Recent content by fishytales

Mixed reviews on either of them. If you can get seeded media, that’s the best. Otherwise things just happen a bit slow...

Keep ammonia between 2 and 4 ppm. No more than 4. Any amount of ammonia would get eventually converted to nitrites. Just need the bacteria to do it. Just be patient.

Coming up for air - check your water chemistry. Ammonia and Nitrites. 50% water changes to improve water quality. Ammonia over 0.25 ppm is quite toxic. If you’re already seeing a nitrite spike, a tsp of aquarium salt can help deal with it. But nothing like regular water changes. Your tank has a...

I echo smallfrys thoughts on food.

Ammonia between 2 and 4 ppm works best. Don’t go beyond 4, I’ve had that stall my cycle. If you have seeded media, all the better...

Not sure what you mean by a Mbuna “Community” tank, but yes, as long as you stock them appropriately (at least 12-15 in my opinion) they’ll be fine. You’ll see aggression, but nothing out of the ordinary in a Mbuna tank. I’ve kept them with Yellow labs and Acei and really enjoyed the fish.

Make sure the temperature is about the same in the new tank before you move the fish in. I’d also think about rinsing the gravel in aquarium water as the vacuuming alone may not be sufficient. And of course use the same filter media from the 10g at least until your new filter and media have time...

I did think of that, but my water change process is a bit painful right now. I use a water softener at home and so I can’t access warmer water from inside the house. So I fill up the sump with cold, unsoftened water from outside which is at 50 or less and then heat it to 75+ before pumping it to...

Ok thanks. I have been adding a bit of salt lately. The article is a great reference, thanks for that.

I have a fully established cichlid tank that I’ve had for a year now. Here are the specs: 70 gal tank 20 gal sump with bio media Eheim canister filer (2217) 30 gal capacity HOB filter with biowheel Air pump, bubbler, wave maker etc. Tank has always been at 0 Ammonia and Nitrites and <20 ppm...

Thanks. That’s quite scary. So far the only symptom has been the sunken belly. None of the other outward symptoms of fish TB. I hope that’s not it. The last thing I want to be worried about is the 100 times in the last few months I put my hand in the aquarium.

Ok, thank you. I’ll give it a bit more time to make sure there’s nothing lingering. It’s frustrating now knowing one way or the other.

Originally posted this in the cichlid forum, but not much interest there. Hope some of you have some insight into this issue. Here’s my post: I’ve lingered around this and other forums for quite some time now. Thanks for everything y’all do to help other fishkeepers! So I’ve had my first...

Well just NLS cichlid pellets.

Ok thanks. I did a couple of doses of prazi and metro in the water and then food soaked in metro for almost a week. The fish did eat it...my main question is, assuming the fish is cured, how long does it take for the belly to return to normal?