Skunks dying!

[tender]

Hi!
I`ll take youre advice and keep KH as stable as possible. But this will keep my PH a bit higher than what is preferred. I guess this is OK?

I use Tetra Aquasafe after every water change, eventhough it is said not be necessary in Norway.

Nitrites have not been present at any time. I check every day.
I have done another water-change today (after the tests) and eventhough I cant see the skunks (they are provided with ample hidey-holes) I have heard ample "clicking" from the tank throughout the evening. And no more skunks have died. I guess this a good sign

Kind regards
Marius

[tender]

Hi again!
Good news first: no more deaths, and Skunks now coming out and eating a (very microscopic) dose of Red mosquitolarva.

However, since I have measurable ammonia in the tank, and PH is stable around 7,8 (KH is 4) doesn`t that create more toxic Ammonia?

I`m a bit confused as I have taken up youre advice about keeping KH stable, and daily waterchanges but the KH keeps the PH above the "magic" 7,0. Nitrites are 0 and Nitrates is 5mg/l so the filters are obviously doing something right here

On the other side, skunks seem a bit more happy now and deaths have stopped for a day or two, so I`m unsure as what to do?

Kind regards
Marius

[chefkeith]

It's almost impossible to get an accurate ammonia reading after a water change if water conditioners are used. Almost every water conditioners will give a false positive ammonia reading, especially if there is no chlorine or chloramines in the water. IMO, it's bad to over dose water conditioners because they contain some kind of sulfate. Sulfates are the most massive ions that fish will encounter in an aquarium. If chlorine or chloramines are present in the water, then the those sulfates will break up when they bind with the chlorine/chloramines/ammonia, otherwise they will stay in the water column for who knows how long.


Ammonium can also give a false positive ammonia reading. Ammonium in not toxic.

[tender]

No more dead skunks, and AMPLE clicking when another microscopic portion of mosquitolarvae was fed 3 of them even made an apperance outside theyre caves Water conditions are very stable (eventhough they are a little bit "off the mark" as far as loaches are concerned..PH=8!)
As long as they now are eating and deaths have momentarily stopped for a short while, I think I`ll just keep up daily water-changes and monitor the tank. Thanks for all youre input If there are some developements I`ll keep you all informed.

Kind regards
Marius

[chefkeith]

The pH will gradually go down as fish waste in the the tank goes up. If the water has plenty of surface aggitatiion and doesn't allow CO2 levels to build up, the pH will stay high.

IMO, it's not worth the time to track the pH if you know that the kH, gH, and TDS levels are consistent. Fish don't care about pH (bacteria will though).. The fish have no way of knowing what the pH of the water is. What fish care about is changes in the mineral composition of the of the water, and that in turn changes the pH.