Dan's Tank Of Mistakes

I finally got around to making a Blog of my tank. Made mistakes and good things as well. Will see how this goes.
I started this tank on January 27, of this year. I did the fishless cycle. After almost 8 weeks I couldn't get any readings but ammonia. Talking around the different stores and talked with a couple of Plumbers I came to the idea that a ro unit would give me a better chance of cycling this tank. I dumped the water out of the tank and filled it up with ro water. Two days later, Tank is up and running and ammonia added to 4ppm. 4 Days later I was seeing Nitrites showing! A few days later Ammonia and Nitrates were almost gone and was showing Nitrates. So I did a rather large water change and started looking for fish. Started with a Albino Oscar. A week later Deb found a Convict she liked. A week later I found a Firemouth. During this time no ammonia but for a I think false reading of .25ppm. I still have that no matter what I change or add. I think it is a fake reading. I use API liquid test kits. I have taken my water to the LFS to test it too. They show all good but for that .25 ppm. I add Prime every few days just to have peace of mind. My fourth fish I added was a regular Pleco. I went to all three stores here trying to find a bn. None to be found. After 5 months of operation I came across a online store that had them. And different kinds too!! We ended up with a yellow blue eyed bn not sure but its too young to sex yet. I think its a female. I think it should show at say July or August. For the time being I am leaving the regular Pleco in the tank. He will have to go sometime in the next couple of months as he is growing in leaps and bounds! He is about 6-8 inches long right now!! He was around 4-5 inches when we got him. My Oscar was about 11/2 inches when we got him. same for the other two cichlids. Oscar is somewhere 5 inches now the Firemouth is around 3-4 inches and the Convict is about 3 inches maybe My BN is about 2 inches now and yesterday I got a 21/2" Red Tailed Shark.
One more fish I want and I think I may have to get it online as well. I want another Black Ghost Knifefish. I love them. Yo may talk about hand feeding a Oscar but I was able to pet and hand feed my Black Ghost. When I sold my fish and tanks he was about 14 inches long Beautiful!!
My last tank was in 1996. I moved to Arizona and bought a rv to travel all over the country. No way to have a tank of fish with that. I would go to the stores and look at the babys and that was pretty much that until last summer. Because of mine and my wifes health we settled down here in a small town that I like. Its not the best town but will have to do. We have a AFB here and the usual oil wells here too. They have fracked the oil wells here to where the water in this area is unusable. We had bottled water and then we had a 2 stage filter unit. fine for drinking and cooking but it didn't help with the fish. Enter the ro unit.

I just fed my tank this evening. am using Cichlid food (frozen) and my Oscar, "Mr. Pig" has two small chunks of food in his mouth went over to the rocks and stayed there with them until he could finally chew and swallow it. He couldn't even open his mouth. Hes just staring at me and that look... priceless! Yeah I know, Die Hard Cichlid fan!

Other than the RO unit I guess I need to list my filtration system on my tank. I have a Marineland Penguin 350 hob that is modified for my purpose. It has course and medium sponge and floss the Bio Wheels went and have lava rock in its place. I also added sponges to the inlets of the filters. next is a Marineland C350. Its also been changed as I put course, medium foam and fine floss in the first tray. Second tray has lava rock, third has more lava and a few other things Ceramics, The fourth has a mix of Ceramics and Bio-Balls in it. I also had the bio balls that came with the filter in the bottom of the canister. Some folks say the bio balls are no good and some say they do. I put them in the very bottom before the first tray. Maybe they will do something. My newest filter is a sunsun model JOB-01 UV 13 watt unit. I was having a bloom and it cleaned it out in a day!! I will only use it when I need too.

I guess for now that will do it. long thread for sure. HAve a good one, WD 66

 

Great story and hope you continue to enjoy all the rewards this hobby has to offer!!

 

Would love some pics!

 

My ammonia always seems to read .25 on both my 5 gal and my pond and both are cycled...so I don't know if the color is a bit off on some of the apI charts or what..but I do get the same reading...I have never gotten 0 ammonia.

 

Yeah, I know but prime will never hurt them so, peace of mind.
I have enjoyed this hobby since I was around 11-12 years old. I have breed them and I love cichlids the best. They seem so... human sometimes. Now I can update as needed. I will get some pictures here soon. Later all. Wd66

Well, here are some and I know over time I will add more. Always take lots of pictures!!

