"§tudz" wrote in message
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"Bill Stock" wrote in message
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Do your plants pearl (give off O2 bubbles) after you do a large water
change? If the answer is yes, you may benefit from adding CO2. Even if
they don't pearl after a water change, you may still benefit from a water
change. It depends on the amount of CO2 in your water. Comapre the PH of
your water fresh out of the tap and after it sits about 24 hours.
although it sounds like you're doing OK based on your notes below.


This will provide lots of Nitrates (probably Phosphate too) for your
plants. So as long as your fish are healthy, proably not an issue.

I don't know much about Platies, I've always avoided live bearers.



They don't pearl no, the ph in the tank is 7.

What's the PH of your tap water? What's your LH?

I guess there would be a test kit I could buy to test for phosphates?
I've started to keep a log now, of when I do water changes, and anything
else I do to the tank. I am also recording the Nitrates and Nitrites, as
well as ammonia.

My nitrates are high ast the moment (40ppm), where as Nitrites are oppm
and Ammonia are 0ppm.

I'd try to keep them under 20ppm.

Do you add any Potassium?
Any idea what your Phosphate levels are?

could the high nitrates be worsening the problem?

I'm using amquel+ Plus and water changes to decrease the NO3-

How often do you do water changes, how big?

as for the comment about live breaders I was always told never to keep
them as I'd have hundreds in a few months time, but I think I kept the
balance between fry and 'fry eaters' right, as I have only actually seen 3
fry, one of them has survived, and I've had the LBs for over 6 months, may
be longer now.

§tudz