Need help with guppy tank - please!

I am at a loss. I have read conflicting information online about how things should be, so I hope some experts can help me here (a lot of my Google searches returned me to the fishlore forums).

Facts about my tank:

55 gallon tall
temp = 76
ammonia = .25
pH = 7.6
high range pH = 7.4
nitrite = 0ppm
nitrate = 5.0ppm
AquaClear CycleGuard Power Filter (for a 70 gallon tank)

I mostly keep guppies in this tank. The only other tank mates are 6 otocinclus and 1 mystery snail. All live plants with a pebble substrate. Tank has been running like this for approximately 6 months - this is not a new tank and has cycled for a while.

The current issue:

I do a partial water change weekly. I buy my buckets of water from the local fish store and was told that it's rodI water and would be great for my tanks. For some reason, I cannot keep guppies alive for anything. I recently treated the tank for columnaris as some of the guppies had the white "moldy" looking spots. That was about 2 weeks ago. I have already performed water changes as necessary since the treatment, and haven't seen any resurgence of the disease.

This past week, I was unable to perform my partial water change on my regular day (Saturday). I did it last night instead. Yesterday, I lost 3 guppies. Today, I lost 2. I don't have a lot of guppies in here - there are maybe 10 left. Half of the 10 aren't even fully grown, as they were babies from a batch born about 2 months ago. I have a fish death at least once or twice a week (a single fish here and there). I do drip acclimations when I purchase new fish, and I quarantine them for a few days in a separate tank with the same parameters.

I want to have a beautiful guppy tank, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've had other fish in this tank (tetras, barbs, etc) and no problems. No matter what tank I have the guppies in, they just ... don't thrive. Sometimes I catch the guppies "flashing" or rubbing on the gravel or plants, so I add some aquarium salt and they seem to settle down (5 tablespoons for the whole tank, according to the instructions on the bag for the size of my tank). I just can't get the nagging suspicion out of my head that I'm doing something wrong and that's why they're dying all the time.

 

Are you adding the RO/DI water in its pure form without adding a remineraliser? If so, that's your problem, and that's why adding salt helps (though you'd be better off using an actual remineraliser rather than just salt alone). Guppies like hard water, and RO/DI water is so soft that it has no minerals in it at all. Tetras and Barbs both like soft water, but they need some minerals added back to RO/DI water, just not so much as guppies need.

 

What is wrong with your tap water?

 

I am a newbie myself, but I will take a shot at this. I think it may be the reverse osmosis (rodi) water you are using. Fish require minerals in the water and I believe the rodI water removes these minerals. You may be better off with your tap water.

If you can pick up a test for general hardness GH and Carbonate hardness KH, that may help.

You also noted ammonia of 0.25. You hope for this to be zero. Some people get false ammonia reading from the API master test kit. Make sure you follow the testing instructions to the letter including reading the results in a well lit area against a white background.

If you have had some fish deaths and the fish were not removed quickly, that could explain a little ammonia. In the meantime, you may want to treat with an ammonia detoxifier like Seachem Prime.

How much water do you change each week?

You should get some more comments by people with more experience than I have. We will see what they have to say.

[EDIT] You got some other comments while I was typing. Looks like the consensus is the reverse osmosis water.

 

Sorry, I forgot to add the gh and kh numbers. Just picked up a test on my way home from work today. I removed a dead fish right before I tested the water, so maybe that was the reason for the amount of ammonia, but I was wondering too if it's maybe the live plants? I try to remove everything dead asap, but with a full time day job, I'm limited on how fast I can be.

GH = 5
KH = 5

What is wrong with your tap water?

When I test it, the nitrites and nitrates of my tap water are always super high. We have a water softening system, so I always assumed that would be a problem for the aquariums.

 

Live plants do not create ammonia- in fact they should help with its removal.

 

Are you adding the RO/DI water in its pure form without adding a remineraliser? If so, that's your problem, and that's why adding salt helps (though you'd be better off using an actual remineraliser rather than just salt alone). Guppies like hard water, and RO/DI water is so soft that it has no minerals in it at all. Tetras and Barbs both like soft water, but they need some minerals added back to RO/DI water, just not so much as guppies need.

What would you suggest? And is it something I can get from PetSmart? I'll be by a PetSmart later on today.

 

I believe you will need to remineralize your water. I believe Seachem Equilibrium is recommended to remineralize in planted tanks.

Here is another thread that seems that it may address a similar issue:

What's Wrong With My Guppies Guppy 285326

Here is one on understanding pH, GH and KH.

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...-kh-gh-in-home-aqauriums.113548/#post-1238691

A few comments on a forum is not enough to reach a conclusion. Especially comments from a newbie like me.

You may need to make the change gradually. Fish will adapt to their water and a sudden change can be worse than bad water.

You can also go to the Seachem website www.seachem.com . They have a help system where you can ask a question and they will get back to you.

 

What would you suggest? And is it something I can get from PetSmart? I'll be by a PetSmart later on today.

I personally don't keep Guppies so I use a remineraliser meant for shrimp in my tanks. I also don't live in the US so I don't know what can be bought at PetSmart. I know a lot of people use Seachem Equilibrium but I have never personally used it. I know it's focused on plant health- possibly another user might recommend a product that is perfect for Guppies.

If your fish store told you that RO/DI water is great for Guppies and didn't tell you that you need to use a remineraliser and/or recommend one for you to use, I think I would have some harsh words for the manager there.