 

More pic's from today. My little Blue Eyes is shy. Hard time getting shots of her, I think its a her. Belly getting big. Spread out like. Males are more slender. Maybe I will get lucky at feeding time,WD66

 

I cannot remember what thread, but I remember telling someone I would be getting a bigger one. Its in the works as we speak. I have to go after it and bring it home but close enough to still make it worth it. Should do that in July or August. By then my babys should be big enough to transfer to a larger new home. A 150 gallon should do it. Wish I had done it back when I started this tank, hindsight....

yikes!! I need to do my water change big this week. Everything is good but the Nitrates. 80ppm! I think it will be 10 gallons instead of 5. Normal is 5. I will get it done. I was hoping that the Potmus would eat more of the Nitrates, guess not. Its growing well. I'm not using any CO2 so its getting what it needs from the tank. I like my readings lower than 40ppm. One new thing is the ammonia dropped to 0,0ppm this week! That's a great thing. I still add prime. Better safe than sorry.Some will say its overkill but not doing enough is worse than keeping up with the water changes and adding Prime to the water. The Cichlids are growing and so is the little BN. I call her O'le Blue eyes! I am about 80% sure it is a girl. She is fat not skinny she is nice rounded so I am pretty much sure. That and no bristles on the head yet. Have no idea what my shark is so maybe later I will be able to sex it. My oscar is a male. Not sure but I think the firemouth is also a male. I am 98% sure the convict is a male too. Anyway, I will get the water ready and do my change in the morning. I can only get about 3 gallons at a time from the ro unit. 50 gallon a day. Later all, Wd66

 

Woah!! I am going to have to do another water change tomorrow!! Everything good but the Nitrates 40 ppm. I like mine about 20 ppm or lower. Don't know why my potms isn't helping out there??....

 

Did a water change Nitrates down to 20ppm. I can live with that.I love clear water! The kind you can't see.

 

The kind you can’t see? You can’t see your water?

 

Only if I check the surface. Its that clean. That's the way it should be. If it isn't clear there needs to be some work. Exception, when tannin is the effect you are looking far. The water should be clear. Right now I can't see the water. Its that clear. Fish all over the place in the tank. Healthy fish. That's what I work for.

 

I guess I can see mine because I have the filter at a level where it stirs the water, so there are micro bubbles all through it b

 

When my water drops I can see that too. My hob will cause the tank to shimmer, but when I look at it straight or downward the water can't be seen. The fish look like they are swimming in air. Fish doing there thing. Look really happy. That's all that counts with me.

I know the window and tv will reflect off the tank but here is a few to show what I mean.

 

NICE !

 

NICE !

yep, Thanks

 

Well, I did my vacuum of the gravel and cleaned the HOB and everything is ok. Tomorrow I will do a 10 gallon water change. The RO water I let sit for 24 hours and add Prime to it. Water is god but I want to change some of the water anyway. The water is starting to turn a bit of green so I am running the UV filter for a couple of days to kill the algae bloom out. I didn't notice the water till I had it in my white bucket. It didn't look that way last week and with the rock background it throwed off the color. Glad I caught it as soon as I did. Its getting hot here in Texas and my fish room is getting warmer so I turned the heater in the tank off. Temps have been around 77 degrees so I am not afraid of them getting cold but hot. I have 4 trays of ro prime water ice just in case of the a/c dying or loss of electric. Fish look really good.
I am thinking about doing some changes in the tank with the layout and I am having a thought about the big rock on the right side of the tank. The Cichlids are getting too big for the little caves. I am thinking of taking it out and cut it in half. Place it one on each side. The little ones can use it and with the tank being reset I can break up the Dominance in the tank. I can take the limestone and shift it around and maybe make a couple of caves out of it and place more in the gravel. My Convict,(clyde), and my Firemouth, (Hot Head), are always sparing to keep there spaces to themselves. They want to chase the Oscar and the Bushynose and the red tail shark out of there places too. The only one who will kick them around is the BIG Pleco. He moves they run for cover. I am hoping that this change will change there ways for awhile. Maybe they will do better. Any ideas? I know Cichlids do that but sometimes they really get carried away. So far Oscar this week has been standing his ground for the most part. His mouth is at least twice or even three times the size of those other two. I am thinking he will get tired of there and bite them in the face!

