Random Cory death

[CattyV]

Have a look at the ingredients for the NT Labs buffer. Sodium shouldn't be present.
I'd still be tempted to stop using a buffer and just do two smaller changes per week.

I will do! Should arrive today.

Problem is my tap water has less than 1 KH. It’s that soft. So just gradually reduces the tanks KH to 0. I believe from the reading I’ve done, if the taps KH is higher then water changes would stabilise the tanks reading and raise/neutralise the KH to a more middle of the range reading. But as mine is lower from the tap (it’s 2kh max), it makes the tank even lower still. I’ve decided to keep a happy medium and stick with 3-4kh. Just see how it goes

The LFS maintain them at 18 KH so going from that to 0 in my tank might have killed the new corys. That and weak stock? The current corys had to adjust to a change so maybe that topped them but can’t be sure at all.

I won’t be touching the filter for a couple months now don’t worry @Stephen I added carbon in it last night after the water change but that’s about as much prodding as it had! The rest I left alone and just cleaned glass, gravel/sand and 3 of my 10 silk plants that were filthy.

[fr499y]

Remember to remove the carbon in a week or so as its only useful for removing chemicals and/or odour from the tank

[CattyV]

Will do @fr499y i never usually keep it in. I have a nitrate and phosphate filter pad instead I use. But carbon I rarely have running

[plankton]

You do use new carbon and not old, don't you.....
Also, just had another "out of the tank" thought.....your water doesn't go through a water softener or anything does it (I shouldn't imagine it does)?

[CattyV]

@plankton haha yes it is brand new out of the packet carbon. I know they only last short time, mainly why I don’t use it! I prefer the filter pads that absorb nitrates as they clear the water too.

Not that I am aware of. The only thing the company said was that the chlorine ups during colder months. Nothing more.

[CattyV]

I’m back!

So no more corys. The last one passed Monday. And this morning woke up to my last honey dead. She had these marks and wondered if anyone has any idea? No signs of illness otherwise. She was eating ok last night too. But no idea what this is. Maybe a blood hemorraghe?

Just tetras and rasboras now. Not having any luck. And still clueless if all connected. Though I do think this death was unrelated to be honest.

[plankton]

Sorry to hear of more losses.
It's probably just the tail muscle breaking down that's made it that colour.
How old were the "honeys"? I've found they don't live much past 2 or 3 years.

[Stephen]

Sorry to hear of your losses

[CattyV]

Thank you both. It’s very upsetting all this but I’m hoping that will be it now. She was eating and ok last night so just a bit shocked she died. Wasn’t expecting it.

I’ve only had the honeys since July so ive no idea if maybe it’s down to weak stock again. Or just my bad luck run of late.

The peppered corys all passed within days of one another (4 days). The last sterbai I had to euthanise as he was headed the same way and I felt awful keeping him alive to die basically.

[Stephen]

I have a nitrate and phosphate filter pad instead I use. But carbon I rarely have running

The nitrate and phosphate pads are a bit of a gimmick and do not really work.

Is this in the Fluval U3 internal filter or do you use a different filter?