Water Test Levels.

[MikeD67]

Ok well I just tested my water for nitrate nitrite ammonia ph and I believe im good. Ammonia was 0ppm Nitrite was .25ppm Nitrate was 40 ppm and Ph was 8.0 ( which I believe is the target for the type of fish I have ?)

 

[ox5477]

First, nitrite should be 0 at all times after cycling (which I assume you didnt cycle the tank if this is anything but zero).. so thats a problem as even the smallest amounts of this can cause health problems for your stocking... do a 40% change ASAP and watch this. If it still shows up the next day, do another 40% water change. Second, unless you have african cichlids, a pH of 8.0 is kind of high for new worlds. They can live in waters up to 8 without too much ill effect but naturally, their conditions wouldn't be above 7 to 7.5 and therefore you should try to keep your water around there. And before you go out and buy chemicals to do this, try putting a piece of bogwood in the water. It naturally buffers the water and will lower the pH.

What do you stocked right now? and what size tank is it (gallons plz, not just the length)?

EDIT: nvm, i assume its the tank in your signature? If it is, you have that quite overstocked for when they grow up. I would say you could maybe have two jds and one pleco at max when the fish are full grown. Your just asking for aggression issues. I would recommend only keeping 1 jd, the 2 fm's and one pleco. The rest have to find another home or your gonna ask for a bloodbath one day. These fish will grow into large aggressive fish and one day will start quarreling over every little inch of the tank.

 

[MikeD67]

First, nitrite should be 0 at all times after cycling (which I assume you didnt cycle the tank if this is anything but zero).. so thats a problem as even the smallest amounts of this can cause health problems for your stocking... do a 40% change ASAP and watch this. If it still shows up the next day, do another 40% water change. Second, unless you have african cichlids, a pH of 8.0 is kind of high for new worlds. They can live in waters up to 8 without too much ill effect but naturally, their conditions wouldn't be above 7 to 7.5 and therefore you should try to keep your water around there. And before you go out and buy chemicals to do this, try putting a piece of bogwood in the water. It naturally buffers the water and will lower the pH.

What do you stocked right now? and what size tank is it (gallons plz, not just the length)?

EDIT: nvm, i assume its the tank in your signature? If it is, you have that quite overstocked for when they grow up. I would say you could maybe have two jds and one pleco at max when the fish are full grown. Your just asking for aggression issues. I would recommend only keeping 1 jd, the 2 fm's and one pleco. The rest have to find another home or your gonna ask for a bloodbath one day. These fish will grow into large aggressive fish and one day will start quarreling over every little inch of the tank.

Ok yes i did cycle the tank i did a fishless cycle for 2 months before adding the fish I would imagine theres such a low nitrite level due to the fact of adding all the fish to the tank at the same time. As far as Ph everything I have read even from this sites info on my fish says they all like between 7.6 to 8.2 so as far as Ph i seem to be fine. As far as stocking goes I thought the rule was 1 inch of fish for every gallon? if this is true i have ( when they grow to maximum size) 76 inches of fish in a 85 gallon tank that is already over filtered and will be adding a cannister filter on top of the already existing filter. as far as aggression ill keep an eye on it but i think they will be ok these fish all have been in the same tank starting young i got them out of same tank at LFS and I believe since they are all growing up together this will allow them plenty of time to be friends before adult hood and this allows them to figure out the pecking order as there young as of now they dont fight at all as a matter of fact they all follow each other like one big school of fish.

 

[LuckyCricketMafia]

Ok well I just tested my water for nitrate nitrite ammonia ph and I believe im good. Ammonia was 0ppm Nitrite was .25ppm Nitrate was 40 ppm and Ph was 8.0 ( which I believe is the target for the type of fish I have ?)

Your nitrate should be at zero, it sounds like you are having a mini cycle and your fish may be in danger. Have you added any new fish to the tank? Cleaned your filter media in tap water? You are going to have to watch your nitrite levels.