 

Well, I just did another 10 gallon water change. The Nitrates keep climbing so I will check it again tomorrow and see what we have. Have a couple of shots of the babys but will have to do that later. Haven't uploaded them yet. later, wd66

 

Finally got uploaded to the computer. My favorite is my yellow Blue-eyed BN. The shark is nice looking too. All look healthy. Finally got the Nitrates under control.5.0 ppm!!! I will check it Monday and see what happens. Have pictures from last night. enjoy, wd66

 

Man, Everything is good but my Nitrates. Back up to 40 ppm! I just cannot figure out why they just all the sudden started getting so high! When I tested Sunday it was 5ppm. Now two days later its 40ppm??? Guess I will have to do a bigger water change this week...again. I am really underfeeding them. I didn't clean the filters but for the sponge on the uv filter. That is tomorrows job. Just clean them with the old water from the tank. Its making it hard on me for sure! Will see what happens after tomorrow, Later WD66

 

Do you have room for some Pothos hanging in your tank or filter they are nitrate eating machines and another thing to look into is a potatoe once it roots it'll also get nitrates out for you. that may be your solution. Good luck!!

 

Do you have room for some Pothos hanging in your tank or filter they are nitrate eating machines and another thing to look into is a potatoe once it roots it'll also get nitrates out for you. that may be your solution. Good luck!!

I have a pothos plant in the tank. It floats on the right side above the big rock. Its been there for a couple of months. It has branched out some but the little bn keeps eating the leaf's. I am thinking about getting some of this product: brightwell aquatics this. Xport, NO3 cubes. I have heard a lot of good things about it. Anyway, I should get it in them mail sometime this week.


I have a pothos plant in the tank. It floats on the right side above the big rock. Its been there for a couple of months. It has branched out some but the little bn keeps eating the leaf's. I am thinking about some bright

Don't know why but it cut out the item, its made by brightwell aquatics. And the item I am getting Xpore NO3 cubes. I have heard of good things about this

 

Do you have anything in there that might be decomposing? Dead leaves? Detritus?

 

Do you have anything in there that might be decomposing? Dead leaves? Detritus?

I vacuum the gravel every week I clean the canister every other week. Same for the hob filter. I do the hob one week and the other the next week after. There is a product out there from.. I think ocean pure, not sure but you put that under the gravel on the bottom of the tank glass. Those cubes look a bit easier

 

Well, I got it back to 20ppm. Will do another water change Saturday. Everything else is great. Fish look good, water clear. I cleaned the Canister and new fine foam I ordered last month. I am running three foams and a polishing cloth in it and I will add the fine when I clean the hob. Only thing I wish is that the little BN would grow! Its about 1/2 inch longer than when I got him. I bought the red tail shark and its grown over 3/4 inch! Its working on 3 inches total. it and the Oscar are both growing more than anyone else. I guess in time they will grow. I am looking at a new tank maybe this fall. Looking at a 120-150 gal tank. If I can continue to do the upkeep. My hands are giving me trouble. I am working on getting a drain in he with the tank. and adding a cold water line here too. Would make it so neat! and easy. I may also have to get two more Sunsun canisters.Thinking 704a's I think it is. I am starting to have issues with this Marineland already. It just don't have the power.Anyway that's all for now, WD 66

 

OK....WHat???? I did the water test Weds, and the Nitrate was 20,0ppm. Nothing else done and today 5.0ppm!! Now I checked it twice! Same...Can't figure this out....ok...fine....

 

...And today I got two different ,off readings! Ammonia up to ,50ppm! Nitrates 40ppm. What is going on in that tank anyway? I have large Pothos in the tank and I see some green algae growing on the driftwood. This tank is messing with my head....

 

What ammonia test goes that high ? API is dark green almost black at 8 ppm ..
Sounds like your test have been wonky ..
How are your fish acting ??
Are they saying anything alarming ?

 

What ammonia test goes that high ? API is dark green almost black at 8 ppm ..
Sounds like your test have been wonky ..
How are your fish acting ??
Are they saying anything alarming ?

I’m guessing he means 0.50 ppm.

