i need help

swordtail44 · 04-04-2008, 03:30 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, 07:22 AM

It is probably just algae.

emc7 · 04-04-2008, 08:25 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, 10:38 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, 10:46 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, 05:27 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, 05:57 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, 03:30 AM	#1
swordtail44 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: new zealand Age: 19 Posts: 5	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, 10:38 AM	#4
trashion girl anachronism Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,409	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: 5.5 gallon low-light planted tank -nothing....thinking a mini-community. for reference: my name is Julie

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04-04-2008, 07:22 AM	#2
COM Rebel Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 751	It is probably just algae.

04-04-2008, 08:25 AM	#3
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 3,622	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, 10:46 AM	#5
JustOneMore20 Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,654	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.

04-04-2008, 05:27 PM	#6
swordtail44 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: new zealand Age: 19 Posts: 5	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

04-04-2008, 05:57 PM	#7
JustOneMore20 Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,654	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?

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