finally a proven pair, some questions

[brady]

The pair is a huge bt male and a pretty big bss female in a 29 at 84F. They are 2-1/2 years old and this is the
first time, after many tries that they are successful. She usually ate the eggs as soon as she laid them. She laid the eggs on the side glass and I put up a screen right away. The screen design was given to me by Al.Really simple. Thanks AL

As of this AM I have about 15 or so wrigglers out of about 150 eggs. All the rest fungused .
Question 1- is this because he didn't fertilize them or is it because of water conditions?
I did a 90% w/c the day before they laid the eggs and for the last 2 days have
feeding fdbw in little chunks that they eat immediately so I don't think it is the water.
Would adding meth blue prevent fungus. My thinking is if it did and some hatched
and a lot didn't it would tell me he is missing the mark so to speak.
Question 2- I don't have bss eggs. Is there a substitute that I can use, such as finely ground fdbw?
Thanks
Jay

[brady]

Anybody? Need advice.
Thanks
Jay

[LizStreithorst]

your kH may be too high. That type of mineral makes the egg shells too hard and the little babies are unable to hatch out.

[Mando]

I used meth blue and it helped with the hatch rate. I don't think your feeding is an issue.

[jimmyaz]

I would second Mando suggestion. My pair spawn about 3 times and every time 90% eggs turn white. I then use some metalyne blue and only 20% turn white and 80% hatched.

[LizStreithorst]

I've used meth blue as well but to me this sounds more like a water problem.

[jeep]

I've used meth blue as well but to me this sounds more like a water problem.

Agree. Are you using RO? What is TDS? If not water then he probably just didn't completely do his job.

[brady]

Agree. Are you using RO? What is TDS? If not water then he probably just didn't completely do his job.

My TDS is 100ppm and ph is 7-7.1. I will try either quck cure or meth blue next time.
Thanks all, much appreciated.
Jay

[LizStreithorst]

I'm still curious to know the kH.

[Mando]

I'm still curious to know the kH.

Me too. Let me fix my statement. Meth blue helped me with the hatch rate as far as the fungus issue goes.

[LizStreithorst]

That makes sense. No way it could help if your water parameters weren't suitable for hatching eggs.

[brady]

Armando I know that meth blue is for fungus, paracites, ect
But thank you for your info.
Liz, what is a good kh reading? Will pick up a test kit and MB for
the next time. Unfortunately they ate the 15 or so wigglers. I should have left the screen
until they became free swimming. Next time, if there is a next time.

Again, thank you all for the info.
Jay

[LizStreithorst]

Mine is just 4.5 and it's too hard for a good hatch rate. I found out, thanks to a tip from Pat that if I add Roobios tea my water is close enough to allow a successful hatch rate. At that point I sold my RO unit. If your water is just on the edge of being good enough like mine is, you might try that. I don't know what reading is low enough to be good enough for a successful hatch rate, just that 4.5 is a tad too high.