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Re: Neons dropping



Toan writes:

> Recently (5 days ago), I bought about 70 "jumbo" neons tetras form 
PetsMart. 
>  Just today, I came home to a tank that has about 45 or so left. My brother 
>  says that they have been dying one after another all day long. Within the 
>  last few hours, I've remove about 5 of them. I dunno the pH--I dont have a 
>  test kit--I never have had to test before. That is, I can tell pretty much 
>  by how my fishes look whether they are stressed, and besides, I haven't 
had 
>  stressed fish in the last four years or so, let alone something dying on 
me. 
> 
>  Ive have never had neons before, however.
>  
>  Parameters:
>  
>  60 gallons
>  82-85 F
>  aquaclear 200
>  2 ebo jaager 200 watt heater
>  moderately planted (about half the tank)
>  
>  fishes:
>  
>  neons < 50 (going down)
>  3 discus
>  2 false SAE
>  6 shrimps
>  
>  I'm planning on buying some amquel tomorrow and doubling the dosage. I've 
>  cut the feedings for the now. I cannot do a water change--water here is 
very 
> 
>  hard and alkaline; I'd probably do more damage if I change the water now 
and 
> 
>  I cannot afford to buy water. (also, I'd have to change water slowly to 
>  minimize shock and I don't have the time right now. I have finals next 
week)
>  
>  While the neons have a 30 days on them, I still am very bothered by their 
>  deaths. I will be taking the dead ones back to get them replaced. Any 
advice 
> 
>  is greatly appreciated and thanks in advance. Any ideas, any hypothesis, 
any 
> 
>  theories, anything.

Here's a theory- Ammonia poisoning.  That's a LOT of fish in that tank.  The 
plant and filter bacteria did not have time to adjust to that sudden increase 
in bioload. Five days is just about the right amount of time for the fish to 
start keeling over.  The only reason the discus didn't go first is because 
they are larger.  Don't replace the dead ones, get another tank instead and 
redistribute the fish.

Bob Dixon