pics

[Polypterus]

just a qn, if after adding all the new media, the pH is still 7, how am i to raise it?

Don't

 

[xander]

i'm not going to EXPLAIN anything further about pH, i'll just give instructions and expect you to follow them if you want the fish to improve (or have a chance at improving). if anyone else wants to give the in-depth explanations of pH in an aquarium they can feel free as i don't have the time or the desire to type any of that stuff up--
--solomon

of course, neither would i. yes i know i rushed into the tank without much research, so do forgive me for some lack of knowledge. i just didn't know that there was all this stuff. but now i do.

 

[KaraJo]

How are you doing water changes now?? What percentage, how often, and how exactly do you do them??

Your LFS may be reputable, but that may be with fish in general, not this particular species. Listen to these guys...I know they are taking the time to spell this all out for you only for the sake of your fish. You may be learning, but this really shouldnt be the fish you are learning from.

 

[xander]

How are you doing water changes now?? What percentage, how often, and how exactly do you do them??

Your LFS may be reputable, but that may be with fish in general, not this particular species. Listen to these guys...I know they are taking the time to spell this all out for you only for the sake of your fish. You may be learning, but this really shouldnt be the fish you are learning from.

30% waterchanges every 3 days now(it's been 40% every other day with 30% in between for the last week or so) by sucking out water and adding back in.

i managed to remove 85% of the plant substrate, is this enough? or do i have to remove all of it?

 

[KaraJo]

30% waterchanges every 3 days now(it's been 40% every other day with 30% in between for the last week or so) by sucking out water and adding back in.

i managed to remove 85% of the plant substrate, is this enough? or do i have to remove all of it?

Removing the Substrate would mean Removing it ALL. If its obviously doing more bad then good then you don't want it in there. Keep up with your waterchanges so you have a good schedule going, get the correct substrate, and eventually upgrade your tank. Not the biggest issue as of now, but something you should be thinking about and should have thought about before you got these fish.

Also, do you use water conditioner?

 

[SimonL]

Gar are very, very tough compared with most tropical fish...Just change your water and leave everything else alone...I change 50% once a week, I've had two of my gar for years...And listen to the advice from Polypterus and Sol...

 

[xander]

Removing the Substrate would mean Removing it ALL. If its obviously doing more bad then good then you don't want it in there. Keep up with your waterchanges so you have a good schedule going, get the correct substrate, and eventually upgrade your tank. Not the biggest issue as of now, but something you should be thinking about and should have thought about before you got these fish.

Also, do you use water conditioner?

it's not exactly doing anything bad. well not the small amout left in there. and i think the aragonite substrate would counter it's effects. okay i'll try to get as much of what's left out, but it's likely impossible to get all if it out. and yes i thought about the upgrade thing already.

no i dont use water conditioner. sol and richard said not to add any chemicals

Gar are very, very tough compared with most tropical fish...Just change your water and leave everything else alone...I change 50% once a week, I've had two of my gar for years...And listen to the advice from Polypterus and Sol...

not to sound like an as$ or anything, but if you've read through the rest of the thread you might have realised the cuban is much different compared to normal gars. if i changed the water and left everything else alone it would have died.

 

[SimonL]

not to sound like an as$ or anything, but if you've read through the rest of the thread you might have realised the cuban is much different compared to normal gars. if i changed the water and left everything else alone it would have died.

Any fish is affected by nitrites...including gar. They're not that different, still tougher than most community fish. I kept mine the same as the other gar (well, until my FRT ate his face lol). I should've clarified, I meant care in the long term. The stuff Sol and Polypterus are just talking about basic aquarium chemistry with regard to large predators.

 

[KaraJo]

it's not exactly doing anything bad. well not the small amout left in there. and i think the aragonite substrate would counter it's effects. okay i'll try to get as much of what's left out, but it's likely impossible to get all if it out. and yes i thought about the upgrade thing already.

no i dont use water conditioner. sol and richard said not to add any chemicals.

YOU NEED TO USE WATER CONDITIONER!! That is not considered a chemical and not what Solomon is talking about. This could be another major factor in your fish being in poor health. Get as much of that substrate out as you can. Why can't you get all of it out?? Use a siphon to vacuum it into a bucket and you should be able to get most of it out of there.

GET Water conditioner though! You should be using this during every water change.

 

[xander]

YOU NEED TO USE WATER CONDITIONER!! That is not considered a chemical and not what Solomon is talking about. This could be another major factor in your fish being in poor health. Get as much of that substrate out as you can. Why can't you get all of it out?? Use a siphon to vacuum it into a bucket and you should be able to get most of it out of there.

GET Water conditioner though! You should be using this during every water change.

because there is 4kilos of that crap buried all over the place. removing all would essentially mean me having to remove all the substrate(including the one w all the bb in it). okay water conditioner? gah. i'll pick it up later