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Post by sassybees on Apr 17, 2006 15:52:26 GMT 10
LOL I re read this post and it has changed a word I used in the last sentence...."A cat when it comes to the cold" Ok lets re phrase that.....Im a whimp I had P***y
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Post by sammigold on Apr 17, 2006 21:41:01 GMT 10
Hi there Sassybees.... GH - I got my GH instructions which have conversion chart on them which tells me that 240ppm (which means parts per million just for your interest sake) is equal to between 13 and 14 dGH (which means German degree) With my test each drop you put in is equal to 1dGH or 17.9ppm which sounds very similar to yours. so I would say that your water is just lovely for the gups. if you did want to make it a bit harder you could... the blue conditioning crystals should do that... I dont think you are killing the gups... maybe you just have been unlucky... remember that most guppies are imported so they spend long periods of time stuffed in little bags and this stresses them out big time which makes them susceptible to diseases right from the start... If you arent having much luck with the girls and you want a couple more... I will give you a couple of mine... home bred with no other fish in the tank other than gups and no diseases... I had to laugh when I saw the "cat" when it comes to the cold.... I am the same - a big wussy!!! I dont have an electric blanket but I have had 2 doonas on for the last week or two... Dont forget! give us a yell if you want some ladies...(Free 4 u ;D ) ps. what is zolite? is that like kitty litter stuff....
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Post by Cyberguppy on Apr 18, 2006 0:25:23 GMT 10
LOL, that would be the word censor. It is still set to the default, half the words it 'changes' I cannot even understand as being bad, here in Aus anyway. Must get around to fixing it but for now it is good for comedy value . I have had a few very very bad experiences with columnaris when setting up tanks. Unfortunatley it usually effects guppies the worst. When I set up all my tanks again for breeding guppies the first 4 months was a complete disaster of dying fish and columnaris outbreaks. This happened again when I set up a large 4ft tank. Again the first 4 months had the same problem. strangley enough. Once this time has passed, tanks could be 'instantly' cycled when seeded from the big tank (with gravel and filter poop). I am beginning to wonder if guppies need a very specific bacteria when cycling. I have done a few experements and sick guppies will become healthy when removed to a 'healthy' tank , healthy guppies will quickly become distressed when moved to these 'sick' tanks. strangley enough, both tanks may be the same water parameter wise. I have also gone through $100's in meds to no avail. After a while I came to the conclusion that the columnaris was a symptom rather than the actual problem and began treating the water rather than the fish. It is definitly linked to water quality, seeming to become more of a problem as water quality degrades (some water-bourne human disease will mutate the same way, becoming more harmful the more dirty the water is) . Temp, salinity, and especially how much organic waste all seem to have an effect on how this disease effects fish, also how much oxygen is in the water. Some of my worst cases were encountered when : Using poor quality bloodworm and brineshrimp that had a lot of fluid, high temps, accidently overfeeding, during cycling, after ammonia and nitrite spikes, on recieving fish that had been overcrowded in their bags (100% loss after 4 days), overfeeding on protein rich foods, unknown summer water quality issues. Most problems except the last and the recieving overcrowded fish were fixed with better tank care and lower feedings. Although I must admit it took a very very long time and a lot of lost fish and patience to get over the problem. Now if I spot an outbreak precautions are usually, whisking every healthy resident to a 'healthy' tank, followed by reduced feeding, waterchanges, very thorough gravel vac, even re-seeding from a healthy tank. this seems to minimise problems but has never eliminated them. there have been a few reports latley of columnaris strains coming from LPS and suppliers who continually medicate tanks. these strains are particularly virulent and can paralize and kill fish within hours of showing symptoms. they are also totally resistant to most common meds. Fortunatly they will usually die out or revert to 'normal' easily treatable forms within 6 weeks if not treated (unfortunatley you may have no fish left by then) . These strains usually show up as the fast spreading saddle or fin and mouth paralizing kinds.
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Post by sassybees on Apr 18, 2006 7:13:43 GMT 10
Thank you ladies for your advice. Zeolite is a rusty color grit, for want of a better word. it absorbs ammonia and is used for many things from Kitty Litter to aquariams. Bumblebee suggested it when I was having nightmare problems with ammonia. I must say not too many people use it as gravel but I think its great. so easy to keep clean, bristlenose and corys love the softness of it. Gee I sound like a walking advertisment for it LOL Thank you so much for the kind offer of females..... I might take you up on that if I lose all my girls. I know the quality of live food is ok as I make my own BBS. I only feed the dried bloodworm My healthy tanks are the Males tank, the fry tank and goldfish tank........that doesnt leave a lot of choice for putting females LOL I guess its a diligent watch over the water and patience thats going to see us through this. I KNOW its NOT dirty water or cross contamination, Ive gone to great lengths to ensure that. Water changes are done to clockwork weekly and if a fish looks "off" 2 weekly. My laundry looks like a laboratory with sterilizing bins, all tanks have their own net with a stick on holder (basket), its obviosly something "in " the water that will calm down over time... well one hopes! Anyway,,its now off to work Have a good day everyone
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Post by Cyberguppy on Apr 18, 2006 15:44:19 GMT 10
Hope you have some luck with sorting out the problems. Might be worth starting a thread on zeolite, It seems very under rated as a filter medium and also substrate, there is also not that much info on it.
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