Nitrates--ARG!

[SALTY WATERS]

I wouldn't think so (emptying the tank); I would just leave your tank settle for a week or so and keep an eye on the water perams and then when you are sure all is fine add in your new tank mates.

Question; I see you said you FLOATED the bag for some time...did you drip acclimate them to the new water conditions? Temp is only one part of the aclimatization process!

 

[WhaleGeekLWU]

No i didn't drip acclimate the bag, but both sets of water had the same gravity, just different amounts of the bacteria. (too much nitrates, everything else was fine)

 

[SALTY WATERS]

I think that is your culprite that pushed it over the edge!

When you add your new tank mates make sure you float for about 15 -20 minutes and then do the drip to properly acclimate them without to much shock.

 

[WhaleGeekLWU]

i always thought shock was more instantaneous than that

 

[WhaleGeekLWU]

So basicly my mom's idea that they died because I took away their flowerpot is impossible?
(I had a little flower pot in there that one slept in at night, and the other kind of slept behind and underneath it.)

 

[SALTY WATERS]

Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes not!

I think is was a combination of the above I mentioned that did it and not dripping them just tipped the scale!

 

[SALTY WATERS]

So basicly my mom's idea that they died because I took away their flowerpot is impossible?
(I had a little flower pot in there that one slept in at night, and the other kind of slept behind and underneath it.)

That is possibly another factor...when you change there surroundings like that it can add great stress to the fish and if that was were they used as there "SAFE" spot then that would make a lot of sense that it would add a great stress.

 

[1979camaro]

floating them for 6 hours may have killed them....floating the bags is really actually quite bad for fish as it does not allow for gas exchange between the bag and the outside air....not good at all

 

[WhaleGeekLWU]

so how much water do you put in and take out with drip acclimation? and at what time intervals?

 

[SALTY WATERS]

floating them for 6 hours may have killed them....floating the bags is really actually quite bad for fish as it does not allow for gas exchange between the bag and the outside air....not good at all

Good point about the 6 hrs camaro, but I don't think floating the fish for 15-20 minutes will cause any harm... I usually purchase my fish and have them at my house in a matter of 15-20 minutes and then float them while I get my bucket and airline hose ready to do the drip, and I also mix-up a small amount of water to replace what will be taken out of the tank. This usually takes me only 15 minutes or so and allows the bag temp to acclimate to that of the tank a little more.

 

[1979camaro]

true enough....but 6hrs is a looooooong time