Quick question about my parameters

[targetfish]

My tank is uncycled because I didn't do any research.
My tank's parameters are (mg/L):
total hardness: 33
alkalinity: 63
carbonate: 46
pH: 7.0
nitrate: 0
nitrite: 0
ammonia: 0.5

These are not going to be 100% accurate, since I used test strips for all but the ammonia. These are averages based on 4 strips' results. The ammonia is total ammonia.

Are these parameters safe for my target fish to go in overnight? My target fish's tankmate died so I changed all the parameters to be within a safe level, before they were in rainwater which had some incorrect values, so I added in some dechlorinated tap water (Seachem Prime) to fix it. I am asking because I fixed it hours ago and my fish hasn't showed any signs of improvement. Is there anything I can do? Symptoms are: hiding, spitting out food, laying at the bottom of the tank. She will swim normally sometimes for a few seconds then sink back to the bottom. Tank mate symptoms before death were: breathing heavily on the bottom of the tank, swimming frantically (including slamming into walls), flipping upside down or on back, darkening in colour, lethargy, puffed out gills and fins, no interest in food, so desperate to hide would swim into your hand.

Now that I have fixed the water parameters, I'm going to see if I can get some ocean/reef salt to add in since target fish prefer brackish and I believe she was in almost fresh brackish water before.

Am I doing it right to keep this fish alive and healthy or would anyone recommend I do something different?

 

[ProudPapa]

I would recommend doing a 50% water change (or more) to get the ammonia down.

 

[Cherryshrimp420]

If it's a brackish fish youll need to achieve brackish conditions first. And then go through the cycling process. The bacteria for freshwater cannot function in brackish water iirc...

 

[targetfish]

If it's a brackish fish youll need to achieve brackish conditions first. And then go through the cycling process. The bacteria for freshwater cannot function in brackish water iirc...

Oh okay good to know!

I would recommend doing a 50% water change (or more) to get the ammonia down.

Is that because I was leaving it overnight or always do a 50% water change at that level of ammonia?

so, I'm leaving my fish for a week, her tank is uncycled and small so ammonia spikes could happen very fast. I don't necessarily need her fed because she won't take food anyway. The only person I could leave her with is my grandma, who I'm not sure would be able to remember what ammonia is, how to test for it, etc. Worst case scenario she tips the ammonia test back into the tank or something. Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Fishyfreeonz]

No feeding would greatly reduce the ammonia and as long as your pH isn't above 8 it takes a lot of ammonia to actually be toxic anyway.

 

[ProudPapa]

. . . Is that because I was leaving it overnight or always do a 50% water change at that level of ammonia?

I would always do a water change if it's that high, especially if you have higher pH water. Ammonia is less toxic in lower pH water.

 

[LastHaxor]

I've been raising cichlids for 6 years and none of them have ever seen brackish water.
They've all come from breeders or local fish stores, this may be the case for many of us.
Just target good tropical fish water quality and you'll be fine.

 

[ruud]

My ice bears have never seen subtropical deserts.
I'll continue to target polar deserts for them.

 

[TClare]

I've been raising cichlids for 6 years and none of them have ever seen brackish water.
They've all come from breeders or local fish stores, this may be the case for many of us.
Just target good tropical fish water quality and you'll be fine.

Most cichlids don't need brackish water. Some need hard water, some need soft, there are about 2000-3000 cichlid species, which are you referring to?

 

[briangcc1997]

The Brackish Tank

Looks brackish to me.

 

[ruud]

Never heard of them before, looks like an ideal beginner's fish...