Clown Loaches sick... AGAIN

[Diana]

I have copied your post and added my comments

We tested the plain tap and it was at .75ppm ammonia. THAT IS TOXIC!!! That seems pretty normal to me, so that can't be causing the trouble. Yes, it CAN be causing the problems. I went ahead and changed 25-30% of the water. Continuing to medicate with Furan-2.

The Rena is set up thus: 2 coarse sponges and 2 fine sponges in the bottom compartment, biostars and zeolite bag in the middle, biostars and carbon bag in the top. The bags might be getting somewhat bypassed--I might need to eventially use something else or make new ones. Otherwise, bypass is very limited. If the media bags are sort of stiff, and do not allow the media to spread out in the basket then there may be more bypass than is good. I use nylon stockings, such as knee his as media bags. They are softer, and conform better to the baskets. I'll bet your Zeolite is getting used up REALLY fast. Are you changing it out every few days?

The Magnum is stuffed full of large stones that are suppsoed to be used as absorbers. Ab or Ad? -sorbers, and what do they remove from the water? The canister is sleeved with a foam filter.

I believe my nitrates were high at 40-80ppm, This is high, but it suggests that at least some nitrifying bacteria is surviving. and my nitrites were absolute zero. Very good. Ammonia ought to be absolute 0 ppm too. The tank has zero carbonate hardness, This is very bad. The nitrifying bacteria use carbonates as a source of carbon. I would add 1 teaspoon of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) per 30 gallons. This will raise the KH by 2 German degrees of hardness and the pH by roughly .2 but general hardness is at maxium. Got a number for us? It has actually been that way for many years--the pH has also been consistently 6.0 for many years. Nitrifying bacteria do not do well in this low a ph. Whether it is the low KH (often accompanied by low pH) or the actual pH I am not sure. However, fix the KH and let the pH fall where it may. TDS I haven't closely monitored, but I checked recently and it was at about 1000ppm because I had dosed the tank with salt in hopes of destressing one of the fish to get him eating again. It seems to have helped.

2 clowns died yesterday, the rest are still alive but 2 look pretty sluggish. 1 I dipped in meth blue (following the instructions on the bottle) and I'm hoping he has since stabilized.

I need a larger tank anyhow, I think. I believe the 72g is just too small, and I've had problems with it since day one. Hopefully I can set this new tank up properly with all of the wonderful suggestions here. I think it will help to have more space for the fish, and to start anew to make sure I do it right. I've just never had so much trouble setting up a tank, they almost always cycled on their own Sad The new one will be stocked with far more plants, even if I have to order them online.

I have a feeling that the 72g is getting plenty of ammonia. Too much. As for the tests, I need to check and see exactly what they are.

What do I need to do to start using RO water? Is there a faucet filter that can be used?
There are counter top units that are connected to the faucet when you want, and disconnected when you are done.
I hope your family is not drinking this ammonia-laden water, you may want to look into a household sized RO unit.

[Icewall42]

Not 75ppm, but 0.75ppm. I have been using Prime and Stress Coat to do what I can. Knowing that there is a counter top RO unit available helps, because I don't think we can mess with plumbing in our apartment.

I was originally changing out the zeolite bags after a few days when I noticed ammonia levels rising. That's when I bought another bag, recharged another, and used those for a bit. Even when I first put them back in--the meter never budged. I have a feeling it just isn't accurate but I don't yet know what kind it is.

The Magnum's stones are ammonia-absorbers. I forget who sells them--Seachem, maybe.

I'll try adding the baking soda to the water in the dose you recommended.

I don't know the exact hardness of the water. I'll have to check it again.

Don't get me wrong--I know some of the problems with the tank and I'm seeking to correct them though I do not believe they are the only causes. I've lost so many fish, some of them 6-7 years old, like clockwork every couple of months this p[ast year. I'm just so frustrated because I had so much better luck with all my tanks when I was in Alaska. But there, I had a much better water supply, and MUCH better access to live plants because I worked with my parents in our small fish store. I know how to take care of them. And I'm not new to aquariums. And I have always sought to shift my techniques to better ones.

So I do appreciate all of the information here--but I don't want to feel like I've done something wrong. I want to feel like I'm working to make it right.