Setting Up A 125 Gallon Malawi W/pics-going To 75 Usg Now

[Ferris]

I'm not sure i'd state "at least" 10x. 10x is a good figure to aim for but stating "at least" indicates it's the bare minimum, which it's not. My Mbuna tank has a turnover of around 14x but i would be perfectly happy with 10x.

 

[kj23502]

I'm not sure i'd state "at least" 10x. 10x is a good figure to aim for but stating "at least" indicates it's the bare minimum, which it's not. My Mbuna tank has a turnover of around 14x but i would be perfectly happy with 10x.

Oh...Thanks for setting me straight

I did another water test today.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite = about .12--it was in between 0 and .25. It came down from yesterday and I didn't even do a water change or anything and I fed them!!!
Nitrate 10-15ppm

I'm still confused about why nitrates really aren't going up and nitrites are going down. The only conclusion I can come to atm is I'm screwing up the test! API test kits are a little funny...nitrates are a difficult test. With all the steps in it there's at least 1 minute and 30 seconds of shaking involved! I even did the nitrite test twice, just to be sure of that one too. Is there anything that could naturally "remove" nitrate besides plants and water changes? (i only have one little blob of java moss in the tank). I'm just trying to figure it out.... It seems that the ammonia and nitrite are "under control" and I'm glad since those are the most dangerous to the fish.
Any input on the nitrate is welcome!

 

[darrel69]

The only way to remove Nitrate is via water changes and to heavily plant your aquarium. I doubt your little peice of java moss is enougth to make a noticeable change in your Nitrates.

Your Nitrate at 10-15 looks OK to me, mines always between 10-20 without doing any major water changes.

 

[kj23502]

The only way to remove Nitrate is via water changes and to heavily plant your aquarium. I doubt your little peice of java moss is enougth to make a noticeable change in your Nitrates.

Your Nitrate at 10-15 looks OK to me, mines always between 10-20 without doing any major water changes.

I figured there wasn't enough plant in there to affect it much! Just thought I'd throw that info in though.
So as long as my nitrites and ammonia are acceptable, I shouldn't worry....

I'll post test results later

 

[kj23502]

ok....i'm finally getting around to it.

The test results from yesterday were:
ammonia-0
nitrite--really, really close to 0...less than it was the other day
Nitrate---didn't test since it's so hard...i'll prob try to do that tonight

 

[darrel69]

Yea, aslong as your Ammonia and Nitrite are 0, and your Nitrates are below 40, i wouldn't worry. I know your Nitrites arn't 0 yet, but it sounds like they're getting there.

Nitrates are only harmful in high doses (40 and above) and it takes time for it to build up to that level depending on how much you feed, water changes ect.. In the year ive had my tank my Nitrates have never rose above 40 and i dont have any real plants at all. Regular water changes and not feeding every time they beg has kept it at an acceptable level.

If it does rise above 40, a large water change will fix it with no problems.

 

[stargirly1208]

I'm considering ordering some Eco-Complete African Cichlid Substrate sand (its available in sand and gravel versions) from Drfostersmith.com. It comes in 20lb bags. I'm thinking three and see how it looks...if i need to add more. Here's the website: Cichlid Substrate
Has anyone used this before?

Let me know how this work because I was thinking about getting some for our new cichlid tank

 

[stargirly1208]

I'm not sure i'd state "at least" 10x. 10x is a good figure to aim for but stating "at least" indicates it's the bare minimum, which it's not. My Mbuna tank has a turnover of around 14x but i would be perfectly happy with 10x.

Oh...Thanks for setting me straight

I did another water test today.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite = about .12--it was in between 0 and .25. It came down from yesterday and I didn't even do a water change or anything and I fed them!!!
Nitrate 10-15ppm

I'm still confused about why nitrates really aren't going up and nitrites are going down. The only conclusion I can come to atm is I'm screwing up the test! API test kits are a little funny...nitrates are a difficult test. With all the steps in it there's at least 1 minute and 30 seconds of shaking involved! I even did the nitrite test twice, just to be sure of that one too. Is there anything that could naturally "remove" nitrate besides plants and water changes? (i only have one little blob of java moss in the tank). I'm just trying to figure it out.... It seems that the ammonia and nitrite are "under control" and I'm glad since those are the most dangerous to the fish.
Any input on the nitrate is welcome!

