Motoro Ray new to tank and slim peeling

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
The Nitrate is not a problem between 20-40 is good in a ray tank that is decently stocked

The ph may be the problem

The nitrite number may also be important

I would keep the water changes small so you do not swing the ph too much at once

If you had an ammonia spike it would be showing up as nitrite now that is why that number is important.

Also it is normal for a new ray to not move very much at first they can take a little while to settle in
 
i would guess it's from ammonia...Ammonia does that to the rays slim in my experience...hopefully water change will help once rays get ammonia burns...it's high risk of death within hours unless your ray has a very good immune system....good luck..
 
Doubt it's ammonia if the reading is zero - a spike wouldn't affect a ray that badly and then the filter somehow immediately fixed the problem before ammonia could be read.

You can safeguard against (also unlikely) NitrIte by simply adding three or four teaspoons of whatever salt you have available (table salt is fine).

Guys, remember this is a 600 gal tank, one ray can't make that much of a dent in a tank that big that quickly.


My question would be: How did you acclimate the ray to your water?
 
i would guess its the ph change.

if the ray was kept in a ph of 7 or something, then added to a ph of 8... hes prob just a little stressed

also be careful w the wolf. not sure if the wolf/ray combo works too often
 
OK folks. I bought new test kits. Ammonia (.5 ppm) is definately the problem. Water change helped. initial ph was wrong it is now 7.6. moved other established filters to process ammonia. Nitrite is now 1.0 ppm.

He is moving a little more. When I bought him, soon after I put him in the tank he was cruising around and to the top quite often so i knew there was an issue when he planted on the bottom.

Lesson learned any new tank make sure you have a test kit handy. Had 6 tanks established with high bioloads. That ray (total length of 19") produces crazy ammonia.
 
The tank is 3 weeks old but has a massive load of fish in it and re-used filters.

If the filters were off for over an hour whilst setting up then the bacteria could have died off a lot. If the temp, ph were out from the tank fill up this could also have had an affect. If no dechlorinator used then even worse.

Ammonia can throw off the nitrite and nitrate test kits but to be sure I would test the tap water for nitrate as if clear then the filters must be producing the nitrate...unless the ammonia is throwing it out as well as present in the tap water.

Keep up the water changes, feed lightly and keep testing. Even with 600 gals that many fish will turn the water bad very quickly.

I would visit a lfs and buy a start up additive with a bacteria colony in it to help the filter bounce back.

When setting up a big tank or a little tank you need to allow the filters to gradually mature to the bio load, even if they are pre-used. Slowly add the stock and keep testing.

Always use new test kits too.

Good luck.
 
Just Toby;4699262; said:
The tank is 3 weeks old but has a massive load of fish in it and re-used filters.

If the filters were off for over an hour whilst setting up then the bacteria could have died off a lot. If the temp, ph were out from the tank fill up this could also have had an affect. If no dechlorinator used then even worse.

Ammonia can throw off the nitrite and nitrate test kits but to be sure I would test the tap water for nitrate as if clear then the filters must be producing the nitrate...unless the ammonia is throwing it out as well as present in the tap water.

Keep up the water changes, feed lightly and keep testing. Even with 600 gals that many fish will turn the water bad very quickly.


I would visit a lfs and buy a start up additive with a bacteria colony in it to help the filter bounce back.

When setting up a big tank or a little tank you need to allow the filters to gradually mature to the bio load, even if they are pre-used. Slowly add the stock and keep testing.

Always use new test kits too.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Roger that. The filters were moved with 5 mins downtime. the water is from well and has no chlorine. Tested the ph, ammonia and nitrate from tap and all are 0. I think I am on the right track, grass roots fish husbandry, just didn't know the ray specific details. With some luck this should not turn into an epic fail.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
All is good. Eating some crawlers and all fish are back to normal. Thanks for all your help.


PS the Black wolf is on probation, if he shreds a fin he is out. But so far he is super cool with the other predators. If you put in a relatively slow fish and the big mono doesn't eat it, the wolf will cut it in half. He actually likes being near the ray. They eat worms together.

Thanks again

600 tank 002.jpg
 
I am glad your on the right track now. I think you can see why we are so stubborn about getting the test numbers. It is pretty common for new ray owners to underestimate the amount of bioload they can produce.

I bought my ray from a very good ray keeper and helpful guy, but not everyone is so lucky

P.S. Very nice set up and stock I would love to see some more photos when he is all settled in
 
good to hear, it all worked out for ya,,,,i noticed same guys usually help with ray problems, wish theres more peeps like yall in the other forums......respect..........
 
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