Hobby Aquarist

[dani_giuls]

Hello

Anybody on here have aquariums? I am new to the hobby (have had my small freshwater tank for ~6months) and looking for advice.

Woke up to find 3 guppies and 1 zebra Danio dead this morning. All looked fine last night. My catfish (3) and neon tetras (5) alp survived. 1 x guppy left.

Did buy 2x guppies and a freshwater mussel last weekend. Wondering if they were diseased and passed this on?

I'm worried that the others will die.

Cheers
Dani

 

[Squiba]

I have a couple of tanks mate.

Take Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate readings. Most importantly check if the mussle is alive. They can die without you knowing and wreak havoc with your water quality.

 

[dani_giuls]

I have a couple of tanks mate.

Take Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate readings. Most importantly check if the mussle is alive. They can die without you knowing and wreak havoc with your water quality.

Thanks Squiba. Bought an ammonia testing kit and it seemed fine. I did a bigger than normal water change on the weekend just incase. Touch wood, the other fish have been alright since the mass extinction.

I'm thinking that maybe the new guppies were diseased? I bought them from a local chained pet store when usually I'd go to a specialised aquarium store.

The mussel has been moving around my tank like crazy!

On a different topic, my water always seems to have a yellow tinge. Prior to the die-off, I had no real issues with my fish, I thought it may be the drift wood but I've had it in my tank for ~6months now! Drives me insane as I'd like a clear tank!

Thanks for your tips. I'm interested to know what fish you keep

 

[Squiba]

It is possible mate, fancy guppies in particular can be quite fragile. Try to not add any water from the aquarium shop as this is likely to contain pathogens if there are any. Just keep an eye on the fish for particular symptoms like flashing/scratching on surfaces, heavy breathing etc.

Ah the old yellow tinge. That'd be tannic acid from the wood. It'll drop the pH but it has antibacterial properties and is perfectly safe. I have it in one of my tanks and I love the look it gives with all the wood throughout.

In the long run you may have trouble with Guppies and Neons in the same water conditions as ideally the neons would be in water from pH 6~7 and guppies 7~8. Neons can expire quite quickly kept at high temperatures aswell, but at least they are healthier and more vigorous whilst alive.

I have a 6ft with 6 Silver dollars which've spawned a few times, a small spot Polleni and a couple of angelfish which were Put there by neccesity and ended up staying. No plants as the Silver dollars destroy them.

Also have a custom 75cmx50cmx50cm with Murray River Rainbows and carp gudgeons. This tank has some roots covered in basic plants like Java moss and Java fern. Used to keep plants more but have found the low maintenance stuff to be far more enjoyable (less stress).

 

[dani_giuls]

It is possible mate, fancy guppies in particular can be quite fragile. Try to not add any water from the aquarium shop as this is likely to contain pathogens if there are any. Just keep an eye on the fish for particular symptoms like flashing/scratching on surfaces, heavy breathing etc.

Ah the old yellow tinge. That'd be tannic acid from the wood. It'll drop the pH but it has antibacterial properties and is perfectly safe. I have it in one of my tanks and I love the look it gives with all the wood throughout.

In the long run you may have trouble with Guppies and Neons in the same water conditions as ideally the neons would be in water from pH 6~7 and guppies 7~8. Neons can expire quite quickly kept at high temperatures aswell, but at least they are healthier and more vigorous whilst alive.

I have a 6ft with 6 Silver dollars which've spawned a few times, a small spot Polleni and a couple of angelfish which were Put there by neccesity and ended up staying. No plants as the Silver dollars destroy them.

Also have a custom 75cmx50cmx50cm with Murray River Rainbows and carp gudgeons. This tank has some roots covered in basic plants like Java moss and Java fern. Used to keep plants more but have found the low maintenance stuff to be far more enjoyable (less stress).

Thanks for the tip re. Store water! Would not have thought about it...

How long would you expect water to stay stained?

I didn't realise neons needed cooler water. I have another smaller tank housing some shrimp there is no heater in it at the moment. I think neons won't eat the shrimp but was too worried the water would be too cold for them. I could move them into that tank?

Hahaha good old silver dollars. That's how I got started with my fish! My folks rescued a rather largish pair from a rental they had (the tenants left them). They were in what is now my shrimp tank, filthy water and I had no idea what they were! I had them for a few months and ended up buying my bigger tank and getting a few more fish but they started to eat them and we're too skittish and big for that tank. I just gave them away to the pet store a few weeks back! Could have offered them to you!

I have some Java fern in my shrimp tank and neef to get some foe my other tank. I don't have a light so need something hardy....I refuse to start spending too much money until I know what I am doing

 

[Deaneus!]

 

[Squiba]

The neons are tropical fish mate, try and keep them above 22.

Keeping them at 26 to 28 I found they never got disease but died of "old age" earlier. Keep them in the tropical tank by all means. They are just a cutious 2 edged sword when it comes to temperature

 

[dani_giuls]

The neons are tropical fish mate, try and keep them above 22.

Keeping them at 26 to 28 I found they never got disease but died of "old age" earlier. Keep them in the tropical tank by all means. They are just a cutious 2 edged sword when it comes to temperature

Ahh ok, got you, yes my fish tank is set at ~27C