Water Troubles

[Jeepers]

Well, I set up this land/water enclosure for my new baby caiman, and I've been having some feeder fish trouble which is a cause for concern since the caiman will be living in this water, too.

Here's my problem. I have a high quality filter for 50 - 75g(which, it's probably about 45g - 50g or so), and a 50g water heater that keeps the water roughly between 65F and 70F on the farthest edges of the 'aquarium' away from the heater, it's obviously warmer closer to the heater.

I have plants inside the aquarium to produce oxygen.

I don't really understand what's wrong. I adjust my feeders to the temps, no problem. They're all lively and happy swimming in their little baggie. I release them into the water, they all died within 10 - 15 minutes...

I really.. really don't understand why that happened, it's obviously an issue with the water, which I have dechlorinated it.

I set the tank up on Wednesday, dechlorinated it and everything. Water was crystal clear, no problems at all. Water started getting cloudy about... Friday night, Saturday morning.

I've bought pH and ammonia testers, pH seems perfectly fine, ammonia, I'm not so sure..

I was using Rosey Red Minnows, for the record. Very resilient fish, but they just keeled over.

Do I need to do a complete replace of my water or does any one have any suggestions?

[dinosaurdammit]

how do you introduce the fish? do you just pour them in?

[Corey209]

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

how do you introduce the fish? do you just pour them in?

This is what I was going to ask, I would introduce the fish in a big with their current water to let temps adjust.

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

how do you introduce the fish? do you just pour them in?

Well the people at the store said acclimate them to the temps, in their baggie, by placing the baggie in the water for 15 or so minutes, then they should be fine.

I never have been a fish person, so I just took their word for it.

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by Corey209

This is what I was going to ask, I would introduce the fish in a big with their current water to let temps adjust.

Yeah, that's what I did. That's why it's obviously a problem with my water. They were fine with their own in a bag, sitting -in- my water, but the moment I released them it all went down hill despite sitting in the water in the bag for a while.

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by Jeepers

Yeah, that's what I did. That's why it's obviously a problem with my water. They were fine with their own in a bag, sitting -in- my water, but the moment I released them it all went down hill despite sitting in the water in the bag for a while.

Leave the bags in for an hour. I doubt it is the temperature but it could be. Do you have a charcoal filter and ammonia chips?

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Leave the bags in for an hour. I doubt it is the temperature but it could be. Do you have a charcoal filter and ammonia chips?

Ah, ok then. I'm going to test it this time with just one minnow to be safe. I have a carbon filter and ammonia 'Remover', says the bottle.

[KORBIN5895]

When I had turtles I had these white chips that went into the filter and removed ammonia. What temp does the water need to be for the caiman? Also what temp do your feeders prefer?

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

When I had turtles I had these white chips that went into the filter and removed ammonia. What temp does the water need to be for the caiman? Also what temp do your feeders prefer?

Ours is a liquid ammonia remover. Rosey Reds can stand anywhere between 55F - 85F, the Dwarf Caiman, as I've read, is between 75F - 80F but can live in cooler waters, so 70F is also fine.

[Jeepers]

UPDATE:

Ok, so even adjusting in the baggie some have died... It may actually be the temperature afterall. I'll have to fiddle around a bit and see what I can do.

[DeadlyDesires]

i was told that minnows need cold cold temps like 60's ... umm.. i also know that they need running water too or they suffocate.. im not sure how your set up is can you post some pictures of it please?

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

i was told that minnows need cold cold temps like 60's ... umm.. i also know that they need running water too or they suffocate.. im not sure how your set up is can you post some pictures of it please?

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/gener...does-look.html

It has a filter that produces a high flow so the water does have circulation. Dwarf Caimans are often found in rapid flowing rivers or waterfalls, hence why I chose a filter that produced high flow.

[DeadlyDesires]

hmm.. well i would go with the water temp then.. do a test run.. take some water out and make it cold.. put some circulation through the water and see if they still die.. with the water being colder if they still die that rules out the temp.

[bumblebat]

Pick up an API liquid test kit. Also pick up some seachem prime. It'll dechlorinate the water as well as detoxify nitrates and ammonia without removing it or locking it out and preventing it from being consumed by your beneficial bacteria.
Acclimating the fish to only the temperature is really only half of what should be done. Set up a drip acclimation with some airline tubing running from your tank in to a bucket. Tie a knot in the tubing and tighten or loosen it as needed.
Edit: leaving them in the bag for too long can kill them. They're very, very messy. Try to make it your last stop when you pick them up and get them out of the bag and acclimating as soon as possible.

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

hmm.. well i would go with the water temp then.. do a test run.. take some water out and make it cold.. put some circulation through the water and see if they still die.. with the water being colder if they still die that rules out the temp.

Running that test right now, they seem fine for now but it hasn't been an hour yet.