Why did my Crypts Melt???

sherrymitchell · Post by **sherrymitchell** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:36 am

I had the nicest little stand of crypts in my tank. I think they were wendtii's.... Anyway, they were doing great for over a year, then the other day they melted away and died.... What's up with that?

Post by **krisw** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:14 am

Did the temperature change possibly? Or, maybe the filter hasn't been cleaned in months and months, and the nitrate levels got too high in the tank?

Did they all melt instantly in a day, or was it more of a gradual decline?

sherrymitchell · Post by **sherrymitchell** » Mon May 04, 2009 2:15 pm

Kris, they melted over night..... in a day. It was wierd. I didn't do anything, no change in temps, the tank gets a water change twice a week as I've got a lot of fry growing out in there.... I have no idea..... I did vacuum the gravel around them when I did the water change. That's the only thing I can think of. Maybe they didn't like having the Python on them??????

Post by **krisw** » Mon May 04, 2009 2:37 pm

That is weird. It's not possible that you did a large water change, and forgot dechlorinator is it? Vacuuming around them shouldn't have caused any problem if you were just getting mulm from the surface. If you were heavy vacuuming deep into the gravel, that might have done it.

sherrymitchell · Post by **sherrymitchell** » Mon May 04, 2009 4:02 pm

No, if I didn't use dechlor the fish would surely have died and they are fine. I think it may have been the vacuuming around the roots. Maybe they didn't like that? I really was moving the gravel around to get all the detritus out of the tank.... I didn't know that would bother them though. Do you think they'll grow back or are they done-for...? Bummer, they were really nice too.

Post by **krisw** » Mon May 04, 2009 5:40 pm

If I had to bet, they'll be back... Just let them be, and hopefully in 2 months they'll be back to what you had before. In general with planted tanks, only vacuum the surface of the gravel, if that. The mulm is good for the substrate, and thus the plants.

sherrymitchell · Post by **sherrymitchell** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:38 pm

Thanks Kris. I guess I got a little overzealous with the Python tube, LOL.... With all the fry I was just being a bit too much of a Nancy Neatnik, and was really going after that junk in the gravel. I hope they come back. I was going to use them in the big 125 when I set it up!

Why did my Crypts Melt???

Why did my Crypts Melt???

Sponsors