Seems to be getting worse, getting worried

[jeep]

I still think your issues stem from water. Like I said, 74tds is about what I aim for in a breeding tank using RO water. Your water is very soft and has no buffering ability to stabilize ph, and I think I remember you saying that the water company added "something" to the water to deal with ph, but this would be to protect the water lines from low ph and acidic water. I wonder what that "something" is... I have a feeling the initial large water changes set things in motion. You've taken a beating here, hopefully you're on your way to figuring this out...

[fljones3]

The Richmond area uses lime (calcium Hydroxide) to control water PH. PH can range from 7-8.0. Shan is in the VA beach area.
The more tank surface agitation the quicker the calcium hydroxide is dissipated, lowering PH. If Shan has that much swing, anywhere from 7-8.0 down to 6.5 that definitely would do its damage to the fish. However, it would have an effect on all the fish - not just one or two at a time.

Doing much less water change quality lowers the potential because the PH would not jump as high. I think he is using carbon.

Do you run carbon ?
This seems to exactly what it is really for .
To remove stuff from your source water ..
There many things in our water we really do not know about .
Your TDS is low for sure . I like 150 -200 for most 'soft water ' fish .
The pH shift really could just be outgassing of 02.
When you di water changes di you get micro bubbles after filling the tank ?
Maybe finding a way to run your aging barrel through carbon would a good next attempt ..It surely can not hurt any ..

[Shan_Evolved]

Welp. The turq finally died. I'm down to 5.


I use 1 carbon filter attached to a hose going into my aging barrel

[LizStreithorst]

I'm sorry Shan.

[Shan_Evolved]

I'm sorry Shan.

Thank you all for your love.

I will definitely try again in the near future.

[TonySimm]

Don't feel responsible for anything or consider this a rookie mistake. You literally followed every single step and then some that's recommended. I agree that there's a water issue with an isolated group of fish from one supplier and sudden deaths.

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Shan, I am really sorry for the lose of your fish. I know it is heart wrenching for you. I do have a suggestion. Is there anyway you can add a filter to your WC bin with carbon to allow the water more exposure to carbon filtration. Think something like a AC 110 if the bin is filled to the top. I would be happy to have one send via Amazon if you wish to try this?
Pat

[Shan_Evolved]

Thank you so much Pat. That would be greatly appreciated but excuse me for not understanding exactly what and why I would be doing this-- is this a hang on back type of filter that would have only carbon in it? I already run carbon once through a home depot carbon filter while filling, are you recommending I should do my whole barrel with carbon for 24 hrs?

[Second Hand Pat]

Thank you so much Pat. That would be greatly appreciated but excuse me for not understanding exactly what and why I would be doing this-- is this a hang on back type of filter that would have only carbon in it? I already run carbon once through a home depot carbon filter while filling, are you recommending I should do my whole barrel with carbon for 24 hrs?

Hi Shan, yes the AC 110 is a HOB filter and you can put whatever you want in it. However the water level needs to be near the top of the WC bin so the filter can pull water into itself. My thought is having your water get more then one pass with carbon. Let me check with Brian and see what he thinks.
Pat

[Shan_Evolved]

Yes I fill my barrel to near the top. I could easily age it for 24hr with the HOB filter in addition to the carbon first pass. Only thing is now that I'm doing 30% water changes every 2 days, I wouldn't be able to run it through carbon for most of the days its sitting in the barrel - only those first 48 hrs

[coralbandit]

The calcium hydroxide could be the real culprit ..
It is what kalkawasser /lime water is made from and that is a reef tank supplement ,probably not ideal for discus .
That being said if it is safe to drink I would have to think the amount is low as it is not easily soluble in water .
Have you ever noticed residue in your aging barrel ? Heat also makes it behave oddly as the warmer your water the less soluble it becomes ..The opposite of many things ..
Carbon needs to have a very slow flow or long exposure time like in RO set ups to be truly effective and cheap carbons can be exhausted pretty quickly ..
The use of carbon for a longer time will cause no harm but you will have no way to know if it did anything till you add the water to your fish ..
Sorry this is messing with you so much ..Real rough one you got going ..

[jeep]

Pat and I were chatting about this. I'm not sure it would help because we haven't defined the actual problem, but reducing the feed line to the filter to 1/4" would reduce the flow and allow more contact with the carbon cartridge.

[Shan_Evolved]

I actually have reduced the flow going into the barrel considerably since it's attached to my shower head line. What used to take me 7 minutes to fill 55gal takes 25 now so carbon can work more efficiently

[Shan_Evolved]

Well this is annoying. Even after the PP treatment i just saw this come out of my cobalt.

90509626_224491372004599_6097672684831768576_n.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

White poop Shan? PP only handles external stuff. Also if you wish to try an HOB filter and want assist send me a pm.
Pat