Member

Posts: 84
From:Hull, UK
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-02-2003 01:52 PM         

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Hiya
I am thinking about getting a loach for my goldfish tank, I have been told they are good for the ecological balance, but I was wondering which sort of species you can keep at 65 degrees C?
I was thinking of getting a weather loach, would that be ok with a Black Moor and a Telescopic fantail?
I am still having problems with my cycle too if anyone has any advice, my ammonia is spiking but not going down. I am doing daily 20% water changes, and ended up using a ammonia neutraliser just to keep the fish alive, does anyone have any advice? Its a 10gal tank, with a biological filter.

Cheers
Caitlyn

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posted 12-03-2003 11:26 PM         

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Hi Caitlyn, Loaches are warm water. At 65 degrees their metabolism will basically go into shutdown. If you can raise the tank temperature gradually to 70 - 72 degrees. This will be warm enough for the Loach even though he will be slightly sluggish and not too warm for the aagoldfish. As to the reason for the cycle hang (ammonia not going down) it is because of the water changes and ammonia neutralizer. The ammonia has to build up before it can develop bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrites. If you are worried about the toxic affect of ammoniia, remember that it is more toxic with alkaline water than with acid water. Your safest solution for your fish and getting your tank to cycle is to gradually (over several days) lower the PH in the tank to slightly acid (approximately 6.8) PH levels. Hope this helps.

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Member

Posts: 84
From:Hull, UK
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-04-2003 11:25 AM         

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I hadn't realised it was ok to keep Goldfish at a slightly higher temperature. I thought that they would get sick if the water was above 68! but if they will be ok at 72 that is great.

I did not know the water was less toxic with ammonia when it is acid. Do you have any suggestions of how to make my water more acidic?

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Posts: 806
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posted 12-04-2003 07:20 PM         

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There are a thousand and one products to lower PH. One right off the top of my head is PH Down. They are all basically the same. The main thing is to do it gradually over several days. You shouldn't take any lower than .2 in a 24 hour period. Example:
Monday from 7.6 to 7.4
Tuesday from 7.4 to 7.2, etc.
If you want to make sure you're absolutely safe you can add a PH buffer like Novaqua the first day. The biggest problem in lowering the PH is if it is done too rapidly, causing the fish to go into PH shock. Hope this helps.

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