PH = Dead Neons? [Archive]

friz

03-25-2007, 09:57 PM

Chrona

03-25-2007, 10:03 PM

My PH is running around 7.6-7.8 I tried perfect PH and it did nothing. My first batch of neons don't seem to mind the high PH, but I added four more last night. Well they are dropping like flies. I lost 3 so far. I read some threads about stress with high PH can be hard on neons. This is the kicker I have an RO system and the water out of it measures 6.0 and my tap water is 6.8. I set up the tank with about half and half. All of my water changes are with the RO water.

10 gal
PH 7.6
Ammo 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5ppm
1 Betta
2 Tiger Barbs (Moved to a 5 temporarally)
6 Neon Tetras + 4 - 3
4 Albino Cories
6 Ghost Shrimp

That doesn't seem right. RO water should come out exactly at 7.0 or something is wrong with either the RO unit or the test kit. Also, you need to add buffers to the RO water (like Seachem Equilibrium) or the slightest bit of acid added (through the nitrogen process) will result in some crazy pH swings. Neons can adapt just fine to local water (and probably have at your LFS) but they can't deal with constantly changing pH. Are any other fish effected? It could also be Neon Tetra Disease. Have you noticed any other odd behaviour?

friz

03-25-2007, 10:14 PM

That doesn't seem right. RO water should come out exactly at 7.0 or something is wrong with either the RO unit or the test kit. Also, you need to add buffers to the RO water (like Seachem Equilibrium) or the slightest bit of acid added (through the nitrogen process) will result in some crazy pH swings. Neons can adapt just fine to local water (and probably have at your LFS) but they can't deal with constantly changing pH. Are any other fish effected? It could also be Neon Tetra Disease. Have you noticed any other odd behaviour?
I use water conditioner tablets (Jungle start right). I cut them down to match the amount of the water I am changing. My PH is constant. It never leaves the 7.6-7.8 range, even when I tryed the Perfect PH.

Lady Hobbs

03-25-2007, 10:18 PM

I suspect your water parms are off. My neons have been in 7.6 pH and some mightly hard water for some time. However, these little fish can not tolerate ammonia or nitrites.

friz

03-25-2007, 10:21 PM

Just tested this morning.
Ammo 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5ppm

Chrona

03-25-2007, 10:35 PM

Proper pH works, but if you have a lot of buffers in the water (from the Jungle tabs) it will take more to see any results. Also, I can't remember if you have live plants, but proper pH is phosphate based, which will cause a bit of trouble in a planted tank.

Also, I checked up on Jungle Labs Start Right and it seems to be only available in crystal and liquid form. Are you sure you don't have a different product? Start Right only neutralizes chlorines, chloramines and heavy metals, similar to Tetra Aquasafe and does not do anything to pH or the buffering system. It seems strange that the stuff you have causes the pH to settle at 7.8 too, unless it's some buffer made for african cichlids.

The only other thing I can think of (barring aggression from other fish) is the condition they were in prior to purchase and the acclimation process at home. Can you provide any specifics?

xoolooxunny

03-25-2007, 10:47 PM

What kind of substrate do you use? Do you have any rocks in there that you found outside?

friz

03-25-2007, 10:47 PM

I do notice that the one that is left seems to be "breathing" harder then the others and did not eat at the last feeding. I think my substrate must have some limestone in it.

friz

03-26-2007, 03:56 AM

What kind of substrate do you use? Do you have any rocks in there that you found outside?

The substrate came in a bag to be used as such. The rocks I have also came from the fish dept to be used in an aquarium. I separated the last one tonight. It is getting weak and not scooling with the others. The Betta has started nipping at him so I moved him to a bowl of water that has been treated and set all day. I'm sure I will find him dead in the morning. The strange thing is that the original 6 tetras are still healthy. It's only the ones I added last night that are dying.

xoolooxunny

03-26-2007, 04:40 AM

I do notice that the one that is left seems to be "breathing" harder then the others and did not eat at the last feeding. I think my substrate must have some limestone in it.
my eco-complete substrate had calcium in it that claimed didn't fluctuate the ph. well it may be alright with 1 bag in a 100g but boy did it cause trouble in my 10 gallon!! I was in the 8's with tap water that comes out 7!

Lady Hobbs

03-26-2007, 04:59 AM

I hope all those new tetra's you bought didn't have neon tetra disease. It can wipe them all out in a very short time.

friz

03-27-2007, 05:00 AM

All are dead. The original 6 are happy as clams. I lost one of the cories that I bought with the neons, but he looked a little sorry from the get go. I think I am going to give up on any more neons. What would you all think of adding a couple of female bettas to the mix?

friz

04-20-2007, 04:29 AM

Update, all of the walmart neons died. two of the cories. My betta got all white under his chin and died. A couple days later I went to wallmart and saw they had a huge fish kill. I left the tank alone for a couple of weeks hopeing the disease had run it's course. Went to the LFS with the dirty tanks and bought some singapore guppys, a gold claw crab, and a firebelly newt. I did notice that even though the tanks were full of algae, the fish in them seemed healthy.

BTW added a five gallon hex in the kitchen, cycled with the last of the barbs and stocked with the newt and one cory. The kids and I watched the newt molt and eat it's skin tonight. Kewl!

cocoa_pleco

04-20-2007, 05:14 AM

dont firebelly newts release that poison into the water like firebelly toads? thats why i cant put fish with my firebelly toads

friz

04-21-2007, 01:24 AM

Can anyone verify this? I would sure hate to loose more fish.

cocoa_pleco

04-21-2007, 01:25 AM

im 90% sure