 

Light green at .50 ppm. Unless I got a bad apI master test kit, no. Fish acting ok. Definitely always Hungry!! I just opened this test kit. expires 09/ 2024.This is my second kit. Both the same. I was getting .25 ppm now ,50 ppm. Could my last kit be off or is this one off. I wouldn't think it could be that different one from another. I guess it is what it is...

 

Could your source water be treated with chloramine ?
That would be a reason to register ammonia ?
I am not so sure on accuracy of kits ? I have read and heard many people with ammonia or nitrates in their source water that actually got the water dept. to respond and they always seemed to refute the test readings ??
I personally don't test unless something is fishy ?? I just change water as often as I can ..
IMO .25-.5 could be nothing but I am not a scientist or API guy [I know someone who works for API though ]..

 

I’ve seen a lot of false readings of ammonia at 0.25, but IME a 0.5 value is usually accurate.

 

Yeah, that 0.50 ppm got me a bit upset. The old kit was showing 0.25 ppm most of the time. I am wondering if the new reading is because of new test kit? I keep hearing that the best is the apI master kit. now I am not so sure....

I have to go into the hospital for overnight testing. Will be back tomorrow. Water change coming. Will let you know how it goes.

 

I like Salifert myself

 

Wish they made a master set like they do for marine tanks. From what I see they are for salt water. They don't say for both. Back to the drawing board.

 

Today was my test day again. Not to bad.
PH 7.6 , Ammonia 0.50ppm , Nitrite 0.0 ppm., Nitrate 20 ppm, KH 6, GH 10. I think that ammonia reading is a false reading with the test kit. With my last one it was always 0.25 ppm. I just add some Prime just for safety sake. Fish healthy and always hungry.

 

Latest is looking good! My testing is showing me better readings now. . PH, 7.5, 0 ammonia and nitrites and 10 ppm of nitrates. Fish getting to be pigs now. Feeding time is fun! The only one I am worried about is my baby bristlenose. Its not growing but in the belly area. Got to be a female with that big a body...Now if it would gain some length. Not even 2" yet... Those big Cichlids are getting a bit more nosy about him.

 

I have a question for you out there...I know, again! How fast do Bristlenose grow. Mine is over 2 months old and I wasn't sure just how old she was when I bought her. She is still about the same as when I got her, about 1 1/2 inches. I heard the females are somewhat smaller but she may have grown a 1/4 " since I got her. My oscar grew 2 inches and about an inch at its mouth! My convict is full grown, about 2 1/2". My firemouth is about almost full grown. hes about 3 1/2". My other pleco is over 8 inches and I want to get rid of her, But I need that little BN to grow some before I want to get rid of the big one. I would love to see her grow as fast as my shark. Hes, (I am not sure what sex it is yet). About 3 inches and one inch of that is sense I got it. I haven't been able to find much on how long it takes to see her grow big. I know they don't get as big as there bigger brothers. I think I saw somewhere they get up to 6 inches. But females are 5 inches or that's what I have heard.

 

Tests are good. But one thing, My oscar is getting to be a bully. I never had one this mean!! Last night I gave them Krill. Oscar had his mouth full and couldn't swallow it down. spit it out and then went over to the large pleco and pulled out a piece of Krill he was chewing on. He is chasing every fish so he can get his fill. I don't know why but he has a mean streak in him. I have had maybe 4-5 Oscars before. they are somewhat bullys and can be rough at meal time, but taking food out of someones else mouth... Got to think this one out. I just may re-home him. I have always had a soft spot for Oscars but I am not getting rid of 5 fish just to keep him. Now I need to figure out what I want to replace him with....

 

Oscars are very tempermental. They grow large and faser than other fish they are tropucal fish Alphas as you already know. ...get another 75 for him and keep your current stock in the otber one
Edit sorry for all the misspelling

 

I am thinking about that. Will see what happens. Today is water change day. Yesterday I was fishing for the clips for cucumbers and the oscar hit me three times! Bite me once on my pinkie! He has really gotten mean! My last oscar would see my hand in the tank and think it was for a treat. He just curious but never bit me. I would feed out of my hand and could rub his back. This one has just gotten mean for some reason. Its a luck of the draw I guess. Anyway I will see what he does when I am cleaning the tank.