Apparently I am not ready for the Monster build yet

[Cablemonkey]

I use buckets directly from the tap and its always fine as well. Did you dechlorinate? Also shouldn't oscars be kept in water thats tropical while bluegill are cold water fish..?

While I think you are right, this Oscar and JD both have lived in cold water from what I could tell, there was no heater in the tank that I rescued them from and when they went into warmer water they started to stress so I kept them in ambient water which is about 70 degrees and they seemed happy and healthy until this water change... Got the water tested, Amonia 0, pH a little high, Nitrate was moderate and Nitrite was about .025ppm. Doing another water change and taking the river pebble out, just going bare bottoms for now so I can control the waste better. This was a real scare... Learning by trial and error is not fun

 

[honda237]

I can't say I know anyone who does that, except those who have drip systems. The majority use python type setups and go straight from the tap to the tank. I honestly can't see 6 degrees causing any more than minor discomfort. I raised my kids 10 gallon about 15C higher when an emergency came up mid fill. Every fish and the crayfish came out fine. Final water temp was about 95F.

agreed, i use a python and don't match temp, just whats close and i've never had a problem, even doing 60% water changes.

While I think you are right, this Oscar and JD both have lived in cold water from what I could tell, there was no heater in the tank that I rescued them from and when they went into warmer water they started to stress so I kept them in ambient water which is about 70 degrees and they seemed happy and healthy until this water change... Got the water tested, Amonia 0, pH a little high, Nitrate was moderate and Nitrite was about .025ppm. Doing another water change and taking the river pebble out, just going bare bottoms for now so I can control the waste better. This was a real scare... Learning by trial and error is not fun

Did you get your water from the tap tested? something could have changed and thats what might have caused a problem. Ph isn't that big of a deal, as long as its constant. I keep south americans in 8.4 with out a problem.

 

[shua71]

While I think you are right, this Oscar and JD both have lived in cold water from what I could tell, there was no heater in the tank that I rescued them from and when they went into warmer water they started to stress so I kept them in ambient water which is about 70 degrees and they seemed happy and healthy until this water change... Got the water tested, Amonia 0, pH a little high, Nitrate was moderate and Nitrite was about .025ppm. Doing another water change and taking the river pebble out, just going bare bottoms for now so I can control the waste better. This was a real scare... Learning by trial and error is not fun

Trial and error is how we all learn. How long was your tank set up? You shouldn't have any nitrites. And do you dechlorinate your water?

 

[Cablemonkey]

agreed, i use a python and don't match temp, just whats close and i've never had a problem, even doing 60% water changes.


Did you get your water from the tap tested? something could have changed and thats what might have caused a problem. Ph isn't that big of a deal, as long as its constant. I keep south americans in 8.4 with out a problem.

Yes I did, tested fine except high pH which I knew, its city water..

Trial and error is how we all learn. How long was your tank set up? You shouldn't have any nitrites. And do you dechlorinate your water?

I used a dechlorinate additive. tank has been up about 3 months, doing weekly water change of 40-60%, having a real issue keeping the substrate clean, going to drain the tank and go bare bottom for a while and see how it goes...

 

[Cablemonkey]

Also its the same water I have been using in all my tanks since they got setup, this is the first time i have had this issue...

 

[Joe M]

split it into 20% for 3 times

Three 20% W/Cs won't replace as much water as one 60% W/C.

 

[Inglorious]

I would remove the pebble and either go with bare bottom for a while or use sand so detrius won't settle down as easily. As for your parameters I would be really concerned about the nitrIte level, it seems like your tank went through a mini cycle which caused your issues. As for your dechlorinator, what do you use? You'll find that most people use and recommend Prime over anything else.