New albino corys dying in established 30 gal aquarium

I have a 30 gal tank with healthy gray cory adults a man and female. I also had an albino cory that lived to the ripe old age of 12. he had a swollen left eye, but that did not slow him down. he recently died, and I decided to get another albino cory. It has been a nightmare. the first one I got must have had something wrong with it and it died in a few days, and it took 3 of my adult corys with it a day or two later. I did a 90 % water change filters etc. I am now down to my two gray corys. I have done all the stuff I can think of to rectify the situation. I purchased an API kit to make sure my nitrates are ok, and I have purchased Algone to keep the nitrate low. I am closely monitoring the temperature and it is presently at 75 +/- a degree or 2. the sources for the albino corys was Petsmart Petco and Pet supplies plus(7 purchased and died). when my gray corys reproduced, they flourished in the tank, but I cannot get the albino corys to last more than a week. My approach is to try a small 1 gal aquarium with sand for them until they get a little bigger then transfer them to the 30 gal tank. My original albino cory did start in a small tank until I got more fish and a large tank. Any suggestions appreciated !

 

Firstly, can you fill out the emergency template?

it is presently at 75 +/- a degree or 2.

It doesn't sound like a lot but a difference of a degree or two, over a short period or two, can shock fish, so it could be that if you're seeing such fluctuations.


I'll be honest and say I don't know how true this is, but I've heard they let off a poisionous "gas" when they are stressed so, if they do that when in a bag with others, that could result in deaths.

Other than that, I have found Corys to be very sensitive. If you acclimate them too quickly, they can get ill. I've had Corys die just from being moved from tank A -> tank B, from introducing new fish to their tank (they weren't attacked, they just didn't like change) and then random deaths that seem to happen just because.

 

Hi Devsi, Thanks for your advise! My situation is no longer an emergency since my tank is stable and I have not lost any fish. I visited Petco yesterday and we did some water tests. My ph was very low and my nitrates were high. The store "Fish Person" advised me to do a 50% water change and to really scrub and vacuum the bottom. All done, My ph is still a bit low, but not bad my Nitrates are ok and I am going to get "Algone pouches" that are supposed to control Nitrates. I think I should be ok now, I don't think I will get any albino corys just yet. I will wait until the aquarium is stable.

 

visited Petco yesterday and we did some water tests. My ph was very low and my nitrates were high.

Do you remember what the Ph and Nitrate readings were? Did they use the test strips or a test kit with liquids?

I am going to get "Algone pouches" that are supposed to control Nitrates.

Another option is plants; they can be a great resource for controlling Nitrates.

I think I should be ok now, I don't think I will get any albino corys just yet. I will wait until the aquarium is stable.

Good idea

 

the PH was right around 6.0 and the nitrates were at 80 ppm. The store Associate used strips and API liquids. and I purchased the kits as well. I did a water change this morning and the PH is now about 6.4>6. using liquid test. I used Prime in the water change and the Nitrates are now about 20 to 30 ppm. I will be inserting the Algone pouches when I receive them and do another test after the tank cycles.

 

Ah ok, yeah 80ppm is quite a high nitrate reading!