Hi all,
I've a fairly new (set up in November with a mature filter) 180 US Gallon 6x2x2ft aquarium which is set up with (oak) bogwood, slate, black sand and some java fern and anubias.
I had a lot of tannin initially, which I removed with carbon and purigen. The tannins are now finished, and all chemical filtration is removed but for a small Hydro-pure internal filter which has some sort of fancy chemical filtration in it. I'm inclined to remove the filter media from that too as I've only had fish losses in my 90 gallon corner tank with carbon in it.
Anyway, most of the fish in the tank are juvenile and some will be rehomed as they grow. I've a couple of 4" oscars, a couple of 6" terrors, a trio of 4" jaguars, a 6" gibbiceps, a 6" synodontis eupterus, a 7" caquetaia spectabilis, an 11" fire eel, a couple of 7" ornate birchirs and I think that's it. As they grow, I'll keep probably just 3-4 of the cichlids. Beyond that I have 12" black ghost knife and a 11" jardini. The jardini is new to me (purchased 30th of December) and the black ghost knife I've had 18 months and have grown on from 3".
The jardini didn't settle very well into the tank. He fed a bit the first evening and then the first night seemed to knock himself up a bit on the decor, losing a few scales. He did himself in a bit more over the following 3-4 days, losing a few more scales, but seems to be healing a bit now. He hasn't eaten since the 30th of December.
The BGKF seemed to stop feeding about 5 days ago. He is still zipping around as usual, seems keen to eat (he's hand tame and was nuzzling my fingers as usual) and whilst he took a worm briefly, he then spat it out. This is unheard of, as earthworms are his favourite. He's rejected earthworms, crickets, maggots, algae wafers (something he usually likes too) and sinking cichlid pellets.
Water parameters are spot on - I have a basic test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) but took a water sample to the LFS and they did a complete test with two different kits. 0/0/25 and pH 6.0 on the parameters listed above. Carbonate and general hardness fine (a little on the soft side, which you'd expect with the bogwood). Phosphate 0.8 (if I remember correctly).
The tank is excessively filtered (I mean, really OTT). I've two aqua one canisters (2450 with UVC and 1250), a generic 1400 size canister (not yet mature, only linked in recently), the aforementioned Hydro-pure 50 and a large wave maker to stir things up. Immediately after feeding the tank looks grim with minced food etc, but within a few minutes it's gin clear again.
What I can't understand is why only two fish aren't feeding. Everything else is fine. A more experience aquarist friend postulated that it might be dissolved oxygen, so I've added an inline oxygen diffuser onto the return from one of the canisters. Still no feeding.
Could it just be new tank stress for the jardini that's rubbed off onto the BGKF?
Any ideas gratefully appreciated. The jardini wasn't a cheap fish and I'm extremely fond of my hand tame BGKF.
I've a fairly new (set up in November with a mature filter) 180 US Gallon 6x2x2ft aquarium which is set up with (oak) bogwood, slate, black sand and some java fern and anubias.
I had a lot of tannin initially, which I removed with carbon and purigen. The tannins are now finished, and all chemical filtration is removed but for a small Hydro-pure internal filter which has some sort of fancy chemical filtration in it. I'm inclined to remove the filter media from that too as I've only had fish losses in my 90 gallon corner tank with carbon in it.
Anyway, most of the fish in the tank are juvenile and some will be rehomed as they grow. I've a couple of 4" oscars, a couple of 6" terrors, a trio of 4" jaguars, a 6" gibbiceps, a 6" synodontis eupterus, a 7" caquetaia spectabilis, an 11" fire eel, a couple of 7" ornate birchirs and I think that's it. As they grow, I'll keep probably just 3-4 of the cichlids. Beyond that I have 12" black ghost knife and a 11" jardini. The jardini is new to me (purchased 30th of December) and the black ghost knife I've had 18 months and have grown on from 3".
The jardini didn't settle very well into the tank. He fed a bit the first evening and then the first night seemed to knock himself up a bit on the decor, losing a few scales. He did himself in a bit more over the following 3-4 days, losing a few more scales, but seems to be healing a bit now. He hasn't eaten since the 30th of December.
The BGKF seemed to stop feeding about 5 days ago. He is still zipping around as usual, seems keen to eat (he's hand tame and was nuzzling my fingers as usual) and whilst he took a worm briefly, he then spat it out. This is unheard of, as earthworms are his favourite. He's rejected earthworms, crickets, maggots, algae wafers (something he usually likes too) and sinking cichlid pellets.
Water parameters are spot on - I have a basic test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) but took a water sample to the LFS and they did a complete test with two different kits. 0/0/25 and pH 6.0 on the parameters listed above. Carbonate and general hardness fine (a little on the soft side, which you'd expect with the bogwood). Phosphate 0.8 (if I remember correctly).
The tank is excessively filtered (I mean, really OTT). I've two aqua one canisters (2450 with UVC and 1250), a generic 1400 size canister (not yet mature, only linked in recently), the aforementioned Hydro-pure 50 and a large wave maker to stir things up. Immediately after feeding the tank looks grim with minced food etc, but within a few minutes it's gin clear again.
What I can't understand is why only two fish aren't feeding. Everything else is fine. A more experience aquarist friend postulated that it might be dissolved oxygen, so I've added an inline oxygen diffuser onto the return from one of the canisters. Still no feeding.
Could it just be new tank stress for the jardini that's rubbed off onto the BGKF?
Any ideas gratefully appreciated. The jardini wasn't a cheap fish and I'm extremely fond of my hand tame BGKF.