If you're looking to get rid of nitrate and nitrates there is stuff called prime. It works really well at detoxifying those things. prime
they sell it at most stores but drsfostersmith.com has it too.

 

[kj23502]

I'm considering ordering some Eco-Complete African Cichlid Substrate sand (its available in sand and gravel versions) from Drfostersmith.com. It comes in 20lb bags. I'm thinking three and see how it looks...if i need to add more. Here's the website: Cichlid Substrate
Has anyone used this before?

Let me know how this work because I was thinking about getting some for our new cichlid tank

I don't know that it helped with cycling to much. I do like the looks of it and it's neat watching my cichlids moving it around! How they take it in their mouth and spit it out somewhere else away from their little "den".

 

[kj23502]

If you're looking to get rid of nitrate and nitrates there is stuff called prime. It works really well at detoxifying those things. prime
they sell it at most stores but drsfostersmith.com has it too.

Hi, thanks for the info. I had decided to go the all natural route and not add any products except one large pack of bio-spira. I had been keeping up on water changes to lower the toxicity levels. Everything looks like it's starting to smooth out now.

edit===
I think it detoxifies ammonia and nitrite.

 

[kj23502]

Hi here's some more pics. These were all done today.

This is my ammonia test. I call this 0. It's what it has been for a long time.(It shows huge in my preview, but I did resize it to website in photobucket....I have no idea why it's doing this...sorry

This is my nitrite test and it confuses me. Is it supposed to be 0...or is there still a little bit in the water? It's been this color since I was guessing maybe .12 or less. It's a confusing color to me.

This is my nitrate tube!

Here's the girls (I assume). They came up to the glass when I was waiting for the male..

This is my dominant nyereri so far. He's getting a little colorful. His dorsal and tail fins are getting hints of red. He also can be quite tempermental! It appears he's trying to claim the entire right 1/4 of the aquarium. He "patrols" that area A LOT!

He got into a "face to face" arguement with this c. afra. It didn't last but a few seconds.
I tried to load a video of my nyereri in photobucket, but it wouldn't load. Maybe I'll try again later. It wouldn've been great if I could've recorded the confrontation!
My fish still flash occasionally! Not very often(or constantly), just once in awhile.

 

[darrel69]

Yea, your Nitrite looks near enougth 0 to me, if not very close and shouldn't be long at all before it is. I wouldnt worry, nor carry out anymore waterchanges than normal.... Determing the results can be a little tricky at times, Nirates seem to be more confusing for me lol.

Your Nyereri looks well nice !! I love how he "Patrols" LOL ... Your C.Afra, cobue is it ? seems to be colouring nicely also.

 

[kj23502]

Your C.Afra, cobue is it ?

That's one of the 2 fish that I don't think are Cobue. I've been reading and trying to figure out which one. He's kinda dark compared to the others and has a redish dorsal!
I'm thinking:
Cynotilapia afra (Jalo Reef)
Likoma
Cynotilapia afra (Mbenji)
Cynotilapia afra (Ndumbi)
Cynotilapia afra (Nkhata Bay)
I don't know for sure yet....maybe I'll get a better idea when he finishes growing up...

The guy that I bought them from did send me 3 extra fish...maybe he included these to get rid of them?

 

[darrel69]

Oh right, maybe.... oh ive just thought, have you ruled out Labidochromis sp. "Hongi" ? They can look a little like C.Afra and have yellow/orange/red dorsal's..... just a thought.

 

[kj23502]

Oh right, maybe.... oh ive just thought, have you ruled out Labidochromis sp. "Hongi" ? They can look a little like C.Afra and have yellow/orange/red dorsal's..... just a thought.

Thanks....Wow! How am I supposed to figure it out w/all the choices? Athough I did post a topic with pics and video of the dude and dawn and ferris thought it's prob some kind of afra? But it really looks similar to the lab. sp. also.....holey cow....sigh