Please HELP!!! My fishes are dying left and right.

Angel079

I was just searching for more ideas what rocks you could use: Limestone is said to also harden your water, you're only like 4 hrs from me, so I bet ya you'd have Limestone laying around there somewhere outdoors that you can use. Just hammer it up in small pieces and again add into filter or a sock in the tank.

madhu

Limestone... interesting!!!!

If i dont get crushed coral or dolomite... i am going fishing for limestone in my locality :)

meanwhile, i remembered that i had a gravel bag which gave a disclaimer that the gravel contained may increase hardness. so i opened up that gravel bag and put half an inch of it in my aquarium. I was anyway planning to increase the gravel substrate. So thought it might not hurt.

I will keep you updated on what I find tomorrow in pet stores.

madhu

I was looking up both crushed coral and dolomite on amazon (just in case nothing else works)

I came across
Dolomite Lime 4 lbs

in the soil fertilizer section


Amazon.com: Dolomite Lime 4 lbs.: Home & Garden

Is this something that will work? If it will, I can check gardening stores as a last resort.

Angel079

Now with the stuff posted, you'll find that at the homestore: But read the label! Either get something that's organic and/ or since its for gardening, make sure there's nothing else in there like Miracle grow fet's etc
Anything you'd wanna look at has got to be rich on calcium to avoid the acid that's currently there and harden the water - So what most fish keeping hobbyists AVOID to not have in the tank, that's what you'd want.
Its easy to test if whatever you get is rich on calcium or not: Either use your NO2 Reagen 1 or Vinegar that you hopefully have in the house. Drop some on the XYZ you find today if its fuzzing & bubbling up real nice - That's what you want (its a chem reaction between the acid from the vinager and the calcium). Normally this test is done to know what not to put in the tank - But works for your case too
Dang I wish you were closer to me, I have a whole bag stuff sitting outside you could use right now to get the hardness up

Byron

No, don't use this in an aquarium.

You want plain crushed dolomite, crushed coral or marble chips. You can add these in with the gravel substrate, or preferably in the filter because then you can adjust the amount to get the hardness/pH where you want it. Once mixed in the substrate, you need to pull the tank apart to remove it. And limestone probably won't be adequate; in my experience limestone dissolves less that the other rock substances.

But before all that, consider what fish you want. Livebearers (all of them) need slightly basic (alkaline) water, some hardness and pH above 7.0. All other fish (except rift lake cichlids obviously) will be very happy with soft slightly acidic water. So consider what fish you want and plan. Many aquarists struggling with hard water would love to be in your position. The variety in soft water fish is astounding.

Byron.

Angel079

Non of the mentioned stuff was ever discussed to be used as substrate, it was discussed to be either added to the filter or in a sock (or alike) hanging in the tank of hers.
FYI - Its not about choosing what fish she wants, she's already got Livebearers (Platy & Guppy) and Neon Tetra's.

madhu

Hi guys... good and bad news...

remember i told one Guppy had red gills and was not eating well. today morning it was dead :( :( :(

About crushed coral..

I went to many stores today... every one had crushed coral in huge bags costing somewhere betwenn 20 - 25 bucks. One of the fish store "Marine and Tropical Fish" suggested that I can use Bone rock which they had. I bought 3 rocks of these as they were pretty inexpensive. I am not sure if this will help.

If this wot help, I can anytime go to pet smart (very close to my place) and get the crushed coral bag.

Please let me know if this will help.

And yes, I already have 5 tetras 1 Guppy (2 yesterday) and 2 Platy.

Angel079

Are you talking about these white rocks with wholes in them right!?
I don't know how much calcium or not they'd give off to harden your water - Did you the the vinegar test to see if they "fuzz"?
To be honest with you: Since you only got 1 Guppy & 2 Platy left, why don't you see if your LFS would take them and give you a better price on stocking up your Neon's there - They'd love your water as it is from the tap and you'd not have to go through all this hassle.
And with these rock (or other stuff) once you do get the water right for the 3 guys you have left - Then you'll start having issues with your Neon's cause they will not tolerate this hard water, so be prepared they then may pass away on you slow or quick...

Fusion MK

I believe your problem was that you put the Prime water conditioner into the water. Usually water conditioners that do e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g also kill off your cycling bacteria. Cycling bacteria also help stabilizing the ph. So check your tank again. My advice is to stop using the Prime water conditioner and try to cycle your tank again

madhu

Yes I did the test with NO3 reagent 1. It did bubble but that too fast.

I have attached the picture of my aquarium with the three bone rocks.

Meanwhile, I couldn't control myself and got the crushed coral as well. how much should I added (in a sock) to a 10G tank?

And about the choice between live bearers and tetra... I love my Platy and Guppy . Infact I loved Molly too, some day when I get a bigger tank I was planning to get molly. Now I am thinking more about getting a 5 G tank for the tetras and have all live bearers in my 10G tank. That way I can add Mollies as well. These are all plans for future once this tank stabilizes. Lets see....

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