Water Parameters

[yes_i_like_pie]

Hi there, 

Today I found a couple of exclamation point raspborras in the tank that were dead. I’m trying to figure out what happened. I appreciate any advice you can give.

tank:  12 gallon long

light: Fluval 3.0 for 8 hours at 30%

co2: yes, started 3 days ago at roughly 1 drop per second

plants: Lots 

temperature: 79 degrees 

parameters: 

Nitrate 10

Nitrite 0

Ammonia 0

Gh 300

Kh 40

Ph 6.4

Chlorine 0

No recent water changes.

I just watched Irene’s video on Gh, kh, and Ph. And it seems like my Gh is way to much but my Kh is super low? Could that be the issue? If so, how do I fix it.
 

again I appreciate any help you can offer.

Nelly 
 

[Zaffis]

Where do you get your water from? Is it city, well, etc?

When was the last time you did a water change?

What did you use to test for GH/KH?

[nabokovfan87]

On 4/8/2022 at 12:05 PM, yes_i_like_pie said:

co2: yes, started 3 days ago at roughly 1 drop per second

I don't think it's the cause, but what does flow look like for the tank?

On 4/8/2022 at 12:05 PM, yes_i_like_pie said:

I just watched Irene’s video on Gh, kh, and Ph. And it seems like my Gh is way to much but my Kh is super low? Could that be the issue? If so, how do I fix it.

PH adjustment potentially and either Epsom salt or crushed coral.

I had some pork chop rasboras and they were fine for a short period. They developed a weird disease. Sometimes they can be a very sensitive species. Just a note to keep in mind as well. Sometimes the batch that comes in just isn't going to work well for you, that's why I think another variable is just where you sourced them from?

If KH/GH or PH are primary concern, one method to help with the stress on the fish is a very slow drip acclimation process similar to shrimp.

Edited April 8, 2022 by nabokovfan87

[yes_i_like_pie]

On 4/8/2022 at 12:49 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

I don't think it's the cause, but what does flow look like for the tank?

PH adjustment potentially and either Epsom salt or crushed coral.

I had some pork chop rasboras and they were fine for a short period. They developed a weird disease. Sometimes they can be a very sensitive species. Just a note to keep in mind as well. Sometimes the batch that comes in just isn't going to work well for you, that's why I think another variable is just where you sourced them from?

If KH/GH or PH are primary concern, one method to help with the stress on the fish is a very slow drip acclimation process similar to shrimp.

Thanks for the reply! 

The flow is good I have an aquaclear on one end pushing water down the length of the tank and a small power head on the opposite side to get some movement where the water was otherwise sitting. 

I actually for the rasboras at Aquarium Co Op about a month ago, they've been doing and looking ok this whole time. The CO2 was the newest addition a few days ago. 

I have some crushed coral and miracle shells, should I try those two in the tank to see if that could help? 

[nabokovfan87]

On 4/8/2022 at 1:04 PM, yes_i_like_pie said:

I have some crushed coral and miracle shells, should I try those two in the tank to see if that could help? 

Honestly, if you're local, I would call or ask the shop and specifically ask if they have new ones in or something that won't require adjuncts in the tank.

Like I said, could be a bad batch. Sometimes issues, discoloration, disease, etc. Takes time for it to show itself. I wouldn't or don't think massively changing water parameters is the way to go. That being said, I don't view crushed coral (buffering the water) or adding magnesium via Epsom salt is a major change. It will make some issues with the fish with regards to new inhabitants and needing to follow that slow acclimation method.

Here is the blog post on the topics in question.

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/ph-gh-kh

Quote

Low KH means your water has less buffering capacity and the pH swings easily. High KH means your water has more buffering capacity and the pH level is hard to change.