Beginner question
I cant seem to find a straight answer in any of the books.
I have 29 gallon tank. Been up for 1 month. I got poor advice from the fish store and I stocked the tank, after 48 hours of letting it sit, with 5 fish and 2 more within a week. As I read more and more, I realized that this was not smart. 4 died on me. Only two that made it were 1 platy, 1 swordtail and 1 tetra. On top of that, two of the fish were non-compatible (completely contrary to the store employee's guidance but now obvious to me with my reading - 1 tiger barb and 1 red tailed shark.) The tiger barb and red tailed shark chased everyone for the week prior to their death. I assumed that everything was fine.
Now it has been running for 1 month and I have 4 guppies, 7 neon tetras and 2 gouramis, and the original swordtail and platy. Until yesterday, I thought I was in the clear. Now the final original platy died. And the swordtail is in the hospital tank.
Levels all look good except my PH is on the high side. But has been consistent.
Do you think my swordtail and platy is the residual effects of stress or that my higher PH is the problem?
Thanks much.
