Orino's lost there blue color

[jimmie1974]

Aey guys,

Can't seem to figure this one out. I have 3 orinos from John that are about 4.5-5" now. Roughly two weeks ago, these guys were looking better then Rapp's orino's, I mean there was an incredible amount of blue on the tail and every fin. These guy's really shined and looked great already at this young stage. I did a water change, only about 25%, refilled, and within a few days their colors went from stunning to really washed out. You can barely make out the bars there that washed out. So i tested the water ,temp 82, PH 6.4 nitrates 0, nitrites 40-60, ammonia 0, Gh 180 Kh 80. I figured ok, maybe because this is my third w/c this week, maybe my salt level is low, added salt. Waited 24 hrs., nothing. Ok, let me raise the PH. I took it from 6.4 to 7.5 over the last 4 days, still nothing. Last resort I added salt water actinic blue lighting which brings out tons of color in saltwater fish, very nice. The greens and yellows came back, but they still look flushed, and the blue tail and fins haven't come back at all. Their eating thawed pieces of talapia, and occasional rosies that eat Bio Gold pellets. Any suggestions ???

 

[jcardona1]

1. Stop adding stuff to the water, leave it alone.
2. Pbass will look good regardless of water parameters. May just be stressed, give it some time.
3. Have a beer

 

[jimmie1974]

I posted pics backwards, top one is what they look like now, bottom one was two weeks ago.
LFS jcardona1 told me my nitrites were high, reason why i've messed with it.

 

[Dragon Hunter]

maybe your blue lightbulb went out so not seeing much blues on them. sec pic actaully look better.

 

[jcardona1]

I'm assuming you have nitrites and nitrates backwards? Nitrites should always be at zero, nitrates are always higher, and only reduced via water changes

 

[jimmie1974]

yes sorry jcardona1.
And the blue lights are new, just added them, I was getting way too much algae with the brighter white lights and only be on for about 6 hours.

 

[jimmie1974]

could it be their diet, these guys arent taking to pellets yet. Going to try alittle trick somebody mentioned to me about ghost shrimp and how they will eat massivore pellets, and the orinos will get use to the taste of the pellets in the shrimps stomachs.
GH 180 Kh 80, is that hard water. LFS said that pretty good. To me it's almost off the charts for the GH.

 

[PennReels84]

"GUT LOAD"

;]could it be their diet, these guys arent taking to pellets yet. Going to try alittle trick somebody mentioned to me about ghost shrimp and how they will eat massivore pellets, and the orinos will get use to the taste of the pellets in the shrimps stomachs.[/COLOR]
GH 180 Kh 80, is that hard water. LFS said that pretty good. To me it's almost off the charts for the GH.

 

[jimmie1974]

yeah penn, I've got them on the ghost shrimp now stuffed with bio gold. Just lost a damn brokopondo, they ate first day right out of the bag, nothing since then.

 

[HULON]

No Expert here but wehn i do something to piss my boys off or scare them they can go from very vived colors to washed out in a matter of minutes at least with me less to do with diet as long as the water is good just a mood .You got some ladies maybe huh JimmieHey Jimmie my wife goes from this To this in amatter of seconds when she finds out i bought something new for a tank LOL!!!!