Hello everyone,
I really need a lot of advice, and I know this is the right place, and hopefully you nice people can help!
I have a 10 gallon tank which is now too small for my cichlids I think. I also think I don't have the right stuff in there as in plants and decorations. When I first bought my tank and set it up, I had a few fish die, because I knew nothing about cycling a tank, and absolutely nothing about fish. I bought the tank because my daughter won a fish at a fair, then it died the day after and we went ahead and got a tank with cichlids and other fish who died.
This is what I have in there now, which have managed to survive for about 10 months:
1 Male Kenyi (dominates the tank extremely aggressive )
1 Convict (tries to hide in plants and run away from Kenyi used to put up a fight., not much anymore )
1 Jewel (less active most time spent in a corner )
1 Yellow Lab (active enough, but always running away from Kenyi and hiding in his favorite spot, the castle)
had a little catfish but just died a few days ago (amazingly enough the Kenyi didn't bother him much)
I have a real problem getting the tank to stay at a good temperature also, please advice on a good water heater. The heater I have is not easy to set temperature and it's either too cold or too hot in there.
If I don't have the heater on the temperature stays at about 72f, and with the heater it goes up to almost 90f!
I also have always had a problem with Nitrates being too high. Even with weekly water changes. I just bought a AquaClear 10-30ga with all the 3 inserts. I know this probably started a cycle. :?
I want to get a bigger tank this weekend, I also want to get all the best stuff that I can get for them (and afford)
Please let me know what gravel to get, heater, rocks and plants. Right now I have all plastic plants, but I really dont like them and I have the gravel they sell at petco. I really want to make the bigger tank a nice place for them, and maybe be able to get 1 or two more fish in there if possible in the future, doesn't have to be now.
I love my fish and want them to be happy, and right now it doesn't seem like any of them are happy. The Kenyi is very mean to all of them! even the Convict doesn't put up a fight anymore. The Jewel always seems sad, and the yellow lab is really pretty and seems more content than all of them, but I still think he could be much better.
I love the Kenyi and really don't want to have to give away any of them. I just think that he is upset at his living environment. Lately he has been picking up gravel and trowing it at the glass! my tank really seems too small for them and the plants.
I really appreciate any advice you have to give,and I realize this is going to take some work, but I am ready for it!
Thanks
Luisa
DATE ON THE PICTURES IS WRONG, THE CORRECT DATE FOR THEM IS TODAY! MY CAMERA IS SILLY
I really need a lot of advice, and I know this is the right place, and hopefully you nice people can help!
I have a 10 gallon tank which is now too small for my cichlids I think. I also think I don't have the right stuff in there as in plants and decorations. When I first bought my tank and set it up, I had a few fish die, because I knew nothing about cycling a tank, and absolutely nothing about fish. I bought the tank because my daughter won a fish at a fair, then it died the day after and we went ahead and got a tank with cichlids and other fish who died.
This is what I have in there now, which have managed to survive for about 10 months:
1 Male Kenyi (dominates the tank extremely aggressive )
1 Convict (tries to hide in plants and run away from Kenyi used to put up a fight., not much anymore )
1 Jewel (less active most time spent in a corner )
1 Yellow Lab (active enough, but always running away from Kenyi and hiding in his favorite spot, the castle)
had a little catfish but just died a few days ago (amazingly enough the Kenyi didn't bother him much)
I have a real problem getting the tank to stay at a good temperature also, please advice on a good water heater. The heater I have is not easy to set temperature and it's either too cold or too hot in there.
If I don't have the heater on the temperature stays at about 72f, and with the heater it goes up to almost 90f!
I also have always had a problem with Nitrates being too high. Even with weekly water changes. I just bought a AquaClear 10-30ga with all the 3 inserts. I know this probably started a cycle. :?
I want to get a bigger tank this weekend, I also want to get all the best stuff that I can get for them (and afford)
Please let me know what gravel to get, heater, rocks and plants. Right now I have all plastic plants, but I really dont like them and I have the gravel they sell at petco. I really want to make the bigger tank a nice place for them, and maybe be able to get 1 or two more fish in there if possible in the future, doesn't have to be now.
I love my fish and want them to be happy, and right now it doesn't seem like any of them are happy. The Kenyi is very mean to all of them! even the Convict doesn't put up a fight anymore. The Jewel always seems sad, and the yellow lab is really pretty and seems more content than all of them, but I still think he could be much better.
I love the Kenyi and really don't want to have to give away any of them. I just think that he is upset at his living environment. Lately he has been picking up gravel and trowing it at the glass! my tank really seems too small for them and the plants.
I really appreciate any advice you have to give,and I realize this is going to take some work, but I am ready for it!
Thanks
Luisa
DATE ON THE PICTURES IS WRONG, THE CORRECT DATE FOR THEM IS TODAY! MY CAMERA IS SILLY