Aqua scape timing

Am I posting this in the right place? I just rescaped my tank a few weeks ago. I did another today. They are all.fake plants and buildings. Is it bad to rescape this often? Last time I rescaped, one of my Otto had died. In the following hours. He wasn't doing well, but could the rescape have killed him? I have one Otto left. (S)he is breathing a little funny and looks a little blue as normal after a wc. I also changed the water about 33%-1/3 of my 20 gallon high.

 

The changes could be stressful to sensitive fish. Are you disturbing the substrate much when you rescape? What are your water parameters before and after you move everything? How many otocinclus did/do you have?

 

I had 3 ottos. 2 died. I gravel vac during my wc's. I don't test that much. My last parameters were 0-0.25 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5-35 nitrate. Haven't tested it after the scape

 

Might be worth doing because you may find that you're getting a spike.

 

Of what specifically?

 

It could be any one of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate and it may even change your pH drastically enough to kill fish. You've got to test them all.

 

Ok. Tested all with liquid. Same levels as listed above: a-0-0.25 ite-0 ate-1-5? PH-not high. Tested with strips- ite-0 ate-1-10 alkilinity- slightly low chlorine-0 hardness-hard

 

What is the pH?

 

JMO But you should test your water before and after with an API liquid test kit and also have a place to put you fish if your doing an entire rescape. If your doing just a few things I would do 1/2 during one WC and next week finish it as long as the parameters are good. Moving plants and substrate around can change your parameters in big way causing spikes.

I just just moved around a couple of plants last week and did some gardening and my Nitrates have been 5ppm for a very long time and after testing later that night my nitrates went to 20. It's not serious and it will stabilize to 5ppm again I'm sure but messing with a tank can cause problems. Get a test kit the best investment in this hobby it will save lives of your fish.

Edit: He said it's not high

Sorry had to do it.

 

Edit: He said it's not high

I know, but what does "not high" mean?

 

(She- I'm a girl) I did a test on pH and all I know is that it isn't above 7.6. All by plants are fake. The substrate stayed in the sand place pretty much (gravel tank only). Picture of my tank on profile. I have a test kit (on profile), but I'm color shade distinction unable for some colors (red and orange, yellow and light green).

 

Oh nuts, that does make it difficult. Still, it might be a good idea to check immediately before and again a short time after doing major renos on your tank in case it causes a spike. Better yet, do as Greenplant suggests and do changes in smaller bits to avoid any chance of trouble

 

I know, but what does "not high" mean?

I was just trying to make a joke nothing towards you and really just a joke which I should know better trying to make a joke on the net most times it's hard to tell.
I agree it's not high really that's good but how high is not high?

 

Under 7.6

 

Hmm, do you have any idea how far under 7.6? At a certain point, ammonia gets converted to a different form that doesn't hurt the fish and then if the pH goes back up it all gets converted back to ammonia which does.

 

PH is currently 6.8 btw. Sonic is doing fine

 

Sorry I'm a little late to the party...

If you have trouble differentiating between shades/colours have you considered taking your water samples to a pet shop for testing?

My local offers free testing for customers and I sometimes have them double check my results just to be sure I'm keeping things on track.

 

I don't go to my pet store very often.