Nitrate and nitrine problem

[nghsquad05]

I have a 55 gallon tank with African chiclids an a 54 gallon corner tank with 2 oscars. My 55 gallon the nitrates are really high I did and 50% water changes 2 days ago than another one last night but the levels haven't changed. In my corner tank both the nitrates and nitrites are really high. I have also done 50% water changes at the same time and nothing comes down. I have read plants can help bring the levels down so I added some real plants. I took all the gravel out of both tanks and cleaned it real good I also added an ammonia detoxifier that is supposed to bring down all my levels but it doesn't help everything else is reading fine just my nitrates and nitrites are high what else can I do

 

[Andrew McFadden]

Did you test your tap water?

 

[nghsquad05]

I haven't yet but I will

 

[nghsquad05]

So I tested my tap water out of the faucet and it as no nitrates and nitrites

 

[garfy]

2 Oscars in a 54 gallon could be the problem there.They will create a heck of a bioload and perhaps your filtration can't cope with it.
Did you cycle your tanks properly to begin with?
What is your current Filtration?
How often do you usually perform water changes?

 

[nghsquad05]

Yes my tank was fully cycled before I added my oscars. I use a in tank filter that is for up to 75 gallons

 

[nghsquad05]

I do about 50% water changes once a week

 

[garfy]

In the Oscar tank you'll probably need to do 2 50% water changes per week.
How many Africans in the 55?

 

[RAH]

Look with cichlid either new or old world always over filter. And 2 oscar will need at least a 75 pushing it to 150 there they live a comfort life in it

 

[nghsquad05]

I got 10 African chiclids

 

[garfy]

I got 10 African chiclids

Do you know which species they are?

 

[nghsquad05]

I got a peacock a green terror a couple convicts and some other ones

 

[garfy]

I got a peacock a green terror a couple convicts and some other ones

Green terrors and Convicts are NOT African cichlids.They are NEW WORLD Cichlids.Sounds to me like you have too many fish in that tank also so I'd say again your high Nitrate and Nitrite levels are due to poor water quality due to lack of maintenance for the mix of fish in that particular tank.You really should do much better research on fish size and compatibility for different sized tanks.For the sake of your fish.

 

[Jmunroe]

Your way over stocked and will never be able to fix it permanently. Temporary fix is 50% water changes daily. Once they grow you won't be able to keep up. For the tank sizes you have the green terror in one and 1 Oscar in the other is minimum requirements for these fish. Even then that is small for these cichlids. You headed for disaster sorry to say. I would do some research and reevaluate my stocking options.

 

[nghsquad05]

That's weird cuz I did talk to alot of people before u stocked my tank and I kept being told that would be fine with that many chiclids

 

[garfy]

That's weird cuz I did talk to alot of people before u stocked my tank and I kept being told that would be fine with that many chiclids

I find it hard to believe that anybody with knowledge on this site would tell you it's ok to keep 2 Oscars in a 54 g tank and even stranger that people would tell you Convicts and Firemouths are African cichlids.You referred to the other fish in that tank as "some others"
Which suggests you don't know their identity therefore you can't possibly know there requirements nutritionally or water wise.

 

[garfy]

My mistake not Firemouths a green terror

 

[Andrew McFadden]

Stocking #s are totally different between every type of cichlid. Taking 12 mbuna that stay at or lower than 5" of adult fish is what's generally taught. However it won't work with say oscars, angelfish or kribs. SA,ca,Asia, african river

 

[RAH]

I got 10 African chiclids

My bad I misread some one elses post my bad man

 

[nghsquad05]

Well thanks for the advice anyways I'm going to try other things to get the levels down. I guess this is what I get for buying my fish from a local fish store. I tried doing research before I got fish but when I had questions no one seemed to want to help, and the people who did help I guess gave me bad info so I will try to keep my fish healthy. I don't have the money right now to go and upgrade tanks so I will have to deal with what I got