suzy
Member
Originally Posted by Rykna
http:///forum/post/2477989
We have all been taking huge losses of seahorses. After going back to the basics we came up with these theories:
1.) Lack Of Oxygen
2.) PH fluctuations
3.) Salinity fluctuations
but if I don't please let me know? I really don't want to sound like I know everything, but I do want to relay the info I work with. I am a critical care nurse, so everything I think when it comes to my captive fish relates to humanoids! I have to remind myself once in a while Fish are not humans! I do have a strong passion for marine fish, I am on my third generation of this genus!
IMO, the points you've raised are not only important, they are critical. Lack of oxygen will kill any fish. Low levels of oxygen will stress fish. Stressed fish will be susceptible to many illness, diseases and parasites.
First, let me describe my understanding of gas exchange? Only the top inch or so of the water column can exchange gas with the atmosphere. Gas exchange is oxygen moving in and carbon dioxide moving out in that top one inch, attempting to achieve equilibrium with the atmosphere. Our captive environments use o2 constantly. Bacteria, amphopods, bristle worms and tiny ciliates all use o2 and respire ("breath" out) co2. So, without strong water movement, the areas in the bottom of the tank can become low in o2 and high in co2, because of the life forms consuming and respiring.
The thing I have seen in some seahorse specific tanks is low flow.I have read on forums people advising others to have low flow because high flow is considered to be hard for the fish, having to hang on and use energy to fight the flow. I think that is wrong! If you look at the body shape of a seahorse, it seems to me they are built for high flow. A skinny side, a fat side? A flat shape that seems to be evolutionaryily equipped to be in a strong tide? We went on a trip to Belize a while back, and walked in the grass beds where these fish live. The tide flows strong enough to knock a toddler over. I have found when I have a powerhead die, and the flow is decreased, my fish seem to get a bit lethargic. I do have to turn off my pumps to feed, though!
I really think flow that is strong enough to move the water from the top to the bottom constantly is needed for any fish. If the flow is good, it should also fix issue number 2: pH fluctuations. High co2/low o2 should not be able to lower your pH if your water movement is adequate. You can easily tell if you have high co2 by taking a glass of tank water and putting an airstone in it. If the pH rises, the water had too much co2.
Salinity changes will stress fish. Easy enough to monitor and fix, though. Easy enough that there is no excuse for not maintaining this parameter constantly. Daily temp changes are harder fix, though but just as important, IMO.
http:///forum/post/2477989
We have all been taking huge losses of seahorses. After going back to the basics we came up with these theories:
1.) Lack Of Oxygen
2.) PH fluctuations
3.) Salinity fluctuations
but if I don't please let me know? I really don't want to sound like I know everything, but I do want to relay the info I work with. I am a critical care nurse, so everything I think when it comes to my captive fish relates to humanoids! I have to remind myself once in a while Fish are not humans! I do have a strong passion for marine fish, I am on my third generation of this genus!
IMO, the points you've raised are not only important, they are critical. Lack of oxygen will kill any fish. Low levels of oxygen will stress fish. Stressed fish will be susceptible to many illness, diseases and parasites.
First, let me describe my understanding of gas exchange? Only the top inch or so of the water column can exchange gas with the atmosphere. Gas exchange is oxygen moving in and carbon dioxide moving out in that top one inch, attempting to achieve equilibrium with the atmosphere. Our captive environments use o2 constantly. Bacteria, amphopods, bristle worms and tiny ciliates all use o2 and respire ("breath" out) co2. So, without strong water movement, the areas in the bottom of the tank can become low in o2 and high in co2, because of the life forms consuming and respiring.
The thing I have seen in some seahorse specific tanks is low flow.I have read on forums people advising others to have low flow because high flow is considered to be hard for the fish, having to hang on and use energy to fight the flow. I think that is wrong! If you look at the body shape of a seahorse, it seems to me they are built for high flow. A skinny side, a fat side? A flat shape that seems to be evolutionaryily equipped to be in a strong tide? We went on a trip to Belize a while back, and walked in the grass beds where these fish live. The tide flows strong enough to knock a toddler over. I have found when I have a powerhead die, and the flow is decreased, my fish seem to get a bit lethargic. I do have to turn off my pumps to feed, though!
I really think flow that is strong enough to move the water from the top to the bottom constantly is needed for any fish. If the flow is good, it should also fix issue number 2: pH fluctuations. High co2/low o2 should not be able to lower your pH if your water movement is adequate. You can easily tell if you have high co2 by taking a glass of tank water and putting an airstone in it. If the pH rises, the water had too much co2.
Salinity changes will stress fish. Easy enough to monitor and fix, though. Easy enough that there is no excuse for not maintaining this parameter constantly. Daily temp changes are harder fix, though but just as important, IMO.
