. Just one thing I want to warn you about Crypts in general. they get this weird thing called Crypt rot. I don't think anyone knows exactly what causes it, the best guess is some kind of sudden change in environment, temp, ferts, etc... Just out of no where one of your leaves might up and disintigrate, literally! Right down to the cellular level. It may spread or it may be just one leaf.
My point is I've seen it, i've had it happen, and even though it looks kinds bizarre, it's nothing to freak out about. Even when my tank is at it's most stable I get it now and then, usually now just older leaves dying off I think.
Anyway, I would definitly try Wendtii's, there' a beautiful cool little low-light plant, and if you can find copper or rose ones, they add some great reddish color to a planted tank. Plus like I said, dispite the crypt rot thing I've had great luck with them.

 

Wow! I know what you were talking about now Jim. My hornwort has more than doubled in size! I think it is growing before my eyes. What should I do? TrI'm it? Is there a good way to do that without hurting the plant? It is about 4 inches from the top of my 28 inch tank!

 

Wow! I know what you were talking about now Jim. My hornwort has more than doubled in size! I think it is growing before my eyes. What should I do? TrI'm it? Is there a good way to do that without hurting the plant? It is about 4 inches from the top of my 28 inch tank!

Don't panic. hehehe. I have several big Jungle Vals that literally grow 2-3" a day, and I think hornwort grows faster! I let my Vals go for a while and then cut them back every couple weeks or so. You can do the same with your hornwort. Let them keep growing for now, then figure how you want them to look. Do you want them all the way to the top or before the top? Or like my Vals that sort of grow up and across the top for some cover (the fish like that). It shouldn't make any difference to the plant, unless the top stuff gets so dense that it blocks the light going to the other plants.
One thing when trimming plants: I have a long handled LFS plant pruner, and a small pair of sharp stainless steel scissors, that are ONLY for trimming plants. You don't want to use some old nasty scissors, that'll contaminate your tank, and you want something really sharp, that'll make a nice clean cut and not tear the stems or leaves, which is much better for the plants. For close work I prefer the little curved manicure scissors myself. They're small, extremely sharp, and the slight curve in the blade has come in handy a couple times. And a good stainless pair is only a few $$$.
One thing with your Hornwort is if you wait and let it grow some, then when you cut it back take off some nice big pieces, like 8-10" or so I guess, you can plant the cuttings if you want! If the substrate is right, and it sounds like it is, then they should root and grow with no problem.

 

This morning it is about 2 inches from the top, lol! I was thinking about doing that. I don't have it planted though I is actually weighted and kinda twisted lightly around my driftwood. I heard they grew better when left floating but I wanted it as a backdrop plant so I did that. Maybe I will take out some of my plastic plants and make a little hornwort forest, it does look nice But I have some Anubias lanceolata coming so I need to leave some room in the back for that too. I'm jumping into this plant stuff head first! I hope there's no rocks down there...

 

OK, my understanding is hornwort does fine floating or planted. It sort of forms pseudo roots if you stick it in the substrate. Your call, which ever you think looks better. You may in fact be better leaving like it is in case something happens and it dies. It'll be easier to get out of there.
Now, AnubI are similar to Java ferns, and do better attached to wood or rocks. You can plant then in the ground if you like, but make sure the bulb (it'll have one) stays ABOVE the substrate. If you bury it, it'll rot and the plant will die. What I did with mine is tie it to a piece of driftwood, but only about 2" from the bottom. It attached itself in about 2 weeks, and a couple weeks after that the roots had found their way underground. BTW, the roots looks really weird and add a certain wildness to a planted tank, I wouldn't hide them if I were you. Other than that AnubI are very tough, and rather low light, so it would actually do better in the shade of the hornwort than out front in brighter light.

So when are you going to post some more pics??

 

I think I have the perfect piece of driftwood for the Anubias. I read that it should also be at a 45 degree angle to the substrate. That sound right?

I actually am right now. Check out my member blog

 

I hadn't heard about the 45 angle part before... could be. I always try to position mine so the leaves are as upright and straight as possible, I never really paid attention to the bulb before. hmmmmmmm, now I'm curious, I'll have to see what I can find out about that.
Ironically enough, if you look at my swamp tank, you'll see both my driftwood pieces are at about a 45 degree angle...lol.