Jillianne

has anyone had a problem with the fish in an acrylic aquarium? Reason I ask is I picked up a small one (10 gallon) for my son's fish (Serpae Tetras), the tank had completed the cycle and we introduced the fish into it. In a matter of days the fish paled drastically and were crowding into the corners (bow front tank) acting very odd. So I wondered if maybe there was something wrong with them, I put them over into our quarantine tank (another 10 gal only this one glass) by the next morning there color was vibrant and they were schooling all over the tank. We left them in quarantine for a couple of weeks then moved them into our larger tank were they are still behaving normally and color is still very bright. Now since the tetras were removed we picked up a few Cherry Barbs for the Acrylic tank, they did well the first day and then repeated what the tetras did, paled and clung in the corners, and now they are showing signs of Ich. Ideas or comments on this problem?

Jay

Hi Jillianne.

We need to ask the obvious question here..Was and is the tank Cycled? and how do you know that, what are the readings.

You are describing osmotic symptoms (a fishes inability and stress over not being able to cope with it's water conditions)

If you truly suspect a toxic leaching problem with the acrylic, I would go to the manufactures web site and ask questions. I have never heard that, but it is a possibility.


Regards,
Jay

Jillianne

This is what prompted the test kit questions. I did a fishless cycle on this tank, watched the ammonia spike and retreat as the nitrites spiked and also reduced back down to a <.3 reading according to the test chart. This took about 3-1/2 weeks, also took a sample of the water to the LFS to test, all levels were registering safe other than my pH running in the higher range and the comment that the water was the softest she had ever tested. I managed to keep a cory cat in the tank until introducing the barbs, the cat is doing much better since being moved out of it.

I have already lost 1 of the Cherry Barbs and will probably lose the remaining to Ich.

neonlife102

Call me old fashioned, but I'd prefer an all glass tank to an acrylic. They've been around for a while, stood the test of time. And there aren't very many things that we don't know about them.

ahill3780

Where did you get the tank? New or used? Is it possible that someone could have tried cleaning the inside glass with a commercial solvent before it came to you? Something like Windex?

The acrylic is not the problem here if the tank was new and you never put anything harmful into it. Acrylic is completely safe. If your tank is cycled and your parameters are all checking out ok and the inhabitants still continue to act that way then I would suspect a contaminant in the tank, something tests will not register. At least, I would if the behavior is unexplained and results in death without any visible ailment.

Most diseases have tell-tale signs and there are treatable in one format or another.

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yoshi191

acrylic tanks scratch easier.. So I like Glaas And Glass Is Cheper But glass ones are heavey But my old old 20 gallon is just as heavey if not more then my 55 gallon (New)