Cardinal fish diagnostic

[sgh360]

HI I have a 55 gallon Fish only aquarium

2 Turbo snails
3 Hermit crabs
2 Clownfish
1 Firefish
1 (passed away) Cardinal fish

Water Parameters

Ph 7.8
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 20
SG 1.023

Ever since I got this cardinal 15 days ago acclimated him for an hour to reduce stress he never moved all these weeks, he ate for the past 13 days until recently he stop eating and notice red around his eye and immediately move him to a quaratine 10 gallon tank not knowing what will happen, he did not eat, I maintained water changes to keep the ammonia in control, but today I found him dead on my tank. here's a picture of my lucky

 

[Goldwing_Don]

your PH is alittle low there ...you need to get it up to about 8.2

 

[Aquarist]

Hello SGH
Sorry to hear that your Cardinal isn't feeling up to par.

When you have the chance if you would be so kind as to update your profile aquarium information it will be a great help.
Thanks!
Ken

 

[Stang Man]

Sorry for your loss Sadly it does happen. How are the rest of your fish? G Don is right your at a neutral level needs to be around 8.0 -8.4 as a safe zone what's your alkalinity level?

 

[Naeusu]

It's kind of hard to say what natural is for cardinals...I have 2 healthy specimens that spend most of their time just floating in the back of the tank until evening. They are nocturnal so it's hard to see when they're happy....sorry he passed.

 

[sgh360]

My DHK is 12

I did not know they where nocturnal well thx guys I just wanted to know how it managed to get red in the eye

 

[Stang Man]

My DHK is 12

I did not know they where nocturnal well thx guys I just wanted to know how it managed to get red in the eye

Between 9 and a 11 is good 12 is okay but don't let it get any higher.