3 of my 5 Corys died :-(

**fishmommie** · 10-05-2012, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by TheLyght7

Okay, so my nitrates went up a little bit when I got home. So I picked up another filter last night, a nice 400gph HOB one and now I have that in there with my other one.

I also did a PWC last night and the checked the nitrates this morning and they were down to maybe around 5. Yay!

Much better! I also added 3 more corys so we'll see how they do.

Just wanted to say Good for you for seeking out help then following the excellent advice you were given.

It doesn't always work that way. Sometimes people come here looking for what they want to hear and when they don't hear it, simply ignore the advice.
Anyway - Way to go!

**TheLyght7** · 10-06-2012, 04:10 PM

Awe, well thanks! I just want to do what's best for my fish :-)

Unfortunately, I'm back at square one cause I had two more cories pass last night and my water parameters are very very ideal :-( I'm beginning to think my LFS just carries poor quality fish or I may need to get a QT.

**fishmommie** · 10-06-2012, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by TheLyght7

Awe, well thanks! I just want to do what's best for my fish :-)

Unfortunately, I'm back at square one cause I had two more cories pass last night and my water parameters are very very ideal :-( I'm beginning to think my LFS just carries poor quality fish or I may need to get a QT.

Sorry to hear that. Can you share with us what "very very ideal" is? And were these ideal readings before or after a W/C?

What did your ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrates read from the API liquid test kit? This will help us figure out what's happening with your tank.

**mizzoutank** · 10-06-2012, 04:52 PM

when does your lfs get the fish in compared to when you purchase them?

good rule of thumb is to wait at least 3 days after their shipments get in so that you'll get the more hardy/strong fish since the weaker ones can't handle the initial shock.

once i followed this lil rule, i've only lost one fish (knock on wood)

**Lady Hobbs** · 10-06-2012, 04:58 PM

You need to get to the bottom of your problems rather than keep adding fish. Your tank is not cycled and bottom feeders go in a tank last.

You can do big water changes as well and not stick to just 25% but you must make sure you are adding the same temp water as you removed and add your dechlorinator before refilling the tank.

When fish began dying, it's almost certain to be a water problem. Just buying more is not solving the problem.

Tiger Barbs are best in a barb tank only. They are fin nipper and not good to have with an angelfish.

**fishmommie** · 10-06-2012, 05:16 PM

++ to what Lady Hobbs said. that's why I asked what your water perimeters are as I too, suspect, you do not have a cycled tank and it's resulting in the death of your fish

.

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

You need to get to the bottom of your problems rather than keep adding fish. Your tank is not cycled and bottom feeders go in a tank last.

You can do big water changes as well and not stick to just 25% but you must make sure you are adding the same temp water as you removed and add your dechlorinator before refilling the tank.

When fish began dying, it's almost certain to be a water problem. Just buying more is not solving the problem.

**TheLyght7** · 10-09-2012, 11:03 PM

My tank is cycled. I've had it up and running for over a year with all of the same fish. I'm only recently having trouble with the cories.

I have 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia and my nitrates are at 5-10 prior to a WC.

The LFS gets new stock in on Friday and I bought these fish on Monday and then again on Wednesday. Sadly, all 5 have now passed.

**fishmommie** · 10-09-2012, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by TheLyght7

My tank is cycled. I've had it up and running for over a year with all of the same fish. I'm only recently having trouble with the cories.

I have 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia and my nitrates are at 5-10 prior to a WC.

The LFS gets new stock in on Friday and I bought these fish on Monday and then again on Wednesday. Sadly, all 5 have now passed.

Wow. then I'm at a loss. Just curious ... did you ever buy the liquid API test kit or are you still using the strips? The strips are notoriously inaccurate.

If that's not the case, I'd say you got some weak fish to begin with. Did you by any chance quarantine them first? If not and if they were ill, I hope it doesn't affect the rest of your tank.

Maybe someone else has some ideas???

Good luck

**TheLyght7** · 10-09-2012, 11:40 PM

Yeah, I'm using the liquid test, not the strips.

And I think I will look into a QT tank. I bought these Cory from the same PetSmart so they could have been a bad batch.

That's got to be the only reason. I'm stumped as well.

**mizzoutank** · 10-10-2012, 03:15 AM

bad batch is always a strong possibility. chain stores are so hit or miss on good stocking.

this may have been asked already.
how often do you do water changes? and of what %
do you stir up the gravel?