Hi everyone. I'm still trying to figure out what's going on in my tank. I made some big changes on 12/5 - I removed all my fish and took out the Eco-Complete substrate, replacing it with just the Fluorite I already had. I also washed the Fluorite and replanted with mostly new plants. My goal was to simplify things and hopefully get a handle on my pH, which has been stuck at 8.4 despite using RO/well water. I was planning to add CO2 next, but now I'm not so sure.
After putting everything back together, I started testing my water every 3-6 hours for a few days and did 50% water changes for three days. My water parameters have been good, but my pH hasn't budged. Then, on 12/12, I noticed one of my guppies was missing - I haven't seen her since. Today, things got even weirder - my cherry barbs are suddenly chasing everyone around and stressing out all the other fish. They've all been together since February and have always gotten along, so I have no idea what's causing this.
I'm worried that the cherry barbs might have killed my missing guppy and eaten her. Can that even happen? I was supposed to add CO2 today, but I'm hesitant to make any more changes. I'd love some advice on what might be going on and what I should do next. Thanks in advance for any help.
Change in cherry barb behavior and a missing guppy
Re: Change in cherry barb behavior and a missing guppy
I'm worried I might have messed up my tank's cycle when I did the big cleaning. With all the scrubbing and rinsing, I could've killed off the beneficial bacteria that was helping to keep my water parameters in check.
Re: Change in cherry barb behavior and a missing guppy
Thanks for the response. I've been keeping a close eye on my water parameters, afraid I'd trigger a cycle again after the tank overhaul. Frequent water changes have been the norm lately. I observed the fish closely today, and it seems they're fighting over a new hiding spot under that beautiful driftwood - which is really frustrating. I isolated the two troublemakers, but then another male started chasing the remaining barbs. Still trying to catch him.
Re: Change in cherry barb behavior and a missing guppy
It seems like the change in environment is probably the main factor driving the behavior changes in your fish right now. However, considering your tank's recent overhaul, I think it's worth exploring the initial reasons behind the removal of the Eco-Complete substrate and the temporary relocation of your fish to a tote.
Without knowing the full context, I'm inclined to believe that perhaps the media wasn't rinsed thoroughly enough or that sufficient time wasn't allowed for the initial setup. In hindsight, it might have been beneficial to perform more water changes before making any drastic changes, without disturbing the newly installed substrate.
The Fluorite is a nutrient-rich substrate, so it's essential to minimize disruption and hope that your fish don't disturb it excessively. Covering the substrate with plants could also help. While pH can be a concern, it's often less of an issue if you can maintain a stable general hardness after a proper introduction.
Without knowing the full context, I'm inclined to believe that perhaps the media wasn't rinsed thoroughly enough or that sufficient time wasn't allowed for the initial setup. In hindsight, it might have been beneficial to perform more water changes before making any drastic changes, without disturbing the newly installed substrate.
The Fluorite is a nutrient-rich substrate, so it's essential to minimize disruption and hope that your fish don't disturb it excessively. Covering the substrate with plants could also help. While pH can be a concern, it's often less of an issue if you can maintain a stable general hardness after a proper introduction.
Re: Change in cherry barb behavior and a missing guppy
I appreciate your insight. I remember being told to remove the bottom layer of substrate because it was too thick, but I didn't want to believe it. I thought a deeper substrate would create a healthier environment. It wasn't until I realized how much water it was displacing that I decided to take action. I was hesitant to make the change, but I knew I had to.
I didn't have a spare tank to hold all my fish, so I bought a 55g tote to temporarily house them. I transferred most of the tank water, rocks, and driftwood into the tote, and kept the beneficial bacteria alive by submerging my filter and pump in the remaining tank water in a bucket. I also added air stones, heaters, and a mini wave maker to the tote to keep the fish comfortable. When I put the Flourite back in the tank, I made sure to rinse it thoroughly.
The fish seem a bit calmer today, and I think you're right that they're still adjusting to the new setup. However, I've realized that I might have removed too much substrate. The plants keep getting knocked loose by the fish, even with weights. The substrate is only about 2" deep now. I'm considering buying more Flourite and adding it to the areas with heavy planting, but I'm hesitant to make any more changes. I'm really disappointed with how this project has turned out.
I didn't have a spare tank to hold all my fish, so I bought a 55g tote to temporarily house them. I transferred most of the tank water, rocks, and driftwood into the tote, and kept the beneficial bacteria alive by submerging my filter and pump in the remaining tank water in a bucket. I also added air stones, heaters, and a mini wave maker to the tote to keep the fish comfortable. When I put the Flourite back in the tank, I made sure to rinse it thoroughly.
The fish seem a bit calmer today, and I think you're right that they're still adjusting to the new setup. However, I've realized that I might have removed too much substrate. The plants keep getting knocked loose by the fish, even with weights. The substrate is only about 2" deep now. I'm considering buying more Flourite and adding it to the areas with heavy planting, but I'm hesitant to make any more changes. I'm really disappointed with how this project has turned out.
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