 

I personally don't keep Guppies so I use a remineraliser meant for shrimp in my tanks. I also don't live in the US so I don't know what can be bought at PetSmart. I know a lot of people use Seachem Equilibrium but I have never personally used it. I know it's focused on plant health- possibly another user might recommend a product that is perfect for Guppies.

If your fish store told you that RO/DI water is great for Guppies and didn't tell you that you need to use a remineraliser and/or recommend one for you to use, I think I would have some harsh words for the manager there.

I actually stopped by there on my way home today (to buy the gh & kh test kit) and asked him about recommendations for bumping up my gh levels, and he told me that it would be ridiculous to add the gh back, since that's what I was buying his ro water for. There aren't many good fish store options around here, but it might be time to venture out and look for a new place.

 

he told me that it would be ridiculous to add the gh back, since that's what I was buying his ro water for.

This is silly, I use RO water from the fish store and add equilibrium to raise the GH back up. The reason to do this is exactly why you don't use your tap water - there are good things and bad things that the RO removes, indiscriminately.
I agree with the others that your GH MIGHT be your issue. I aI'm for a GH of 8.5 and KH of 6 for my guppies. Your KH is just fine, I'd just try to raise the GH a bit. That said I don't think a GH of 5 would be dangerous in any way, but I do know guppies love hard water.

An alternative to using RO and adding back minerals would be to use your tap water with prime or something similar that detoxifies nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia. Though I'm not sure whether what prime does would last or if you would need to dose prime daily.

 

An alternative to using RO and adding back minerals would be to use your tap water with prime or something similar that detoxifies nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia. Though I'm not sure whether what prime does would last or if you would need to dose prime daily.

Seachem Prime and similar treatments do not permanently detoxify nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia- they are only bound up for a 24-48 hour period. Using Prime or other detoxifiers is not a substitute for using clean water, even if you dose every day (you should not do this).

 

Seachem Prime and similar treatments do not permanently detoxify nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia- they are only bound up for a 24-48 hour period. Using Prime or other detoxifiers is not a substitute for using clean water, even if you dose every day (you should not do this).

Now I know, thanks.

 

Make a 5 gallon bucket of your tapwater, treat it with prime, let it sit uncovered for 3-4 days...then test it and see what you have.

 

If it's mostly nitrites and nitrates from your tap water that you're looking to avoid with the RO water, wouldn't live plants (and a well cycled tank, which shouldn't be your issue) be enough to offset what's coming in? That way you could naturally (and without any ongoing extra costs) create a more sustainable environment for your guppies that might be better suited to their needs, and you'd lose the hassle of an RO run every week.

 

First, I want to say thank you guys, so much for your help in tweaking my aquarium water. I did end up buying and using Equilibrium according to the directions on the jar. I also bought (but did not use), Seachem Replenish and Seachem Alkaline Buffer.

Here is where I am at, because I have a water change coming up tomorrow and I want to make sure I do this right.

My water straight from the tap (we use a water softener), was tested as follows:
KH = 7
GH = 5 or 6 (it's hard for me to tell when it changes because it's so subtle).
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm
pH = 7.6
High range pH = 7.4

If I bypass the water softener, my water levels are as follows (water sat in a bucket overnight before testing):
KH = 9
GH = 16
Nitrite = 2.5ppm
Nitrate = 5.0ppm
pH = 7.6
High range pH = 8.0

Those readings are with no products added - just the water as I can get it.

Currently, my aquarium levels are below. I think that I'm in a good spot, although I still think that maybe the KH should come up a smidge (right??). I'm only doing a partial water change as the gravel needs to be vacuumed.
KH = 6
GH = 9
Nitrate = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
pH = 7.6
High range pH = 8.0
Ammonia = 0ppm

I do have a bucket of RO water from the fish store here that I haven't tested, that's about a week old (sealed in the bucket). If I had to guess, I'd say I should probably mix the RO water with the tap water (bypass the water softener), and I should be okay ... right?? I just hate guessing and I need the help.

 

Your softened water right from the tap is perfect. I would use that. Its better than what I am using.

 

Your softened water right from the tap is perfect. I would use that. Its better than what I am using.

Would I have to add the Equilibrium or one of the other chemicals to adjust the GH? I thought guppies liked harder water?

 

They will be fine in 7.6.
That's probably what they are in at the store you purchase them.
Its far better to work with the water you have, than to chase a number- or try to beat your water into submission with additives.

Your softened tap water will be fine for 95% of the plants and livestock that are available to most hobbyists.

 

Its far better to work with the water you have, than to chase a number- or try to beat your water into submission with additives.

THIS. Nobote has hit the nail on the head. Use what you've got. Guppies are hardy and adaptive, and will be fine in your water as you have it. If you're looking to run a super specialized, highly technical setup for demanding fish, then do what's required for them to be okay. Guppies are forgiving, and a popular starting fish for precisely that reason.

Also, it's handy that you have access to two rather different options for water; my softener doesn't have an easy bypass, so I'm stuck with soft water whether I want it in my tanks or not (short of the option of filling my bucket elsewhere every week, which I'm simply unwilling to do!). If you REALLY want to boost your GH/KH, feel free to supplement with bypassed water, but I think for now you can stop with the RO runs, which should make the hobby both more convenient and less expensive!

 

My softened water has GH near zero so I feel compelled to bypass the softener for water changes. Your softened water with GH of 5 or 6 would be fine for my use.

 

guppies will survive well in the tap water you have looking toward the readings of the water you tested
all the best
do keep us updated as even my forte is guppies and I have recently had 35 to 40 fries in my breeding tank