Questions About Cichlids I Just Added To New 75 Gallon Tank

I got this tank running a week ago and added my cichlids today. its a 75 gallon I used the safe start plus recommended at LFS. Water tests 77 degrees 7.8 ph 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate. I'm aware that the water cycle has not happened and the fish are going to aid it along my fish guy assures me using safe start and the fact that all these fish are pretty tough and can make it through.All fish are small my hope is to bring them up together and they work it out. I stocked the Oscar first game him 2 days by himself. Then I went and got the rest of my list.
Fire mouth
Jewel
Green terror
Electric jack Dempsey
I realize some are going to say I'm over stocked but this may evolve into a bigger tank as necessary.
Adding them went well it seems they are all cruising around exploring. Its been an hour my current question is the electric JD is hiding at the top behind the heater and seems to be panting. Is this normal behavior for a new JD. Thanks for any help guys.

 

Electric JD seem to be more gentle and more delicate than the normal color morph. Mine is a bit shy but it is the smallest fish on the tank with other cichlids doubling him in size. The short breathing is not a good sign. I have no experience with safe start so I cannot comment on it, but I would recommend you check your parameters right away.

Regarding your stocking, it may or may not work. It depends. And it may work for a number of time and all of a sudden things can get nasty. In my case the FM, which is a little bigger and was introduce later, is more dominant than the EJD. They share the tank with a twice their size gold severum and angel fish. They all get alone, it happened that it worked out (for now), but it is a bit of a gamble, so it is good to have a plan B.

 

Thanks yeah if he proves to be to gentle I'll probably have to swap him out. Expensive fish to just have hiding under a log.

 

mine swims about, he is not really hiding he is just at the bottom of the hierarchy. But make sure he is not struggling with water parameters since the tank still cycling

 

Thanks for the help I'm gonna see how it goes..

 

Are you seeing any Nitrate yet? I am assuming you didnt add any food/ammonia while it was starting its cycle for that week since you were zero across the board so wondering how things are lookin now?

 

At maturity, your problem fish will be the Green Terror if it turns out to be male. The Jewel may be a problem sooner, as they mature faster than the other fish you have.

 

Water tests show ammonia levels no nitrites and positive nitrates. I'm assuming the water is cycling and it mite be a rocky road for a bit. I did my first water change today using the python it was awesomely easy. Unfortunately the Oscar died today I think due to the jewel cichlid pestering him. The jewel seems to have a nasty attitude. I'm not adding any fish until I get through the water cycle and I figure out who the murderer is. I plan to figure out how to keep a oscar.

 

 

The way to keep an Oscar in a 75 gallon tank is alone. Sorry. Right now, you're best bet would be to remove the Jewel. As I stated before, they mature at a smaller size than the other fish, and maturity often equals aggression.

 

So you think the jewel will kill everything else until she's alone?

 

Water tests show ammonia levels no nitrites and positive nitrates. I'm assuming the water is cycling and it mite be a rocky road for a bit. I did my first water change today using the python it was awesomely easy. Unfortunately the Oscar died today I think due to the jewel cichlid pestering him. The jewel seems to have a nasty attitude. I'm not adding any fish until I get through the water cycle and I figure out who the murderer is. I plan to figure out how to keep a oscar.

How high is your Ammonia level?

 

.50 ppm I plan to do water changes consistently until the water cycles then 30 percent every two weeks

 

.50 ppm I plan to do water changes consistently until the water cycles then 30 percent every two weeks

Sounds like you are on the right track. Cichlids on the other hand produce lots of waste for a uncycled tank. You have lots of work to do but you have enough knowledge it seems to do so. When it comes to Cichlids they all have different personalities. I'd highly recommend getting a secondary tank if you have to move a trouble maker if needed.

 

Thank you I'm actually thinking to add another filter pump and water circulator.. As to the problem fish I'm just hoping they figure it out I can't have another tank. This is the first time Ive had cichlids I wanted the action just not fish killing eachother.

 

Thank you I'm actually thinking to add another filter pump and water circulator.. As to the problem fish I'm just hoping they figure it out I can't have another tank. This is the first time Ive had cichlids I wanted the action just not fish killing eachother.