First, nitrite should be 0 at all times after cycling (which I assume you didnt cycle the tank if this is anything but zero).. so thats a problem as even the smallest amounts of this can cause health problems for your stocking... do a 40% change ASAP and watch this. If it still shows up the next day, do another 40% water change. Second, unless you have african cichlids, a pH of 8.0 is kind of high for new worlds. They can live in waters up to 8 without too much ill effect but naturally, their conditions wouldn't be above 7 to 7.5 and therefore you should try to keep your water around there. And before you go out and buy chemicals to do this, try putting a piece of bogwood in the water. It naturally buffers the water and will lower the pH.

What do you stocked right now? and what size tank is it (gallons plz, not just the length)?

EDIT: nvm, i assume its the tank in your signature? If it is, you have that quite overstocked for when they grow up. I would say you could maybe have two jds and one pleco at max when the fish are full grown. Your just asking for aggression issues. I would recommend only keeping 1 jd, the 2 fm's and one pleco. The rest have to find another home or your gonna ask for a bloodbath one day. These fish will grow into large aggressive fish and one day will start quarreling over every little inch of the tank.

Ok yes i did cycle the tank i did a fishless cycle for 2 months before adding the fish I would imagine theres such a low nitrite level due to the fact of adding all the fish to the tank at the same time. As far as Ph everything I have read even from this sites info on my fish says they all like between 7.6 to 8.2 so as far as Ph i seem to be fine. As far as stocking goes I thought the rule was 1 inch of fish for every gallon? if this is true i have ( when they grow to maximum size) 76 inches of fish in a 85 gallon tank that is already over filtered and will be adding a cannister filter on top of the already existing filter. as far as aggression ill keep an eye on it but i think they will be ok these fish all have been in the same tank starting young i got them out of same tank at LFS and I believe since they are all growing up together this will allow them plenty of time to be friends before adult hood and this allows them to figure out the pecking order as there young as of now they dont fight at all as a matter of fact they all follow each other like one big school of fish.

A stable ph is more important then the "right" ph, is your tap waters ph that high or are you buffering it? If you are buffering it I would stop, african cichlid like a high ph, not yours.

I agree you are way overstocked, the inch per gal rule does not apply to aggressive fish, these are not guppies. And personally I don't think it even applys to any type of fish. You wouldn't put a 10 in pleco in a 10 gal tank would you? Raising them young helps but if one of your pairs breeds they will decide what fish stay and what fish goes.

Edit: what kind of pleco is it? If it is a common pleco those get over 2 feet long and are poop machines.

 

[MikeD67]

Ok well I just tested my water for nitrate nitrite ammonia ph and I believe im good. Ammonia was 0ppm Nitrite was .25ppm Nitrate was 40 ppm and Ph was 8.0 ( which I believe is the target for the type of fish I have ?)

Your nitrate should be at zero, it sounds like you are having a mini cycle and your fish may be in danger. Have you added any new fish to the tank? Cleaned your filter media in tap water? You are going to have to watch your nitrite levels.

First, nitrite should be 0 at all times after cycling (which I assume you didnt cycle the tank if this is anything but zero).. so thats a problem as even the smallest amounts of this can cause health problems for your stocking... do a 40% change ASAP and watch this. If it still shows up the next day, do another 40% water change. Second, unless you have african cichlids, a pH of 8.0 is kind of high for new worlds. They can live in waters up to 8 without too much ill effect but naturally, their conditions wouldn't be above 7 to 7.5 and therefore you should try to keep your water around there. And before you go out and buy chemicals to do this, try putting a piece of bogwood in the water. It naturally buffers the water and will lower the pH.

What do you stocked right now? and what size tank is it (gallons plz, not just the length)?

