Am I doing this wrong?

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_jester9
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2022 10:26 pm

Am I doing this wrong?

Post by _jester9 »

My tank's been running for three months, but my Neon Tetras keep dying one by one. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Temp's at 78F, got a sponge filter and a HOB. What's the deal?
minigold
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:37 pm

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by minigold »

That's sketchy, dude. You check for any weird vibes with the tankmates? Sometimes other fish mess with Neons. Also, how often you doing water changes?
universitykid
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:25 pm

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by universitykid »

Neon Tetras are sensitive to water quality fluctuations. Even if your params read fine, small changes can stress them. How's your pH stability? Also, what's your water change routine? Frequent small changes are better than infrequent large ones.
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flametrek
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2024 12:19 am

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by flametrek »

Yep, Neons are finicky. You got any plants in there? They help stabilize things. Also, what's your feeding routine? Overfeeding can mess with water quality even if tests look good.
jubilant
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:03 pm

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by jubilant »

universitykid wrote: Fri Sep 05, 2025 5:26 pm Neon Tetras are sensitive to water quality fluctuations. Even if your params read fine, small changes can stress them. How's your pH stability? Also, what's your water change routine? Frequent small changes are better than infrequent large ones.
I agree. Neon Tetras thrive in stable conditions. What's your tap water like? Sometimes chloramines or heavy metals are the culprit.
tider
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2023 1:28 pm

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by tider »

Gonna throw this out there, but how's your acclimation process? Neons can get shocked if you don't drip acclimate 'em properly. Also, what's your tank size? Crowding might be an issue.
warrior1
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:22 pm

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by warrior1 »

I had the same problem with my Neons. Turned out my tap water had high chloramine levels. Started using Seachem Prime, and it made a huge difference. Maybe give that a shot?
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Nutmegs
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:36 am

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by Nutmegs »

warrior1 wrote: Sat Sep 06, 2025 5:14 am I had the same problem with my Neons. Turned out my tap water had high chloramine levels. Started using Seachem Prime, and it made a huge difference. Maybe give that a shot?
Exactly. Water conditioners are crucial. Also, consider adding Indian Almond Leaves. They release tannins that mimic the Neons' natural habitat and reduce stress.
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lunos
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:31 am

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by lunos »

Man, Neons are such drama queens. But yeah, check your water source. Also, any recent tank changes? Sometimes even moving decor around can stress 'em out.
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starix
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:36 am

Re: Am I doing this wrong?

Post by starix »

What's your lighting schedule? Too much light can stress Neons. Also, any aggressive tankmates? Even peaceful fish can turn territorial in small spaces.
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