FishFolk

Grrr-At one point and for several weeks, I had 0 readings across the board for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. In the past few weeks I have had 20-40 nitrate readings with everything else at 0. I have a consistent ph of 7.8.

I have reread the fish forum nitrogen cycle page, perused some threads and haven't discovered my problem.

It is the 55 g in my signature. I have lots of rocks, 2 aqua tech 30/60 HOB filters that came with the tank, a seeded bag of biomax media floating in the back of one filter, 1 sponge filter added Sunday. I know the aqua tech filters are not that great and plan to replace them ( one at a time to save bacteria) with aquaclear 50s. (okay idea?)

I don't think I overfeed the cichlids -I feed 2xs a day and they always seem ravenous. If I note they are not, I skip that feeding. I do, however, try to keep a piece of romaine on a clip in the tank. I take it out as soon as it shows the first hint of brown, wilt or wet rot (my term, but I think you know what I mean). I net out scraps the fish have torn off but not eaten. I also net out other decaying/not flourishing plant matter. I have had major aggression issues in this tank so really hesitate to skip a whole day of feeding, but will skip a feeding session if they don't seem hungry at the first sight of food. I feed a mix of medium pellet, small pellet and flake - Ken's and Extreme.

There are a few water sprite and ? floating on top. The cichlids munch on the plants so , I don't have many. Cory gives me his overgrowth from his planted tanks so I always have some plants. I had lots of duckweed which has been consumed by the fish.

The substrate is Sahara Sand with no visble food or waste remains.
There are two lights, both running the bulbs that came in them - daylight about 12 hrs a day.

The water is clear. I do not have an algae issue. There are 3 snails - I think - They haven't had a chance to multiply - I don't think.

Temp is 80 deg F.

My goal is weekly water changes but I am doing one every 2nd or 3rd day because of the nitrates. I usually do 25-30%. Twice I have done a 50%, refill to 3/4s, take to 50% again and fill.

I have swished the filters insertys in tank water. The first time (when I had gravel substrate) there was lots of gunk. The last time, there was only a trace amount.

Depending on the day, our tap ranges from 0 - 10 nitrates.

So...any ideas on what to do - other than more water changes - to lower nitrates? What plants could I add that I can float that they won't eat? I don't care if they eat some plants, it is good for digestion but I need to keep the nitrates down.

Thanks !

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Shawnie

under 20 nitrates is normal..so you arent way way over...I was expecting to read in the 80s LOL...so you are doing everything right...cichlids are big poo'rs so water changes are great to control that which you are doing..are you giving the gravel a vacuum once a week? I have an over stocked 75 gal with cichlids and unfortunately, I have to vacuum 2 x a week with every other day water changes...but thats my decsision when I overstocked it..and I can keep my nitrates to just under 20 ...goodluck~!

FishFolk

Shawnie,
Thx. I have sand now - got rid of the gravel. I stir the surface a bit with the python and vacuum over it. I also swoosh the water with the power head to dislodge stuff in the rocks - But usually isn't much more than a small plant or two. When the snails take hold, they should help the sand. Maybe I'll get a few more snails from Cory. I'm not overstocked yet - but will be when my ladies grow up and IF I ever get the msobo females. Thx.

Shawnie

snails are icky poo'rs even tho they keep the tank clean..maybe they are your nitrate guilty parties? goodluck either way tho!

FishFolk

hmm -I only have 3...and they haven't caused an issue in other tanks - oh well- I'll keep changing the ol agua as needed.

Butterfly

usually when you have 0's straight across the board the tank isn't finished cycling. Used media from other tanks are very helpful and I see that you've done that but sometimes it takes a bit for that transfered bacteria to grow enough to handle everything in a newish tank.
Now that you have Nitrates I would say the tank is finally finished cycling. Other than Plecs seems cichlids are some of the biggest waste makers.

I have found out that Cichlids will eat anytime you drop something into the tank. Like other fish their stomachs are the size of one eye. So be especially aware of how much is really going into the tank (I'm a real sucker for just one more bite) because all that goes in comes out. I would personaly take the lettuce out after a couple of hours.
If those are Malaysian Trumpet snails I wouldn't worry about their bioload. It is so small as to be non-existant.
I love the Sahara Sand because nothing goes down in it, it's all right there so you can swish it up. I think it makes a much cleaner tank.
Just some thoughts Let us know how it goes.
Carol

FishFolk

Butterfly,
Yay- I have the right kind of snails!

It IS hard to decide when they have had "an eyeful". I try to watch and see ( no pun on that one) who eats how much. The albino male doesn't eat a lot that I drop in but I have seen him sifting the sand and nipping at the lettuce. Since he sifts, I drop a couple big pellets for him to find. they disappear so i guess he finds them. The others try to get the big one as it falls, but it won't fit in their mouths so they spit it away.

I'm feeding Extreme Cichlid food now and it is supposed to be formulated so that they need even less than other foods.

Other than aggression, how do I tell if I am underfeeding? I guess one sign would be if all the plants disappear or end up shredded

Thanks - P
p.s. missed ya at the convention - it was terrific

Butterfly

Yep have always loved MTS. they keep both sand tanks clean and aereated.

It really is hard to know when enough is enough I use some of the Ken's pellets (premium 5 stick blend, premium sticks with veg, and premium cichlid pellets 1.5mm) along with the Omega One for variety. Now the Kens is a little big for my angels but they break really easy(teh pellets) so thats what I do.

It really is hard to under feed your fish if you are feeding twice a day

Always welcome
We were disappointed not to get to come to the convention also. But sometimes things come up. Maybe we can make the one in Ohio
I'm not sure its good to get all of us in a group at one time. The last time we were with Dino and Ross we hauled what seemed like a ton of rocks out of the Diamond mine in Murphfreesboro. and the last time Gunnie and I went fish store hopping we got thrown out of one LOL(long story)
Carol

Chief_waterchanger

We are a regular gang of misfits when we are together... put the town on alert and have them lock up their fishstores and...rock mines.... lol

Edit: (Sorry for the hijack)

FishFolk

Hmmm. Sounds like fun. Hopefully I'll get to hear the story one day! We plan to go to Ohio but surely we'll have a chance to meet before then.

Thanks for all the help.

Oops - Didn't see Ross' post or would have tried to quote that as well. Count us in as long as we stay on the right side of the law -

Butterfly

Our hobby has introduced us to so many nice people and as you can see good friends come of it.

Have you seen this thread ?
http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/fi...road-trip.html
carol

FishFolk

I just went through the thread - What a super trip! Dino had shown me the pix of dizzy kitty - too funny.

So far, I find fish keepers extremely easy to get along with anytime of the day o rnight. I find that fishkeeping it gives me a connection to my teenager too. Plus there is a great deal of satisfaction in finally getting a tank to "work". You know it may (will) change down the road, but there's just a sort of inner grin that comes from getting it right. I also like being at a point where I can help others with my . I'm not a pro, but you talk, you listen, you share-and the cycle continues.

Slug

Man i wish i could of had that happen when i was younger. It was always a task trying to convince my parents to put a new tank in! haha