bratt_cdn
Sat Jan 24, 2009, 05:16 PM
I recently installed an under sink two cartridge water filter to improve the quality of water I was putting into my 100l Discus/Community tank. The first cartridge filters sediment and other large debris and the second filter (0.5 micron carbon) removes, chlorine, pesticide & insecticide residue, Lead, Mercury, Zinc (Heavy Metals). I still used a water conditioner to be sure.
After the first water change using this better water I lost a 15cm Cobalt in less than 12 hours. I thought he died from a poison introduced by my overzealous housekeeper. That was quickly ruled out. But still no answer on why it happened.
So I tried the LFS. “He was spooked.” Gee, thanks. No white feces or heavy breathing either.
I did my weekly water change – yes weekly - today. Went out to a concert. And by the time I returned, about 12 hours later, the second Cobalt was dark, and the pair of Brilliant Turquoise had lost all of their colour! The cardinals, emperors and black neons were all white! And one dead cory. Everyone was hovering at the bottom of the tank.
I immediately did a 50% water change – without using the two-stage filtered water. Within 20 minutes, colour had returned to everyone and the Cobalt was back to his normal self.
Why am I telling you all of this? I took the under sink filter apart – it’s the only thing I’ve changed in my maintenance regimen – and found that the rubber o’rings are covered in what looked like Vaseline but which I have since discovered is silicone lubricant. And before you ask – I ran more than 100 litres of water through the system - which went into my rainwater tank – and ran the normal tests on the water. Everything looked A-O’Kay.
I might be jumping to conclusions. But that filter is the only thing I have changed and I almost ended up with 4 dead Discus.
After the first water change using this better water I lost a 15cm Cobalt in less than 12 hours. I thought he died from a poison introduced by my overzealous housekeeper. That was quickly ruled out. But still no answer on why it happened.
So I tried the LFS. “He was spooked.” Gee, thanks. No white feces or heavy breathing either.
I did my weekly water change – yes weekly - today. Went out to a concert. And by the time I returned, about 12 hours later, the second Cobalt was dark, and the pair of Brilliant Turquoise had lost all of their colour! The cardinals, emperors and black neons were all white! And one dead cory. Everyone was hovering at the bottom of the tank.
I immediately did a 50% water change – without using the two-stage filtered water. Within 20 minutes, colour had returned to everyone and the Cobalt was back to his normal self.
Why am I telling you all of this? I took the under sink filter apart – it’s the only thing I’ve changed in my maintenance regimen – and found that the rubber o’rings are covered in what looked like Vaseline but which I have since discovered is silicone lubricant. And before you ask – I ran more than 100 litres of water through the system - which went into my rainwater tank – and ran the normal tests on the water. Everything looked A-O’Kay.
I might be jumping to conclusions. But that filter is the only thing I have changed and I almost ended up with 4 dead Discus.