siren
11-27-2017, 09:59 AM
65 gallon tank (36x18x24)
Eheim professional 3 65 filter, out put from filter rippling the surface sufficiently.
50% Water changes with 1/3 tap water, aged, and 2/3 RO (water here is super hard) I still add a capful of prime just in case, the barrel is heated with a heater, and has a small water pump in it to move the water.
Ammonia 0 no spike or change ever
Nitrite 0 no spike or change ever
Nitrate 5 got up to 20 once, water change fixed it
Temp 83
Now bare bottom
ph 7
Now 5 discus
11 rummy nose tetras
I am at a complete loss as to what to do. Here's the long story.
I started a discus tank about 6 weeks ago. I put 2 inches of gravel in, lots of plants, a piece of driftwood, some rocks. It was a well cycled tank with clean parameters. I purchased 6 2" discus. The fish were fantastic. Excited to see me, ate out of my hand. One morning I was going to feed them, they all came up to the surface, super excited, and I accidentally let the hinged lid slip out of my hands. It came down with a huge loud crack. The fish panicked, and hid. They basically never came out again. A week later, They all died one by one. My LFS said that I probably damaged their ear drums. I was devastated.
My new light fixture shows up, a bright LED plant light, I install it.
So I start again 8 days ago, 6 2" discus, after reading these forums exhaustively, I discovered that twice a week water changes were not enough, so I started every other day, 50%. The second set of fish are super shy, only were eating when the food was placed close to them. The get distressed with every water change. 3 days ago I notice that the fish started scratching on the plants. So I start daily water changes, dosed with paraguard, check my parameters constantly. My bristle nose pleco starts sprinting to the top of the tank grabbing air. I realize that the meds are probably hurting him, I remove him and put in in my daughters tank. Yesterday I notice one of the fish is not eating, and hiding out at the top of the tank by the filter intake. after more reading of this site I realize I have done everything completely wrong. I place all of the fish in a bucket, drain the tank, remove the gravel, remove the plants, I saved 1/3 of the water, refilled the tank, bare bottom. Lost one of the tetras in the process. Put 4 plants in clear glass pots, put back in the drift wood, replace the fish. Everyone is skittish yesterday evening. Today I wake up, the one who looked sickly yesterday is dead, no one is eating, not even the tetras. The discus are breathing heavy. I am beside myself. I have no idea what else I could possibly do. I decide to go back to the fluorescent fixture this morning. Do I put some sand in the bottom so they can't see their reflection? The tank is on a wooden cabinet, that is black. Do I give up on discus all together? I am beside myself as to what I can do to save these fish now. Please help.
Eheim professional 3 65 filter, out put from filter rippling the surface sufficiently.
50% Water changes with 1/3 tap water, aged, and 2/3 RO (water here is super hard) I still add a capful of prime just in case, the barrel is heated with a heater, and has a small water pump in it to move the water.
Ammonia 0 no spike or change ever
Nitrite 0 no spike or change ever
Nitrate 5 got up to 20 once, water change fixed it
Temp 83
Now bare bottom
ph 7
Now 5 discus
11 rummy nose tetras
I am at a complete loss as to what to do. Here's the long story.
I started a discus tank about 6 weeks ago. I put 2 inches of gravel in, lots of plants, a piece of driftwood, some rocks. It was a well cycled tank with clean parameters. I purchased 6 2" discus. The fish were fantastic. Excited to see me, ate out of my hand. One morning I was going to feed them, they all came up to the surface, super excited, and I accidentally let the hinged lid slip out of my hands. It came down with a huge loud crack. The fish panicked, and hid. They basically never came out again. A week later, They all died one by one. My LFS said that I probably damaged their ear drums. I was devastated.
My new light fixture shows up, a bright LED plant light, I install it.
So I start again 8 days ago, 6 2" discus, after reading these forums exhaustively, I discovered that twice a week water changes were not enough, so I started every other day, 50%. The second set of fish are super shy, only were eating when the food was placed close to them. The get distressed with every water change. 3 days ago I notice that the fish started scratching on the plants. So I start daily water changes, dosed with paraguard, check my parameters constantly. My bristle nose pleco starts sprinting to the top of the tank grabbing air. I realize that the meds are probably hurting him, I remove him and put in in my daughters tank. Yesterday I notice one of the fish is not eating, and hiding out at the top of the tank by the filter intake. after more reading of this site I realize I have done everything completely wrong. I place all of the fish in a bucket, drain the tank, remove the gravel, remove the plants, I saved 1/3 of the water, refilled the tank, bare bottom. Lost one of the tetras in the process. Put 4 plants in clear glass pots, put back in the drift wood, replace the fish. Everyone is skittish yesterday evening. Today I wake up, the one who looked sickly yesterday is dead, no one is eating, not even the tetras. The discus are breathing heavy. I am beside myself. I have no idea what else I could possibly do. I decide to go back to the fluorescent fixture this morning. Do I put some sand in the bottom so they can't see their reflection? The tank is on a wooden cabinet, that is black. Do I give up on discus all together? I am beside myself as to what I can do to save these fish now. Please help.