It is with great regret and shame, that i inform you all about my loss of one of the tanks.
As i mentioned before HBRTG, black, green and L25 were housed in a small set-up with some tiger barbs, hatchets and neon tetras (which were all eaten on the first night), because i was afraid that the bigger red, blue and X-back might make a meal out of them when they come around from shock of transit. Some of their pix can be seen http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200688
All was going well and all of the aros were eating hikari already (from day one!!!!). So they were fine from 19-26 Dec while i was at home. Then i left for 5 days to construction site. I did mention that black and HBRTG were fighting so they were separated with a aquarium divider. When i returned on new year eve, i was completely shocked to find green aro almost without scales sitting at the bottom (in the same compatment with black) gasping. HBRTG was gasping and swiming quite lethagically (periodically its bottom was sinking and it would right itself). Black was slightly faded but otherwise not affected. L25 was as i left him.
Note that high back had some very thin transparent thread hanging out of him. It would not come off as i tried to chase him around the tank. In the end, i removed it with a finger ... i have no idea what it was.
So the tank. i am not sure actualy of the tank size 4' long, 2' wide. Lime stone substrate with UGF filter. On the day i arrived to find green and HBRTG gasping, the ammonia (zero), nitrite (<0.2) readings were negative and NO3 reading was 20 ... quite good water better than in the silver and other set-up to be sure. On the day of the moving, the water was unchanged. The regular water changes are one a week 30% change (as for all other tanks).
I put all of them in 90L rubber container with airstones, and heaters. temp was set at 31C. My aquariums are usually salted so i did not up the salt content (1table spoon per 5 gallons). Added some med - malachite green waited for temp to equalize then moved all of them in on 1st of JAN - what a way to spend a new year day!!!!.
Within the same day, HBRTG went belly up as its sinking of bottom worsened until it was completely upside down. Stayed that way for couple of hours then passed away
Green followed shorlty
the next day i found L25 dead at the bottom and black aro having the same symptoms as HBRTG i.e. sinking tail section, but not gasping at all. By the end of the day he too went belly up. Note he also had something hanging out of his behind.
Also note that HBRTG and black finnage was completely unaffected. It died perfect and beautiful. I fish Necro was around these parts of the world in order to make a skeletal display out of them ...
I did one water change per day when they were in hospital tank.
After alll of them perished i proceeded to take apart the aquarium - too depressed and angry and needed something to do. I found that under the gravel there was a lot of black stuff despite vacuming the gravel. Is there such thing as too much beneficial bacteria? Could the tank have developed disease by itself??? Bear in mind that this set-up is quite old - half a year at least with residents living in it quite happily. Thing to note is that any left over food (after couple of hours) become hairy (literally) before i vacum it out) ... does that mean anything? It does not happen in other set-ups.
i don't check Ph (no liquite test). According to dip thingie it is around 6. Ph is not an issue as other aros are not affected in other tanks
This is the only UGF aro tank that i have (and will have!!!). I am in the process of slowly vaccuming the black gravel from the other set-up during WC too just to be safe.
I would really like comments and opinions from experienced aro keepers as to the possible cause of death.
PS: i did not have the heart to cut them up to see insides... hmmm did not recover the micro chips either ...
As i mentioned before HBRTG, black, green and L25 were housed in a small set-up with some tiger barbs, hatchets and neon tetras (which were all eaten on the first night), because i was afraid that the bigger red, blue and X-back might make a meal out of them when they come around from shock of transit. Some of their pix can be seen http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200688
All was going well and all of the aros were eating hikari already (from day one!!!!). So they were fine from 19-26 Dec while i was at home. Then i left for 5 days to construction site. I did mention that black and HBRTG were fighting so they were separated with a aquarium divider. When i returned on new year eve, i was completely shocked to find green aro almost without scales sitting at the bottom (in the same compatment with black) gasping. HBRTG was gasping and swiming quite lethagically (periodically its bottom was sinking and it would right itself). Black was slightly faded but otherwise not affected. L25 was as i left him.
Note that high back had some very thin transparent thread hanging out of him. It would not come off as i tried to chase him around the tank. In the end, i removed it with a finger ... i have no idea what it was.
So the tank. i am not sure actualy of the tank size 4' long, 2' wide. Lime stone substrate with UGF filter. On the day i arrived to find green and HBRTG gasping, the ammonia (zero), nitrite (<0.2) readings were negative and NO3 reading was 20 ... quite good water better than in the silver and other set-up to be sure. On the day of the moving, the water was unchanged. The regular water changes are one a week 30% change (as for all other tanks).
I put all of them in 90L rubber container with airstones, and heaters. temp was set at 31C. My aquariums are usually salted so i did not up the salt content (1table spoon per 5 gallons). Added some med - malachite green waited for temp to equalize then moved all of them in on 1st of JAN - what a way to spend a new year day!!!!.
Within the same day, HBRTG went belly up as its sinking of bottom worsened until it was completely upside down. Stayed that way for couple of hours then passed away
Green followed shorlty
the next day i found L25 dead at the bottom and black aro having the same symptoms as HBRTG i.e. sinking tail section, but not gasping at all. By the end of the day he too went belly up. Note he also had something hanging out of his behind.
Also note that HBRTG and black finnage was completely unaffected. It died perfect and beautiful. I fish Necro was around these parts of the world in order to make a skeletal display out of them ...
I did one water change per day when they were in hospital tank.
After alll of them perished i proceeded to take apart the aquarium - too depressed and angry and needed something to do. I found that under the gravel there was a lot of black stuff despite vacuming the gravel. Is there such thing as too much beneficial bacteria? Could the tank have developed disease by itself??? Bear in mind that this set-up is quite old - half a year at least with residents living in it quite happily. Thing to note is that any left over food (after couple of hours) become hairy (literally) before i vacum it out) ... does that mean anything? It does not happen in other set-ups.
i don't check Ph (no liquite test). According to dip thingie it is around 6. Ph is not an issue as other aros are not affected in other tanks
This is the only UGF aro tank that i have (and will have!!!). I am in the process of slowly vaccuming the black gravel from the other set-up during WC too just to be safe.
I would really like comments and opinions from experienced aro keepers as to the possible cause of death.
PS: i did not have the heart to cut them up to see insides... hmmm did not recover the micro chips either ...
