Alternate for Neons?

Tannerj

Because of their size theyre getting caught in the filter. I lost 3 yesterday because of it.

MMAfish35

You could get a cover for the hose that sucks up the water. Also, you might be able to adjust the suction on it so it's no so strong. Fish a little bigger than Neon's could still get caught in the filter, just not sucked up. Just a suggestion.

ladayen

No I dont think it's the size.. Unless you're filter is much too strong. It's more likely neon disease. Which no one really knows what that is, or what causes it. Just that the various neon species and cardinals have shown the same symptoms of weakness and being pulled into filters.

Tannerj

Well the neons dont get sucked up they get sucked like half way into the hose, so the disease sounds likely. And i cant adjust it. I have harlequins and the filter dosnt bother them at all.

Tannerj

Since last i was on, I have lost another Neon. :(

Byron

I would suspect something is causing this, not the fish's size. We need to know more about this tank. What is the GH and pH? What is the nitrate? I assume ammonia and nitrite were zero throughout? Are there live plants? What sort of filter, and what is the flow through the tank?

Tannerj

Everything is as should be. Ph is around 7.0. All live plants. Flow is not to strong but has some current to it.

Byron

I don't know what "as it should be" means to you when it comes to GH or nitrates. And either could be the cause of some of the problem.

Tannerj

I havent been able to test for nitrates, i just redid my tank last night. But this has been happening for the last week

Byron

We can't diagnose the problem without all the facts. What I can say is that fish will not get pulled into the filter unless either the filter is too strong or the fish is weakened by something.

A nitrate test kit is one of the basics you should have, along with a pH test. Ammonia and nitrite are advisable during the initial couple years, less necessary after that if you have a planted tank. But both pH and nitrates can tell you a lot about issues in the tank, as these can quite suddenly change.

If nitrates are high, it weakens fish, and this can be the start of other problems. And I asked about GH because neons are soft water fish, and the harder the water, the harder they will struggle just to "live" day to day. And this too weakens them. The GH you can ascertain from the municipal water supply folks, probably from their website.

Byron.