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Swordtail and Platy Issues

2K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  Hanky 
#1 ·
So recently we lost 4 guppies in our tank...very randomly. The two platies and swordtail are fine and are having the time of their life. The only issue is that one of the platies and the swordtail have been getting into some crazy fish brawls. I am not sure if they are mad about the other tank mates not being there anymore..or that they just are not compatible. They have never done this before.

For a little back ground as well, we just got our ammonia level down significantly. It is now stable .5 or 1.

Tank size is 20g and we have a 20 gallon Aqueon pump. We personally think we need a bigger pump but that is in the future.

I have also noticed that the two platies seem to hide more lately. And all the fish seem to like to sit near the top of the tank. Which seems like they are going there to get extra oxygen or something. Could this be possible?
 
#2 ·
The only acceptable ammonia level in an aquarium is zero. You need to be doing daily water changes, 25%-50% and treating with a conditioner, I uses Prime. The fish being at the top of the tank is probably due to high ammonia and low oxygen. Get a bubbler and that should help with oxygen. What is your stocking?

Also, research the Nitrogen Cycle, you need to understand it.
 
#4 ·
I agree, it should be below 1. But the tank has been above 3 for a long time now. I finally have it below 1 and the fish die? A little weird.

I do not want to do more water changes however because the water has a highlevel of chloramine and kills my bacteria quickly. I treat the water everytime I add it with ammonia detox and water conditioner. It has been slowly bringing down the ammonia.
 
#10 ·
Thats actually a neat little article with the graphs and all, I cant believe your fish lived in such high ammonia, I guess its possible they got so used to it that the drop in ammonia stressed them.
I've havent used any of the conditioners you use but I can also recommend Seachem Prime, should be all you need.
 
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