Shop talk and my Heckels

[wannafish]

Hello!

O.k. I think it's time to talk about my Heckels and try to get them back on track.
I have four Rio Negro Heckels in a 60 gallon tank with white sand, (which I just
switched out from pool sand). Is it possible that the sand hasn't built up enough
mulm and bacteria in it. I just did a water change yesterday, 70% with 60% RO
and 40% aged tap water. I add Kent essentials. I have been doing RO mix for
about 4 months now. I noticed a change in the fish after my first RO mix change.
And it has been subsiding ever since. I thought RO was ideal for Heckels.
Anyway last night and this morning I noticed them being darker and fins clamped
and their slime coat a little patchy. They eat when the lights go out and I leave
the room and they stay behind driftwood all day. They look like they were just
pulled from the wild and have been beaten and battered. A little darting going on as
I type this. I have never added medications to the tank in the last year, but I am
contemplating adding a dosage now. I have added salt. Should I add Furan2, or
Metro.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10
PH 7.1
PH in RO 6.0
TDS in aquarium 200

Can the addition of salt throw the PH and TDS off. I usually get 100 TDS
after my wc change. Also do you add Prime or dechlor in the RO water barrel?

Thanks,

Jeff

[TURQ64]

I have driftwood and pool sand in my Heckel layout...I use only RO, and add reject back for minerals...My water is adjusted to around 5.7 to fill, and bio load pulls that down to around 3.9TDS around 73..Salt will put your TDS thru the roof...I don't use any decholr's in this setup since it's all RO..I vac the sand every other day, and wc every other or 3rd day on occasion...120g tank...Not sure what's up...

[jimg]

are you changing their water in a water change from 7.1 to 6.0 in one shot? and yes changing the sand will impact your bio. up the wc's with same water parameters to 50%+ daily for a week and see how they do. a tbls salt per 20 might help the haze and fins

[wannafish]

Got home from work and saw your replies. No I don't water change from
7.1 to 6.0 in one shot. My aged tap water is probably ph 7.4 and mix with
the 6.0 RO water. I put in first 60% RO and then fill to top with 40% aged
tap. Usually I end up with something like 6.6 or 6.8, but this time it ended
up at 7.2. Go figure! I am just doing what I've read here on Simply. I am
going to up my wc's for a week like suggested and see how it goes.

Thanks

Jeff

[TURQ64]

I'd steer away from any med's for now, as the WC's should clear things up.. At what point are you adding the declorinator?...

[wannafish]

I add the dechlor to my age barrel and aerate and heat the water
for 24 hrs before wc.

[TURQ64]

O.k., I guess that rules out any chloramine issues causing the rough look..Something is irritating them, causing the excess mucous, unless that's cleared up..many that use it add the stuff while changing water, but I don't think that's relevant here..

[wannafish]

Thanks for your help Turk! I just did a wc and they
have perked up a bit. The mucous is apparent on
only one of them today. He was the worst one. I will
continue with daily wc's and look to get things better.