Need a second opinion on feeding corys?

Question

A lady at the pet shop said my ammonia problem was coming from leaving algae wafers in the tank for my corys to eat. That over time it disintigrates and decays. Well I'm sure it does but that kind of leads me to another problem..She said to feed them fresh veggies like zuccini. I put some in the water last night and woke up this morning to see they didn't touch it. So I'm a little unsure as to what to do then. I put a small bowl with some gravel in it and buried it in the gravel in the tank and set a algae wafer in it so that the bowl will keep it from falling in the gravel when it falls apart. All the fish automatically started hitting it and eventually managed to get it out of the bowl. I don't know what to do. I only feed them one algae wafer a day. My two corys can't eat all of that I know but my guppies seem to enjoy them too. What would you guys suggest I do?

I have a 29 long with 2 corys and 6 guppies.

My tank has a HoB filter with sponge, carbon and biomax media. Also a canister filter with floss and biomax media. It's planted with water onion, anacharis, moneywort and a little red ludwigia (sp?). I just started my tank about 2 or 3 weeks ago. I'm having a terrible time keeping my ammonia and nitrites at a safe level for the fish while trying to get nitrates in the water. I've posted questions in here alot about that problem but I am not getting anywhere. I have only lost two fish (one to unknown causes and one to overfeeding/birthing) but the rest are doing good and I've got my feedings in check with the guppies but it doesn't leave enough sinking to the bottom for the corys to eat. I've been trying to find ways to keep feeding them the wafers. I feed them a little freeze dried tubifex every so often mashed against a wafer for protein. The algae wafers also have fish meal in them, first ingredient in fact. I feed my guppies a mix of Tetra tropical flakes and Spirulina flakes.

I have cut back to about half a wafer a day for the corys and two small pinches in the morning and the same at night of the flakes for the guppies. The guppies also nip at the wafers to the point that the corys can barely get to them. No matter what I do the corys won't pay any attention to the zuccini.

Anybody that already posted answers that comes across this again and can give me anymore info feel free to email me.

Answer 1

I keep 5 different species groups of corys and they all get along fine eating a mixture of spirulina and growth flakes. Mine get treats of frozen bloodworms occasionally which they love. Nothing more is needed. The hi fin paleatus group just spawned about 3-4 weeks ago and the fry (babies) are doing fine on just crushed flake and are almost 3/4" long already.

Your ammonia problem is probably coming from overfeeding and infrequent partial water changes. You need to be doing a 25-30% change every week and siphoning the gravel once a month. I do water changes every week to ten days (fry tanks twice a week). I feed once a day, only as much as they will eat in 3-4 minutes and skip a day once a week. Only my bushynose plecos get algae wafers and they clean them up in short order.

Nothing is more important to the health and well being of your fish than regular partial water changes, other than feeding them, of course.

Answer 2

A little more information is needed...because in general I'd say feeding one algae wafer a day should be no problem. Over feeding does cause excess ammonia. So how big is your tank? How many corys do you have? Is it a new tank? You can try some FW TLC to get more bacteria in your tank to eat the ammonia.

I've got two corys who do love zucchini. It took them a few days to figure out to eat it though (the other fish too). This is a new treat so try it again if you're interested.

You can also break an algae wafer in half or feed on every other or third day. The corys will eat any extra food that falls to the bottoms from the guppies feeding time.

Answer 3

the size tank you have, and the number of fish you have in should cause an ammonia problem I would guess that you either have new tank or you aren't filtering the tank? Do you have an undergravel filter or a back filter on it?

What are you feeding the guppies? Are you feed them too much food? Ammonia most common in new tanks.. When did you set the tank up? If it was in last couple weeks, this problem will resolve it's self as your biological filtration starts to kick in. You'll need anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to get the tank running.. My other question is why are you feeding cory's algae? Guppies like some algae once in while. Corys are more fish meal pellets, black worms and such. You don't need a seperate diet for corys.

Answer 4

Ditto to 8 in the corner. I only want to add that most corys are omniverous and need both veggies and meaty foods lilke 8 suggest. Feeding the an algae wafer or two each evening isn't going to give you a serious problem with ammonia.

They will get used to the fresh veggies given time, but be sure they are softened a bit before adding them to the tank and remove them after a few hours of feeding time.

Follow 8's advice and feed a variety of foods, your corys will adjust tot he new foods and be very happy for it, healthier too.

MM

Answer 5

I agree with the first poster. How big is the tank, what kind of filter system do you have on it. Are you useing and undergravel filter?? I also think one algae waffer a doy would not cause the problem but the other questions would also need to be answered to give you any help

A 29 long should be able to handle those fish just fine how about filter systems??

Answer 6

Double your corys, a group of 4 will decimate 1 algae pellet a day. Also a school of 4 corys(same species) will be a much happier group of cory's.

Your tank will not be overstocked with 4 corys and 6 guppies.

Answer 7

I dont think the eat anlge disks :/ Whty dont you try 'prima' by tetra its small sinking piecies of food, Or tablet food? Or catfish sinkning pellets they would probibly eat those.