EDIT: nvm, i assume its the tank in your signature? If it is, you have that quite overstocked for when they grow up. I would say you could maybe have two jds and one pleco at max when the fish are full grown. Your just asking for aggression issues. I would recommend only keeping 1 jd, the 2 fm's and one pleco. The rest have to find another home or your gonna ask for a bloodbath one day. These fish will grow into large aggressive fish and one day will start quarreling over every little inch of the tank.

Ok yes i did cycle the tank i did a fishless cycle for 2 months before adding the fish I would imagine theres such a low nitrite level due to the fact of adding all the fish to the tank at the same time. As far as Ph everything I have read even from this sites info on my fish says they all like between 7.6 to 8.2 so as far as Ph i seem to be fine. As far as stocking goes I thought the rule was 1 inch of fish for every gallon? if this is true i have ( when they grow to maximum size) 76 inches of fish in a 85 gallon tank that is already over filtered and will be adding a cannister filter on top of the already existing filter. as far as aggression ill keep an eye on it but i think they will be ok these fish all have been in the same tank starting young i got them out of same tank at LFS and I believe since they are all growing up together this will allow them plenty of time to be friends before adult hood and this allows them to figure out the pecking order as there young as of now they dont fight at all as a matter of fact they all follow each other like one big school of fish.

A stable ph is more important then the "right" ph, is your tap waters ph that high or are you buffering it? If you are buffering it I would stop, african cichlid like a high ph, not yours.

I agree you are way overstocked, the inch per gal rule does not apply to aggressive fish, these are not guppies. And personally I don't think it even applys to any type of fish. You wouldn't put a 10 in pleco in a 10 gal tank would you? Raising them young helps but if one of your pairs breeds they will decide what fish stay and what fish goes.

as far as PH that is how high it is from tap as far as nitrite yes i added all my fish at same time three days ago so like i said i would imagine that may be why its showing such a small level. But like I said everything this site and others say regarding my fish they like Ph of 7.6 to 8.2??? as far as stock i see what your saying but also you say its not good to overstack aggressive tanks when everything i have learned and been told on aggressive fish says to overstack because this will lower aggression levels? this is the advice given for africans as well which is why i have over filtered my tank cause i planning for a african tank but they cant get me the africans i want. I will most likely take your advice and probably get rid of the blue acaras to a buddy of mine when his tank gets established and going.

 

[LuckyCricketMafia]

Is your tank cycled? If so what did you use to cycle it? You may have waited too long and started over. JD and firemouths are a good mix, some of my fav. Overstocking can help with africans but doesn't really work with the type of fish you have. Good luck I am sure you will love those jds once they start coloring up, the males are very pretty

 

[ox5477]

1 inch rule: Like lucky cricket said, does not apply to larger fish, only for smaller community fish

Do not get africans to go with them. The two do not intermix and you will end up with dead new world cichlids as africans are much more aggressive than new worlds. Thats why people say to have large communities for africans but it is a different attitude when it comes to new worlds. Yes, having more fish around will stem aggression towards one single fish, but also, the more add will add much more aggression than it will stem.

About the pH: I don't know what your reading, but that pH is more suited for african lake cichlids. They prefer 8.0 and above while the new worlds prefer 7.6 to 7.8 and below. It doesnt necessarily mean your fish can't live in the 8.0, but again, like lucky cricket said, a stable pH is the most important thing as a large swing in the pH in a short time is much more detrimental.

Just because fish are in the same tank in the lfs does not mean they are good tank mates... just that the lfs has no more room so they lindly put the young fish together until someone buys them. On the lfs note.... dont take too much advice from the big chain stores (if thats where you bought these). the employees are underpaid and arn't required to have a wealth of knowledge to work there so take what they say with a grain of salt. Fourms like TFF and others are much better to find out info

 

[MikeD67]

I see what your saying well any way if you want to see where i got the Ph suggestions from its on this forum go to new world cichlids then fish index and look at the blue acara firemouths and JD's and they all state in profile the Ph. if these are incorrect than i think these need to be changed to not mis inform people.