i need help

swordtail44 · 04-04-2008, 02:30 AM

i got home from work and found my little female swordtail dead,i checked the ph and it was at 8.3 i did a big clean and neutralised the ph level,but then i noticed little green specs on the glass off my tank,is this just algae or something worse,

some help would be greatly appreciated thanks

COM · 04-04-2008, 06:22 AM

It is probably just algae.

emc7 · 04-04-2008, 07:25 AM

Why neutralize the pH? Swords love 8.3. Much better than 7.0. On finding dead fish, check ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. The only reason to check pH is that a sudden drop can indicate really high nitrate. Most common cause of livebearer death is "female problems", nothing you can do. Green specks are algae, another indicator of high nitrate. A water change would be much more effective than adding acid.

trashion · 04-04-2008, 09:38 AM

Yeah, also, how did you "do a big clean?" Exactly how much and what did you clean? This could make your problems worse.

**JustOneMore20** · 04-04-2008, 09:46 AM

To go along with the great advice above, doing a "big clean" won't necessarily affect the pH. Check your tap pH, if its near 8.3, you aren't going to change the tank pH. Don't try to bring it down.....8.3 is fine for most fish (especially livebearers).

You should be more worried about ammonia and nitrites when a fish dies.

swordtail44 · 04-04-2008, 04:27 PM

to do a big clean all i did was do a 25% water change which brought the ph down to 7.6 i vaccumed the gravel and ran the glass cleaner over the glass,i might go in today and get another female swordtail and get some new plants as some of them are a bit tired looking

**JustOneMore20** · 04-04-2008, 04:57 PM

What size tank is it and what fish do you have in it?

It might be good to find out what caused your swordtail's death before adding another.

Did you check for ammonia and nitrIte? If so, what readings did you get?

04-04-2008, 02:30 AM	#1
swordtail44 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: new zealand Age: 19 Posts: 5 User Feedback: (0)	i need help i got home from work and found my little female swordtail dead,i checked the ph and it was at 8.3 i did a big clean and neutralised the ph level,but then i noticed little green specs on the glass off my tank,is this just algae or something worse, some help would be greatly appreciated thanks

04-04-2008, 09:38 AM	#4
trashion girl anachronism Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 932 User Feedback: (0)	Yeah, also, how did you "do a big clean?" Exactly how much and what did you clean? This could make your problems worse. __________________ current setup: 15 gallon, planted w/ pressurized co2, 55watts PC lighting, EI fert dosing. -5 harlequin rasboras -7 Aspidoras pauciradiatus (sixray or false corydoras) for reference: my name is Julie

04-04-2008, 09:46 AM	#5
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,404 User Feedback: (2)	To go along with the great advice above, doing a "big clean" won't necessarily affect the pH. Check your tap pH, if its near 8.3, you aren't going to change the tank pH. Don't try to bring it down.....8.3 is fine for most fish (especially livebearers). You should be more worried about ammonia and nitrites when a fish dies. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

04-04-2008, 04:57 PM	#7
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,404 User Feedback: (2)	What size tank is it and what fish do you have in it? It might be good to find out what caused your swordtail's death before adding another. Did you check for ammonia and nitrIte? If so, what readings did you get? __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

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04-04-2008, 06:22 AM	#2
COM Rebel Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 305 User Feedback: (0)	It is probably just algae.

04-04-2008, 07:25 AM	#3
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,641 User Feedback: (0)	Why neutralize the pH? Swords love 8.3. Much better than 7.0. On finding dead fish, check ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. The only reason to check pH is that a sudden drop can indicate really high nitrate. Most common cause of livebearer death is "female problems", nothing you can do. Green specks are algae, another indicator of high nitrate. A water change would be much more effective than adding acid.

04-04-2008, 04:27 PM	#6
swordtail44 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: new zealand Age: 19 Posts: 5 User Feedback: (0)	to do a big clean all i did was do a 25% water change which brought the ph down to 7.6 i vaccumed the gravel and ran the glass cleaner over the glass,i might go in today and get another female swordtail and get some new plants as some of them are a bit tired looking

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