"JGW" wrote in message
...
Hi, Nedra.

I have a "Master Test Kit" On 5/2/04, when I found the first fish
dead, the pH was 8.2 (late afternoon). The KH was 53.7 ppm and the GH
was 71.6 ppm. Several days later, I tested the pH first thing in the
morning and it was around 7.0. That was when I added the dolomite
lime.

Today, when I found the second fish, the pH was between 6.8 and 7.0
(around noon). The kH was 71.6 ppm and the GH was 107.4 ppm.

I am thinking I may be having too large pH swings and that the water
hardness is too low. I have the dolomite hanging in the water in a
leg from a pair of panty hose, and periodically I squish it around to
try to release more into the water. It hangs right below the
waterfall.

Your numbers...

KH 53.7 to 71.6
GH 71.6 to 107.4
pH 8.2 to 6.8/7.0

These seem like fairly large swings in water chemistry. What about ammonia?
Do you have any ammonia readings? How about Oxegynation? Are the fish
looking for air up top? I am wondering if these swings in chemistry could be
aggrevating some other condition like an ammonia spike or lack of
oxygenation.

BV.