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What is needed is to just simply wait till the cycle does what it is supposed to do. Using additives will do nothing but alter the course of the cycle. I have done many fish in cycles without the use of any bottled bacteria and have never used them. Some ammonia is needed to complete the cycle...

Come on guys, credit cards, razor blades (ouch) really? Admit my plastic scrubber idea is the "best"! ☺️

Stronger pump?

I'm assuming sand is too tight, not enough flow especially after it gets just a bit dirty. Can be used temporarily as a mechanical filter not a biological filter

Plastic scrubber...Algae scrubber and filter media. Six for a dollar at the Dollar store. I have one of my canister filters loaded with this running for years!

I'm sure you were already told but with a new filter you are starting the cycle all over again.

Why take that chance? De-chlorinators are cheap and lasts a long time. Your choice.

Or will become fish food

Water temp?

Beautiful black angels! Cichlids are protective of theirs eggs and fry.

Dollar store plastic scrubbies. Clean the hard algae and they serve as filter media as well, one of my canister filters has been loaded with them for years. I get a pack of 5 or 6 for $1.

Though I'm not a fan or use any of those bottled bacteria, I also agree the cause of fish death after adding it to the aquarium had to do with something else. These are not cure all or fix all additives as unfortunately many newcomers are led to believe. Just last night I was looking around...

Since you only have one fish, you bio-load is low, you will have to occasionally monitor the ammonia levels every couple of days or so and do water changes accordingly. Not to confuse you... On the other side of this, the cycling process requires some ammonia to get going so this is why you'll...

No, all your nitrifying bacteria is dead by now. I think you should be ok cycling with one fish in the tank. You will need to check ammonia levels don't rise to the point it will harm your fish by doing partial small water changes and make sure you don't overfeed. I suggest you do some reading...

The other alternative is to do a "fish in cycle". If so, please read some articles on it, there are loads of information out there on how to get it done and with the one fish, it won't be difficult.

Ok, if your old filter is still running or wet, providing it was cycled, I would cut pieces of it and put it into the new filter media, do not wash it, you want that beneficial bacteria to spread on to your new filter.

Your beneficial bacteria resides in you filter, providing you didn't change the filter media or rinsed it in tap water. You should be ok changing all the water. What type of filter are you using and for how long has it been running?

For Africans I have used pool filter sand, cheap and not too dusty, I remember just rinsing it and it settled withing a few hours. As far as changing it, it can get messy, especially if you are keeping the fish in while doing it, probably less stress on the fish to move them temporarily and then...

Temp up to 80 or 82, no salt or meds and lots of water changes will resolve most issues.

Done lots of reading on this topic, these fish have very poor eyesight and having sharp objects in the tank, driftwood, rocks etc. can be a problem since they can bump into them. Too bad about your fish, I love black moors!

I am assuming they are both Mbunas? Mbunas can be very aggressive/territorial, depending on the size of your tank they should be in a group to kind of spread the aggression a bit rather than just picking on one. Example, I have kept 12 to 15 mbuna in a 55 gallon for years, yes there is always...

Staying on the "fish only" topic... No meds used here at all; I have been keeping fish for decades and the best medication I've found is simply keeping up with water changes, not overfeeding and proper filtering. I'm sure meds have their place in aquatic life, but I truly believe once we feel a...

Well, big fish eat little fish as long as they fit in their mouth. I would keep them separate for a while.

I'm thinking to restrict flow, the buildup would have to be pretty thick and not see through it. Never gave it a thought since I never had issues with flow, but I might get to it just to see if the flow does improve.

My canisters filter hoses have looked like the one in the picture for years. I know this doesn't help your question but other than just looking nasty, does not affect anything and just think, water running through the algae is getting conditioned... no?

Water changes will not harm your beneficial bacteria. Your bacteria resides in your filter media so needless to say, it should not be replaced. There is much misleading information. Keeping fish healthy can be very simple just following simple guidelines as far as making sure you maintain the...

I would think your filters are not sufficient for your tank? Depending on what is making your water cloudy, there are ways to clear the water but it's better getting at the cause of what's making it cloudy. What size tank and how many fish in it?

You're correct, I thought it was a pleco which can grow close to two feet in a tank, my mistake.

Nice cat, how big do they get? I like plecos but, eventually they get way too big for me.

Nice rainbows! I don't know that would be considered as sparring, I had rainbows a while back and occasionally they would do that, could it be mating? Or two males just flexing their muscles?

Once an aquarist, always an aquarist. Yes, you do need to remove water periodically, condensation does not remove nitrates or the "nasty" stuff that needs to be replaced with fresh water.

I have tried anything leafy and it gets eaten with no problem.

^^^ this^^^

Most coolers work great.

To lighten things up... My aquarium plants are not doing well, I'm thinking they need to be watered more often?

Black angels are beautiful. Nothing cooler than a tank with all angels in it. You are asking basically if 5 angels would work in a 55 gallon? I think all the answers you have gotten have been pretty much on point and very helpful. I'm sure all the people here have gone through heartbreaks...

Hope you have a BIG tank. They are cool fish; I had a couple and eventually did as your friend, they got way too big too fast.

Pumps and HOB filters (though there might be some quiet HOB's) I got a couple of old canister filters, all is good.