Someone Please Help?

**Honey Badger 1** · 05-02-2012, 10:41 PM

After you get the air stone I would get the cory numbers back up and leave it for a while and see how it goes. What is the footprint of this tank?

**octoxpuss** · 05-02-2012, 10:43 PM

13 by 13 by 24

**octoxpuss** · 05-02-2012, 10:46 PM

My next thought is why would the oxygen be the problem becuase cory cats, gourami's, and betta's call all breathe air. However, I also thing the acute signs were there becasue the gourami began hanging at the top more, and the cory cats began swimming up to the top a lot more than normal. I think we have a suspect. I am going to investigate the oxygen levels. Other than this any other possible suspects.

Mommy 1 it has been a long time since we chatted on here.

**Honey Badger 1** · 05-02-2012, 10:50 PM

Hi Octo

Cory's can breath air when necessary but they usually only do it when necessary. There may have been some aggression between the betta and gourami that you didn't witness. It's not normal for them to get along, not to say it can't happen, just not the norm.

**octoxpuss** · 05-02-2012, 10:55 PM

yes there may have been between the betta and gourami that was not witnessed. However would you rule out this tank problem to the oxygen or no. Also can you help stock this tank for my girlfriend she is open to suggestions.

**Honey Badger 1** · 05-03-2012, 02:11 AM

I think it's a bit of both, aggression and the oxygen issue. 13x13 is a bit small for all but the smaller cory species. If it is one of the smaller species I would up the cory number to 5 and leave it at that for a while so the beneficial bacteria can catch up to the bio-load. If it isn't one of the smaller species I would rehome it. You could also look into some of the smaller tetra species like glowlight tetra and get a small school of those, or some celestial pearl danios. What ever you add, add slowly so you don't upset the balance of the tank too much.

**octoxpuss** · 05-04-2012, 10:32 PM

they are peppered/pygmy cory hybrids yeah I am not sure what she is going to do stocking wise. Well the beta died and we did add an airstone and everything so we dont know what it is the tank checks out fine absolutely fine. No clue what is happening. Took the water to the lfs and they said there is no problem with the water.

**octoxpuss** · 05-06-2012, 02:39 PM

Well, all the fish died now, so we took a water sample to the LFS and they said nothing was wrong with the water. We put two Airstones in the water 2 days before the last fish died and changed over 50% of the water. It was dechlorinated yes. The tank was cycled. I am completely stumped, and none of the fish looked sick WHATSOEVER? ANYONE?

**Cermet** · 05-06-2012, 03:14 PM

First off, in a small tank, nitrites and/or ammonia can spike and later, the filter catches up and these measure zero. Also, fish can be injured and quickly die. Second, could be stock issues. Finally, if they were injured due to low oxygen, adding it later might not save them. These are just guessing, of course.

**imma24** · 05-06-2012, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by octoxpuss

Well, all the fish died now, so we took a water sample to the LFS and they said nothing was wrong with the water. We put two Airstones in the water 2 days before the last fish died and changed over 50% of the water. It was dechlorinated yes. The tank was cycled. I am completely stumped, and none of the fish looked sick WHATSOEVER? ANYONE?

Hate to say it - LFS's are famous for telling people their water parameters are FINE - even people who just set up their tank 1 hr ago and haven't put fish in yet - they will have readings of all 0's (which is an uncycled tank). I haven't read all the posts in this thread yet but has anyone suggested you getting your own liquid test kit so you don't have to keep bringing water samples with you?

How do you know for sure your tank was cycled? Did you ask the LFS what the readings were? They should be able to tell you you have no ammonia, no nitrites & 20ppm or less nitates unless their strips aren't that accurate. Also, many fish stores (my local ones included) will tell you that an ammonia level of up to 1.0ppm is FINE - it isn't!!