Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 So I my mom spotted out that my favorite Cory that I call Beth was laying in the wisteria. She is normally very lively but the past few days she hasn’t been as lively as she once was. Please help Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorydorasEthan Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Beth could be acting this way for several reasons. First of all, she might be stressed, so that she stays in one place and doesn't move as much. If you're other fish in the tank are peaceful and not aggressive, I don't think this could be the case. Another cause could be stress from fluctuating water parameters/temperature, so I would check those as well just in case. Another reason why Beth might be acting like this is because she may have some sort of disease/parasite. My pearl gourami stayed still for an entire day and did not eat or interact at all with me when he had internal parasites. A day later, he showed signs of eating and interaction a lot more, so you might want to treat them with API General Cure or something similar if you find something is wrong (if you see parasites, fish doesn't eat, fish is flashing/rubbing against the sides/gravel, etc.). I am a newer fishkeeper, so I don't really know too much about what could be causing this. Honestly, it could really be any disease or illness, so I would wait for a more experienced hobbyist to come around this post. Anyway, I hope my advice could help, and I hope Beth gets better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 What are Your water parameters have you add anything to to aquarium recently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 I haven’t added any fish in about 2 months. I’ll go check my parameters now. About a month ago I had a Cory that did the same thing but ended up dying and I never figured out what happened. Thanks @CorydorasEthan for your insight I’m going to check my parameters I have been dealing with algae problems so idk if that has to do anything with it but I doubt it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 She has moved down to the sand now at the bottom of the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 The ph seems really high, I have some imagitarium ph reducer but I heard that it isn’t really good for the fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 The ph seems really high, I have some imagitarium ph reducer but I heard that it isn’t really good for the fish 0 Ammonia 0 Nitrite over 7.6 ph This is also very strange my Nitrate is at 0, I have so much algae in my tank it’s insane I don’t think that’s right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Test your tap water as well with the same test. 7.6pH is high for a corydora that prefers acidic water. What other fish do you have in the tank and do they appear to be showing signs of stress? I would think a pH spike would cause other fish to be exhibiting stress behaviors. I forget do the API master kits come with a calibration solution? This is usually a solution that has exactly 7.0pH so you can make sure your test kit hasn't been fouled or contaminated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 I have 3 golden panchax killifish, 6 black skirt tetras and 2 other corydoras, the others died of the same thing that this one had, and 1 SAE it is a 29 gallon high. Is ph reducer good or does it shock the fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Has your ph always been 7.6 have long have the had the corydoras have long ago did the Frist one die Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 It was about a month ago it died if I can remember the last time I checked my ph was a month ago and it was about 7.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 He is swimming all around the tank now!!! I just want to get this ph problem down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 You could add some catappa leaves or peat moss in a media bag to help lower your pH I have never used pH reducers before maybe some can comment of that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 I had a catappa leaf but the snails ate it. I heard ph reducers shock the fish and also they are unnatural for the fish but they have worked pretty good for me in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 I have not used them it all depends on how much it lowers the pH by if goes from 7.6 to 7.0 in one go that might shock your fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 What is your pH coming out of your tap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 I am going to test it and get right back with you guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 Here it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 (edited) Look to be about 7.2 to 7.6 have you add any rocks that could be altering your ph Edited February 28, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Yeah it's your tap that is the issue here. Do you live in a mineral rich environment? I'm thinking states like Colorado, Montana, Utah, etc. Mineral rich tap will dry with a chalky white residue left behind. You are at about a ~7.4pH it seems and you ideally want to be at about a 6.0-6.5. As @Colu suggested organics will help produce acidic conditions. But remember pH is on a logarithmic scale dropping one whole point of pH is a 10x order of magnitude. What I would advise in this case is find a source of water that is lower in pH to about neutral (7.0). Rainwater, water from an established acidic tank, springwater. Do not use distilled water. Then you will want to use that for your water changes for about a week or 2. Doing small water changes of about (5-10%) every couple days will slowly reduce pH down to the desired acidic conditions. Long term you will want to stop using your tap water and find an alternate source. As for pH alters. I used to sell them for years. It's not really right for everyone's situation and in most cases is just an expensive gimick. All it does is bind free OH- or H+ either causing the pH to go up or go down. It will only harm fish if you apply it to the tank and cause huge swings in pH. It is best used on tap water before the water change. If you are dead set on using your tap water I would test the gH and kH as well. Any mineral or carbonate buffers will cause your pH reducer to be less effective and therefore more expensive in the long term. Free water chemistry lessons for all 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 Quote 3 hours ago, Biotope Biologist said: Yeah it's your tap that is the issue here. Do you live in a mineral rich environment? I'm thinking states like Colorado, Montana, Utah, etc. Mineral rich tap will dry with a chalky white residue left behind. You are at about a ~7.4pH it seems and you ideally want to be at about a 6.0-6.5. As @Colu suggested organics will help produce acidic conditions. But remember pH is on a logarithmic scale dropping one whole point of pH is a 10x order of magnitude. What I would advise in this case is find a source of water that is lower in pH to about neutral (7.0). Rainwater, water from an established acidic tank, springwater. Do not use distilled water. Then you will want to use that for your water changes for about a week or 2. Doing small water changes of about (5-10%) every couple days will slowly reduce pH down to the desired acidic conditions. Long term you will want to stop using your tap water and find an alternate source. As for pH alters. I used to sell them for years. It's not really right for everyone's situation and in most cases is just an expensive gimick. All it does is bind free OH- or H+ either causing the pH to go up or go down. It will only harm fish if you apply it to the tank and cause huge swings in pH. It is best used on tap water before the water change. If you are dead set on using your tap water I would test the gH and kH as well. Any mineral or carbonate buffers will cause your pH reducer to be less effective and therefore more expensive in the long term. Free water chemistry lessons for all 😁 I live in Kentucky. The tap water faucet has a black like thing that covers it a bit. I do water changes every other week so I don’t think the rainwater or the others will work is there a way to change the ph in the tap water. Thanks by the way the Cory is perfectly fine now swimming around I just want to get the ph better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Test your kH and gH for me out of the tap and post pics or let me know where you are at. We can go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now