newbie with a couple of issues.

[Gaz77]

Hi and merry Christmas. I have a yellow lab (juvenile) )that is just sitting in quite area of my tank its been doing yhis for 3 days now. His it ill?
I had a couple of plants in my tank but the fish have cut them back to starks so I have had to remove them , do cichlids need plants in the tank?cheers

 

[AlmonyMatt]

I have the same problem. But I have lots I plants.

 

[AlmonyMatt]

Fake plants though and rock hideouts

 

[molliwopp]

Well do you know and have the ability to test the parameters of the tank?

How long have you had the tank, whats your water change routine, how much and how often are you changing water and how big is the tank?
Could be many reasons.

Could be lonely as even though theyre aggressive towards one another theyre actually quite social but i wouldnt recommend adding anything to the tank before answering afew questions and getting a test kit to test your water.

 

[AlmonyMatt]

I test water often. My ammonia levels aren't the greatest but I have been doing 10% water changes a day and cleaning the gravel for several days. But normally change water 25% every 2 weeks. Have had tank running for around 2 months

 

[molliwopp]

Well if your ammonia isnt great neither are your fish. By not great, do you have a reading for us?

If ammonia is growing 10% wont touch it. For example 10% of 1ppm is only reducing it to 0.9 which is just insignificant.

 

[AlmonyMatt]

I can get my latest one. I'll post tomorrow.

 

[AlmonyMatt]

Just checked. It's at 1ppm. Yesterday the reading was at 2-3ppm. I have been changing small amounts of water constantly and feeding the fish less and less. But also my small pellet food they seem to carry it, spit it out, then hold onto it longer till they can finally fit it in their mouths.

 

[snowman17]

25% every 2 weeks won't cut it

 

[AlmonyMatt]

How much should I be doing then?

 

[Brookster123]

When cycling, me personally, 1-2/3 25% changes a day, knock down that ammonia, below .25 ppm or else your fish are in trouble, no joke

 

[snowman17]

I do 50% or more a week

 

[AlmonyMatt]

Ok. Thanks. I can only have time to do 1 25% a day. But will do that then

 

[molliwopp]

Just checked. It's at 1ppm. Yesterday the reading was at 2-3ppm. I have been changing small amounts of water constantly and feeding the fish less and less. But also my small pellet food they seem to carry it, spit it out, then hold onto it longer till they can finally fit it in their mouths.

10% cant change 2-3ppm to 1ppm. Ammonia isnt created instantly and them playing with it for alittle before they eat it wont cause an ammo spike, only when its left to rot. You should be changing 50% twice daily at least until you bring it below 0.25

Soke the pellets in a small glass before adding them if theyre too hard for them to eat. Sometimes if a pellet is swallowed it will proceed to swell inside the fish.

Edit* no 25% daily isnt enough. 50% might be.

 

[AlmonyMatt]

I did a 30-40% change today. So that could contribute. I'll be doing big WC then till the ammonia is gone. Thanks

 

[Gaz77]

My water is fine ammonia is 0.25 ph 7.6 and my nits/ants are spot on but the yellow lab is still alive and still sitting in the corner of the tank .i have 2 y labs the other is fine .if my water is correct do you still need to do water changes ?

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Yes u always have to do wcs. They only take 15 to 20 mins

 

[Brookster123]

My water is fine ammonia is 0.25 ph 7.6 and my nits/ants are spot on but the yellow lab is still alive and still sitting in the corner of the tank .i have 2 y labs the other is fine .if my water is correct do you still need to do water changes ?

.25 ppm of ammo is not correct, should be 0, if you were in a glass box being smothered with noxious fumes you'd be cowering in a corner too. Not trying to be a ******* here but think about it..

 

[Gaz77]

Just done a 40% water change .i use the API water test kit I find it had to check is it yellow or light green that's why I said 0.25 does it have to be the exact colour ?

 

[gilpi]

Two African cichlids only in the tank? Most likely one is bullying the other plus the high ammonia puts added stress on the fish.