Black Ghost Knifefish parameters

[Carissa]

How were you feeding the cycle during those 4 months? A sudden increase in bioload will cause a mini-cycle even in a cycled tank.

[eshepler]

As for your ghost knife...one thing I recommend is to take precautions if you ever need to treat for a disease. I've kept ghost knives just fine for several years, but I lost my two week old GN due to a 3 day ich treatmen. What a bummer it was too. He used to eat right out of my hand.

Unless I'm mistaken, I believe the GN is one of those fish that are scaleless. So their protection is pretty slim.

[Pranicmegan]

Yes I did make that mistake the first time I cleaned the tank when I first got it (cleaning the filter) (DOH wish I'd researched BEFORE I got it). And possibly within the first 2 weeks or so I did it again.
But that's it. Once I researched enough info, I stopped that promptly and have not done it again, oohhh for at least 2 and a half to 3 months I would think.

I got the new testing kit, and I only had enough money to buy one kit at a time. So I chose the nitrite one, being that that is more toxic and more of a worry right now.
I have done another water change and the nitrite level is looooooow, almost not registering.
Before water change nitrites was 0.5 and nitrates was about 20ppm.
After water change I used my last strip tester for the nitrate ... and it was barely registering too.
Ammonia was 0. Nitrite estimate between 0 - 0.5 (juuust barely perceptible). And nitrate looked to be between the 0 and the 20.

So I'm thinking that now that the nitates seem to be slowly building up (except when I change the water) that means the little friendly bacteria has built up at least a little??
I have been working SO HARD at getting the hang of this!
EVERY day I test the water and do a partial water change.

And I still can't find the parameters for keeping a Black Ghost Knifefish healthy. I am guessing that because it comes from the Americas (I think) it should be neutral to slightly acid water? Soft not hard too?
I have him currently in my South American tank. So far so good.

[Pranicmegan]

Yeah I've already found out that info on treatment for disease. And yes he is scaleless. I've already set up a little medical tank just in case I need to treat someone. I have a heater and filter in it now (no fish) just to cycle the filter so its ready when I need it.

I did try to catch the neons to put in it to speed it up. But they are fast little suckers and I'm slow and useless. LOL I even tried doing it in the dark. Nuh. No luck.

I'm real sorry to hear you lost your Ghostfish, they are special aren't they. I already love mine and am doing all I can to find out as much as I can to keep him healthy.
Being a noob makes it all the more harder because I read stuff then have to research what in **** it MEANS! (lol)
I appreciate your tip too!! Just because you read something in an article doesnt mean its necessarily true. That's why I love these forums for feedback because you get peoples REAL experience. What works for them and what doesnt.
APPRECIATED !!!

[Pranicmegan]

Originally Posted by Carissa

How were you feeding the cycle during those 4 months? A sudden increase in bioload will cause a mini-cycle even in a cycled tank.

Hmm you might have hit the nail on the head here. **Hangs head in shame**
I tend to over feed. I kill with love apparently.
I have learned my lesson (poor gourami) and am more careful now. But yes I plead guilty to over feeding.
So would this have put my cycle waa-ay out?

And I wasn't aware of that sudden increase in bioload putting even an established cycle out. That's valuable info to have THANKYOU for that.
Can you tell me what an sudden increase in bioload might be? Besides over feeding that is ...
I have a four foot tank. I usually introduce fish in pairs. So 2 new fish at a time.
Is this ok? What number would be a sudden increase?
THANKS!!!

I re-read what you wrote I think I may have misunderstood what you mean the first time. 'Feeding the cycle' do you mean did I have fish in the tank during the cycling? Yes. And waaa-ay too much fish food too.