shawmutt
Aquarium Advice Addict
Well, I haven't posted anything in a while because I'm happy to report I haven't had any major problems with my tanks (yes, I'm knocking fervently on wood 
). I just moved my 10-gallon into my living room so I'll pay more attention to it, it got eclipsed by my 30 gallon rift tank and I feel bad. ...it's a lot easier to move a 10-gallon then a 30-gallon.
Anyway, I've noticed my cichlid tank has been creeping up in nitrates-- they are at 60 ppm now--and the subsequent algae build up is starting to become a nuisance. I change 20% of my water with reconstituted ro water once a week--and there's no nitrates in there. I came home today and siphoned all the crap and excess food off the sand which emptied about a gallon of water, and refilled the tank. It took about 5 minutes of my time. I have no bottom feeders in my tank, just 6 cichlids. Unfortunately bottom feeders are not an option, as most get too big for my tank and I can't find the ones that stay small.
My questions are:
Which would be the better method to get and keep my nitrates under control--siphon the sand every few days like today, do a mid-week water change, or change larger amounts of water once a week?
Are there other options for a cleaning crew that the cichlids won't eat (they are Lake Malawi mbuna, 3 yellow labs and 3 blue Kenyi)?
How much would adding plants help?
). I just moved my 10-gallon into my living room so I'll pay more attention to it, it got eclipsed by my 30 gallon rift tank and I feel bad. ...it's a lot easier to move a 10-gallon then a 30-gallon. Anyway, I've noticed my cichlid tank has been creeping up in nitrates-- they are at 60 ppm now--and the subsequent algae build up is starting to become a nuisance. I change 20% of my water with reconstituted ro water once a week--and there's no nitrates in there. I came home today and siphoned all the crap and excess food off the sand which emptied about a gallon of water, and refilled the tank. It took about 5 minutes of my time. I have no bottom feeders in my tank, just 6 cichlids. Unfortunately bottom feeders are not an option, as most get too big for my tank and I can't find the ones that stay small.
My questions are:
Which would be the better method to get and keep my nitrates under control--siphon the sand every few days like today, do a mid-week water change, or change larger amounts of water once a week? Are there other options for a cleaning crew that the cichlids won't eat (they are Lake Malawi mbuna, 3 yellow labs and 3 blue Kenyi)? How much would adding plants help?
