new to this hobby-problems with cories

16 years ago

Hi We have finally gotten our tank cycling, all the levels are good. It's DD (8yrs) tank, and so she picked out the colored gravel that they sell for the substrate. Well not we have tried putting in some live plants (moneywort) and am having a difficult time getting it to stay at the bottom. So is not the best stuff to use?

In addition, there were 3 some Corydoras and now the 2nd albino doesn't seem to be feeling great. The first albino that died, we thought maybe it hadn't recovered from being in the betta tank even though it had been moved for 2 weeks. Now this albino is hiding in the bottom/back of the tank and when disturbed swims a little funny. The other Cory (I think its a green) is swimming around fine. Could the substrate be the problem?

Um also she has a black molly (F), dalmation molly (M), cremecicle lyretail (F), red wag platy (F), blackskirt tetra (F) in a 10 gallon tank. How do you keep from being over run by baby fishes? Do you just occationally use the breeder tank and let the other fish eat the babies when you don't want them? What do you do with the babies?

Thanks so very much

Comment (1)

woeisme
16 years ago
The colored gravel is usually inert, usually. It is not the best for root feeders Moneywort is not a root feeder though) because it has no nutritional value other then when it "seasons" with age and fish poop. Size matters though. Since the stems aren't staying I would guess it is smaller in size, rather then the larger sized gravel. That is good. To hold down the plants put about 3 inches of the stem into the gravel. Heap the gravel arround the stem until it starts to grow a root system and attaches to a clump of gravel. Or, place a rock on the stem to hold it in place temp. then remove it when it roots. I don't reccomend those lead plant weights for obvious reasons. For unwanted babies. just don't have much cover for them and let the other fish eat them if you actually get a successful birth. Sometimes fish abort their own pregnancy if things aren't right.
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