Fishless cycle is done, but...

[gm72]

Yeah! My first ever fishless cycle is complete for the 40 gallon long. I added a variety of fish, 4 each dalmation mollies, silver lyretail mollies, red velvet swordtails, and gold mollies. Interesting thing is, all of the fish are doing fine EXCEPT two of the dalmation mollies. I got 2 predominantly black ones and two predominantly white ones. Both white ones are dead. Water parameters are rock solid, right where they should be. Any guesses as to what happened? I am at a total loss.

[Rue]

The Dalmations are my favourites too...and I also haven't had much luck with them...

...making they're weaker genetically for some reason?

Do you have salt in the water? Mollies really do much better with at least tonic levels of salt...

[Chrona]

It could have been they were just weak fish to start with, and the stress of moving was too much. How long and how did you acclimate them?

[gm72]

No salt in the water. Acclimated over 2 hour time period, 30 minutes for water temp, then about 33% water replacements over the next 1.5 hours in 30 minute increments. Question about the salt--would it harm snails, a rainbow shark, and/or corydoras? I'd like to add them at a later time.

[Drumachine09]

No salt in the water. Acclimated over 2 hour time period, 30 minutes for water temp, then about 33% water replacements over the next 1.5 hours in 30 minute increments. Question about the salt--would it harm snails, a rainbow shark, and/or corydoras? I'd like to add them at a later time.

You understand that rainbow sharks will be extremely aggressive, right? No salt for corys...or is that meds? i dunno


You also need to change your sig.

[gm72]

I was under the impression that as a specimen fish the rainbow shark would not likely be aggressive toward tankmates. Maybe I have wrong information, though? I can always change the stocking plan and, oh darn, have to get another tank for the rainbow in the future!

[Drumachine09]

I was under the impression that as a specimen fish the rainbow shark would not likely be aggressive toward tankmates. Maybe I have wrong information, though? I can always change the stocking plan and, oh darn, have to get another tank for the rainbow in the future!

Ive had lots of experiance with the little terrors, and they arent something you want in a peacefull community tank. Ive had them kill guppies before.

[gm72]

Got you, good to know, and thanks. I'll round out the tank with something else then. Maybe a school of neon tetras or something.

Do you think a rainbow would do well in my barb/dannio tank?

[Drumachine09]

Got you, good to know, and thanks. I'll round out the tank with something else then. Maybe a school of neon tetras or something.

Do you think a rainbow would do well in my barb/dannio tank?

It really a hit or miss thing. i dont reccomend them in anything but an agressive or semi aggressive tank. I suppose if you have it densly planted, with a lot of caves and stuff, he might be ok. he needs a dark place, as they dont like high lighiting, and also so he can mark it HIS territory. Having alot of plants and decor is a must with them, so they arent always seeing other fish.

[Lady Hobbs]

Did you leave them in the bag all that time? I will often put mine in a pail with some tank water that I've drawn out including their own water in the bag. After 15 minutes just net them and put them in the tank.

But (this will bring boo's) I don't do anything but bring them home and set them free. It only takes me 20 minutes for the ride home and there's not much chance for their water at the store and my water here at home to change much. My thoughts are sitting in that bag with the oxygen depleting can be no more stressful than just letting them out right away.

Most sites say to just float the bag for 15 minutes. Two hours adding to their stress may have been too much.