Cories losing whiskers?

**sweeneyc** · 02-16-2013, 11:10 PM

It looks like all 4 of my cories are losing their whiskers and their noses look like they are turning white, as if they were being rubbed too hard. I've had them for about a week now. any idea whats causing this and how to correct the problem?

**madagascariensis** · 02-16-2013, 11:17 PM

test your nitrates. the belief that cories lose their whiskers due to abrasion is abit outdated. high organic content(ie nitrates) in the water cause barbel erosion.

**sweeneyc** · 02-16-2013, 11:26 PM

yeah there is a bit of nitrate in there, which is what I don't understand. I have Fluval clearmax in there and it should be removing that nitrate. I just bought some NitraZorb, will that help as well? (in addition to major water change)

**mizzoutank** · 02-16-2013, 11:39 PM

those products may or may not help.

the only way to remove nitrates are water changes. keep up with those and this wont be a problem.

best part about water changes, are they are free...

**sweeneyc** · 02-16-2013, 11:41 PM

agreed and thank goodness for that! I have trace nitrates in my well... I have a RODI unit for my reef tank, but have been afraid to use it on my freshwater planted tank. I hear it is too pure, doesn't have what is needed for the fish and plants.

**Strider199** · 02-17-2013, 02:03 AM

I too have an r/o system which I installed for my reef tank. At this time my son is using Prime with the tap water for his freshwater tank which has live plants so I am also interested in the above question.

**Countrylovin4evr** · 02-17-2013, 02:58 AM

I've heard that harsh substrate can cause loss of barbells. But if you've only had them a week that seems a bit much too. Must be a water thing. I've had mine over a yr with sand/plant sand and they do fine. Before that mine did fine with fancy gravel so I agree that must be a myth.

**talldutchie** · 02-17-2013, 05:35 AM

And I disagree. There's gravel and there's gravel. Some is perfectly fine, some is so insanely sharp that you could even rummage in the bag without cutting your hand.

A week and the whitish noses... I know it's against AC generally held believe but I'd put money on the gravel being the cause.

**sweeneyc** · 02-17-2013, 12:44 PM

I don't know if its the gravel in my case. It is the fine pebbles from PetSmart, the Top Fin brand? Their cories stay on the gravel for weeks at a time and they don't lose their whiskers. Mixed into the gravel is API First Layer Laterite, but not enough, and too far down, for the cories to be affected by the laterite.

Did anyone have any thoughts on the use of RO water?

**Greentoads41** · 02-17-2013, 04:35 PM

This exact scenario you are describing happened to me some time back. I have the same gravel type as you too, and pretty high nitrate readings. My cory lost its barbels about a week after being introduced to the tank, but is still alive today. I personally would attribute it to high nitrate, although I can't be 100% about that. What are your nitrate readings exactly?