Is there a growth problem?

[silverdollar101]

Hi my name is ashton, im 14 and my question is i have two bala sharks and some silver dollar fish in a fifty five gallon aquarium, ive had them for a while the bala's are about 3-4 inches and tghe silverdollar are about3 inches i was wondering why has there growth slowed or almost stopped or what would it take to help them continue growing. All your help will be appreaciated.

 

[Devilishturtles]

High nitrate levels will contribute to a slower growth. Have you tested for them lately? How often are you changing your water?

Welcome to AA

 

[silverdollar101]

Well my nitrate levels are fine and how often should you really do a water change?

 

[black hills tj]

What exactly are your nitrate levels?

What do you feed them?

I do a 50% PWC on all 3 of my tanks 1 time a week.

 

[silverdollar101]

The nitrate levels are betwwen 40 and 80 on the test strip, what should i do with that?

 

[patryuji]

Nitrate levels are on the high side.

Start doing at least a 25% water change every week or you could do a slightly bigger change every other week. (but a smaller change more often is better for the fish as the changes in pollutants in the water will be less drastic and not reach as high of a level).

 

[theotheragentm]

Your nitrate levels should be under 40 PPM. I try to keep mine at 20 PPM or lower.

 

[silverdollar101]

Thank you for all your help

 

[black hills tj]

What about their diet? What exactly do you feed them?

 

[silverdollar101]

i feed them tropical flakes two times a day with some shrimp pellets ocasionally and algea wafers once a day.

 

[black hills tj]

Feeding sounds fine as far as I know. That's exactly what I feed my 29g tank actually.