I understand, that's why it's hard for me to go with schooling fish imo they are just kinda ok. I have 1 angelfish, 4 loaches, 2 Bolivian Rams, and a bunch of snails. You can use things to block out their line of sight (i.e. plants, driftwood etc.) make sure there are lots of hiding spots. At least you can take them back if they don't get along. Live and learn.

 

The top corner is a clear message. A cichlid only goes there when it wants out of the tank, and has nowhere safe to go. It means it has lost all status in the group, and that if it stays, it will die.

 

That's great info man that's exactly where the Oscar hung out until it died..and yeah I'm thinking it will help to add some hiding spots etc..

 

Update to the tank I have not added another Oscar but I did add a black convict and a yellow lab. At this point it seems to just be a game of chase a nipped Finn on the fire mouth and the green terror the electric Dempsey seems fine and is out and about. They all eat fine. Water has yet to complete the cycle...so my fingers are crossed. After cycles id like to add one more cool cichlid does anyone recommend a certain one?

 

The top corner is a clear message. A cichlid only goes there when it wants out of the tank, and has nowhere safe to go. It means it has lost all status in the group, and that if it stays, it will die.

I have never heard this before but you have me VERY curious as some of my Mbuna will do this now again, not always the same fish and will sometimes be for a day or so, sometimes several days. They will sometimes be vertical behind the heater or something like that, I always thought it was because they were hiding from a male (about half the times I see one do it they are holding females) - but now that you mention it I added a lot more rocks a few weeks ago and don't recall seeing them do it since... is this always a bad sign??

Bodie ,
Sad you are not cycled yet Do you have anyone who you can trade some media with (swap them some for their seeded stuff), or someone with an old sponge in their filter you can have, just to speed things up? Also, are you dosing Prime at all? It will detox ammonia and nitrite (up to 1ppm at a normal dosage I believe, a member here is doing an experiment on this to confirm Seachems claims), that could help your fish out

 

I'm dosing with a bacteria supplement from marine lab
And doing 50 percent water changes every 3 days and now after watching a video I'm going to take some ornaments out of my cycled community tank and put them in there.
My Oscar that died definitely was hiding in the upper corner like was mentioned.

 

I have never heard this before but you have me VERY curious as some of my Mbuna will do this now again, not always the same fish and will sometimes be for a day or so, sometimes several days. They will sometimes be vertical behind the heater or something like that, I always thought it was because they were hiding from a male (about half the times I see one do it they are holding females) - but now that you mention it I added a lot more rocks a few weeks ago and don't recall seeing them do it since... is this always a bad sign??

The hiding up in a corner is a VERY bad sign. As NavigatorBlack said that fish wants out.

A younger me loved keeping big, nasty, fish and I still cringe when I think of how many of them were relegated to the upper corners of the tank before meeting an untimely death by the other fish or the stress.

 

Cyclsnipas I think you missed an endquote there in your post Huh, even a holding female huh? Well I am happy to say that since I added more rocks I have not seen it again, and in the 2 years I have had the tank only lost 1 fish to an unknown cause (the other two were: one was just to dang small, it was a demasoni, got three, 1 male 2 fem and one of the females just didnt make it - the other was a yellow lab that never was quite...right, last about a year and a half The others (24) have been doing great for a little over 2 years I am happy to report

 

Yeah I don't know what happened there...but glad to hear everyone is doing well in your tank.

 

I just got started in this hobby 3 months ago with a community tank 20 gallon. It seems to be doing great and all the fish eat very well and water tests are great now. I do water changes once a week due to me over stocking. I found homes for 5 fish so that will help. So I got hooked read and watched a lot about cichlids and aquarium care and decided to do a 75 gallon American cichlid tank. Ive still made a lot of mistakes and lost two Oscars trying to get one integrated in the tank. For now I'm gonna pull back a bit and get the tank and water rite and hope this incredible collection of fish make it. Here's a list of my latest maintenance done today.
50 percent water change
Brought decorations out of an established tank into the 75 hoping to bring bb with them.
Added the marine lab bacteria supplement
Added aquarium salt
Current stocked fish list
1 green terror 2.5"
1 jewel 2.5"
1 fire mouth 2.5"
1 electric blue Dempsey 2"
1 black convict 1"
1 yellow lab 1.25"
Equipment list
Aqua clear 70
Power head 500 gph
300 watt heater
Lots of rocks, branches, roots,and ornamental plants
Any input and suggestions are appreciated

