- Messages
- 429
- Location
- Burlington, Vermont
I did a foolish thing last week. I have a 30 gallon tank I set up for some new apistos in the spring. (Just weeks away!) I moved some borellii juvies and a couple beckfordi Pencilfish into it to keep the bacteria in the filter active.
Anyhow, last week I bought some marbled hatchetfish forgetting that my QT tank was occupied with new mollies that are being treated for ick. It was late when I got home with them so I probably wasn't of sound mind. So I bought them in the first place because they looked so healthy and I had in mind to use them for dithers for my new apistos, I put them in that tank with my borellii juves & pencilfish.
That was a big mistake! In the morning 2 of the 6 new hatchetfish died. The next morning went 2 more. But the 3rd morning the last 2 hatchetfish were dead as well as a few borellii juvies and 1 pencilfish. Yesterday (the 4th morning), the 2nd pencilfish and a few more juvies died. :cry:
I have no idea what killed them. They showed no symtoms at all. Everyone looked fine when ever I checked them, but I would find bodies in the morning or a short time later. What ever killed them worked fast.
So today I picked up a 10 gallon and moved the remaining 8 borellii juvies to it, so now the diseased 30 gallon is empty expect for plants, coconut shell caves, driftwood and oak leaves. Now my question is this: What should I do to "clean" this tank without stripping it completely down?
It has been cycling now for a couple months and the plants are flourishing and the Java Moss has almost entirely concealed the coconut shells and I plan to get my new apistos in just a few short weeks, so I want to disturb it as little as possible.
Not knowing what the vermin is, I'm not sure how to treat the tank.
Should I "salt" it for a week or so?
Should I turn up the temp for a awhile?
What happens to the good bacteria once the fish have been removed?
I suppose I shouldn't worry too much about the filter bacteria, my main concern is not to disturb the plants that have become well rooted. There is time for the tank to re-cycle. Being a mature tank with plants, it probably wouldn't take long to cycle again.
What more can I do to determine the vermin? If I lose another borellii, should I examine the body under a magnifying glass? What should I look for? :?
Thanks,
Michael
Anyhow, last week I bought some marbled hatchetfish forgetting that my QT tank was occupied with new mollies that are being treated for ick. It was late when I got home with them so I probably wasn't of sound mind. So I bought them in the first place because they looked so healthy and I had in mind to use them for dithers for my new apistos, I put them in that tank with my borellii juves & pencilfish.
That was a big mistake! In the morning 2 of the 6 new hatchetfish died. The next morning went 2 more. But the 3rd morning the last 2 hatchetfish were dead as well as a few borellii juvies and 1 pencilfish. Yesterday (the 4th morning), the 2nd pencilfish and a few more juvies died. :cry:
I have no idea what killed them. They showed no symtoms at all. Everyone looked fine when ever I checked them, but I would find bodies in the morning or a short time later. What ever killed them worked fast.
So today I picked up a 10 gallon and moved the remaining 8 borellii juvies to it, so now the diseased 30 gallon is empty expect for plants, coconut shell caves, driftwood and oak leaves. Now my question is this: What should I do to "clean" this tank without stripping it completely down?
It has been cycling now for a couple months and the plants are flourishing and the Java Moss has almost entirely concealed the coconut shells and I plan to get my new apistos in just a few short weeks, so I want to disturb it as little as possible.
Not knowing what the vermin is, I'm not sure how to treat the tank.
Should I "salt" it for a week or so?
Should I turn up the temp for a awhile?
What happens to the good bacteria once the fish have been removed?
I suppose I shouldn't worry too much about the filter bacteria, my main concern is not to disturb the plants that have become well rooted. There is time for the tank to re-cycle. Being a mature tank with plants, it probably wouldn't take long to cycle again.
What more can I do to determine the vermin? If I lose another borellii, should I examine the body under a magnifying glass? What should I look for? :?
Thanks,
Michael