Geos dropping like flies

[BMac91]

I seem to have terrible luck with Geos, they seem fine the first few months, then start dropping off, what am I doing wrong? Have had the current batch since December, few weeks ago I had 2 pair up and lay some eggs and guard for 24hrs, 2 days later mom died, 3 days later another red head turned up dead, next day another red head turned up dead, and you guessed it, 2 days later another red head turns up dead. Fast forward to today, 4 days with no losses and I come home to a dead winemilleri. First thing I have always done is check water params, always seem to be the same as below, with nitrates having mild fluctuations from 0-10ppm, depending on the day from water change.

I always seem to find them dead on their side with their mouth open, I don't know if that is a coincidence or evidence. I can't imagine it is loss of oxygen, as the AC110 has a 1" drop before it hits the surface and the sponge filter creates surface agitation as well, plus it only seems to be the Geos having issues.

My current setup:
Equipment:
125 Gallon; 1 AC110, 1 FX6, 1 Large sponge filter; (2) 250 watt Aqueon Pro heaters
Maintenance:
40% weekly water changes, filters cleaned every 3rd or 4th water change
Deco:
Pool filter sand
Manzanita driftwood from manzanita.com

Stock:
Started with 6 Red Heads, 2 Winemilleri, 1 Rotkiel Sev, 1 Golden Sev, all juveniles 3" or less
The Golden Sev was the first fish in the tank back in Nov of 2016. In Dec of 2016 I added 3 Red Heads and the Rotkiel, in January I added 3 more red heads and 2 winemilleri.

Levels:
pH: 7.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5ppm, (5 days since last water change)
KH: 6 drops, roughly 100ppm
GH: 4 drops, roughly 60-70ppm
Temp: 81.1F

Feeding:
(2) times per day, varies between hikari cichlid pellets, marineland cichlid flakes, brine shrimp, blood worms, and spriulina flakes

 

[Chockful O Phail]

It seems to me that nitrate # is wrong somehow. That many fish even wit light 2x daily feedings should be adding more nitrates than 10 a week. Is there something wrong with your nitrate test kit? Could you possibly be doing the test wrong? Everything else looks fine to me it just seems with just weekly 40% your nitrates shouldn't be that low.

 

[BMac91]

It seems to me that nitrate # is wrong somehow. That many fish even wit light 2x daily feedings should be adding more nitrates than 10 a week. Is there something wrong with your nitrate test kit? Could you possibly be doing the test wrong? Everything else looks fine to me it just seems with just weekly 40% your nitrates shouldn't be that low.

Well, so the nitrates could be a bit misleading, I do have 2 small java ferns, a handful of moss balls that have duplicated and a large amount of various algaes I have let intentionally grow on the wood in the tank, so I imagine all of that combined could account for some of the nitrate usage.

Don't think it is the test kit, as I bought another test kit just in case and the numbers were identical. And I have been testing the same way for the last couple years, it just seems to be something with the Geo species that doesn't like me.

 

[Tyler_Wentworth_150]

I had a friend lose half his stock, only thing changed was he started using hikari pellets. It was unbeknownst to anyone what happened till his gf pointed out the addition of the hikari. He ran a test on another tank and nearly lost his stock in that one too. They all went on their sides on the bottom gasping for air. Idk why he tried it again, I guess to confirm. Possibly a bad batch of hikari? Not that I think a good batch is good food. Too much preservatives and fish meal. Tons of info of food in the Northfin food thread on this section. @Rd provided tons of info, like more than I have time to read. Might be able to offer some more specific insight here.

 

[Tyler_Wentworth_150]

Dang it, can't get it to tag him in the post

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Well, so the nitrates could be a bit misleading, I do have 2 small java ferns, a handful of moss balls that have duplicated and a large amount of various algaes I have let intentionally grow on the wood in the tank, so I imagine all of that combined could account for some of the nitrate usage.

Don't think it is the test kit, as I bought another test kit just in case and the numbers were identical. And I have been testing the same way for the last couple years, it just seems to be something with the Geo species that doesn't like me.

Just an idea, I have no clue then, could be bad food, your ph looks fine. Some kind of IP? Bad pocket of gas in the substrate?

 

[BMac91]

I had a friend lose half his stock, only thing changed was he started using hikari pellets. It was unbeknownst to anyone what happened till his gf pointed out the addition of the hikari. He ran a test on another tank and nearly lost his stock in that one too. They all went on their sides on the bottom gasping for air. Idk why he tried it again, I guess to confirm. Possibly a bad batch of hikari? Not that I think a good batch is good food. Too much preservatives and fish meal. Tons of info of food in the Northfin food thread on this section. @Rd provided tons of info, like more than I have time to read. Might be able to offer some more specific insight here.

Good to note, I always thought it was a good staple, I don't mind not feeding it, as they enjoy the bloodworms and flakes more anyways.

Just an idea, I have no clue then, could be bad food, your ph looks fine. Some kind of IP? Bad pocket of gas in the substrate?

Well, so I wasn't sure if maybe the pool filter sand was irritating their gills, as the fish that I never have issues with don't sift substrate. Logic tells me Geos sift, seem to be gasping, etc. I have started removal of it, but the pH in my tap water is quite high, so I try to keep my water changes at 50% or less to keep it from spiking too hard.

I truthfully just wasn't sure if anyone had any similar experiences, if worst case happens I will just go back to non-sand sifting fish and ditch the sand altogether. Less hassle anyways I guess.

 

[Tyler_Wentworth_150]

That would be an interesting discovery, if it happened to be the pool filter sand. So many of us accept it as an acceptable substitute for the overpriced stuff. Please keep us updated on this. Also, try new life spectrum. Lots of formulas and sizes for most needs. eBay or Amazon if no one carries it near you.

 

[Tyler_Wentworth_150]

One more thing, what brand of pfs was it?

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Doubt it's the pfs, my clowns bury themselves in it and haven't had a problem. How much different is your tap ph? You might be unlucky enough to have to age your water before water changes. Just get a food grade 55gal barrel and fill it and use that for water changes if that's the case.