 

I'd keep an eye on the fire mouth and EB Dempsey. They aren't as aggressive as the terror or the jewel and black convicts though small can be one of the worst. I've seen them beat up fish 3x there size. Be careful if you decide to add more convicts cuz once spawning occurs (and it will) all bets are off for the other fish.

 

A 75gal Cichlid tank seems a quite underfiltered with a single AC70 IMO. I would look into adding a second, or better an AC110, or even better (IMO) a canister to add to that as they grow.

 

Thanks guys I will only be having one black convict for that very reason only one per tank! Lol I agree for being a smaller fish he/she is definitely confident and takes no from the rest. For now all signs of aggression seem to be just chase and an occasional lip locking between the green terror and the firemouth. The Jewel seems to take ownership of the game of chase that being said they each take their turns of running after eachother its entertaining just hope it stays that way I got these fish because of their personality and fierceness but its a thin line. As to the filter Ive been thinking to add a filter I just want to be wise about the purchase and money being well spent. Thanks for the suggestions

 

Nice! Glad to hear everything is working out so far, maybe have a divider on hand just in case

As for filters there was a pretty good discussion in this thread a few days ago, OP seems happy with his purchases: Cichlid Tank - 40 gallon Or 75 gallon - Canister For Pristine Water -- Is It Worth It?

 

Thankyou man I jumped in on that feed. Glad to be part of this community

 

No problem! I would recommend the same to you as I did to the other OP, a 406 The difference in price between it and the 306 is like 15 bucks and I love my 306 but its on a 40, and even on it I kinda wish I went with the 406, for a 75, and for cichlids I would for sure go with the 406 at least - that combined with your HOB should get you set until you get a bigger tank

 

Lol A bigger tank!

 

You mentioned lip locking between the terror and fire mouth. That's ok right now as they are around the same size but keep in mind the terror can get 10-13" where the fire mouth only gets to around 6". Your fire mouth won't fair well once that terror matures. The terror will probably become the boss of the tank. They are beautiful fish though. One of my favorite nasty's.

 

Yeah I'm hoping to be aware as maturity levels of all this little monsters grow that it all can change. That being said is why I started them all together as youngsters hoping they can become a community of monster fish lol. Does anyone have any recommendations on live food? And any opinions on aquarium salt for this stock? The good news today is my tests are showing that the water cycle has completed!! I'm relieved to say so. This week I'm adding some upgrades to my ac70 hob filter and going to add a sponge filter. In hopes to have to only do a water change every couple weeks instead of every 3 days. The fish seem to be doing fine at their occasional game of chase. No damaged fish! Thanks glad to belong here.

 

I'd avoid live food. You're just asking for issues like parasites, and other health problems. I believe it can promote aggression as well as the larger fish could start viewing the smaller ones as food rather than tank mates. Stick to a varied diet of high quality pellets/flakes and frozen foods.

 

Rite on man I was thinking the same thing. I feed the hikarI pellets and the cichlids flakes. I also have dried blood worms I was thinking to feed them. I've also heard of people feeding peas ?

 

Cichlids will eat pretty much anything. They're not picky, especially the bigger ones. Believe it or not, I used to feed mine dry catfood! Not saying that's necessarily a good idea but they never complained lol. My piranhas liked it as well.

 

You got yourself some Aggressive cichlids in a tank that's too small for all of them. You most certainly are going to have issues with aggression as you found out with the Oscar. Once that GT matures if he makes it that far you're in for it. Also not the best fish for cycles hopefully they make it.

 

You have an African Cichlids in with New World Cichlids?

 

No more Oscar
And yes there are two Africans with new worlds. For now its just occasional games of chase very little fighting. The water has cycled
Noone has signs of damage. They all seem to comingle pretty well.