Cichlid and others? Flirting with disaster?

[tnlooking]

I just got my first aquarium (55 gal. had it about 4 weeks now). So I wanted a lot of different color fish and the fish I have seem to be doing just fine so far. That’s my concern… the fish I do have?
4 Acei Cichlid (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1829), 1 Starry Night Pleco (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1006), 2 Blue Johanni Cichlid (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=891), 3 Tiger Barb (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=993), 2 Electric Yellow Cichlid (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=839), and 2 Gourami (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=981).
Am I flirting with DISASTER? :confused:
The only problem I’ve had so far is just with the water. I can’t seem to get it as clear as I would like to have it. It stays slightly milky. I’ve tried every thing and went as far as doing a complete overhaul. I’m starting to think it might be the WHITE rocks with the blue background. It looks like the rocks are reflecting light back up into the water?


Any input will be appreciated :*)

Oh… one more thing… I read on someone else’s posting about their Cichlid’s rubbing their bodies on the rocks. Mine have been doing that since I’ve had them. I just thought it was something they did. Is it?

[zazz]

I don't have any input about your fish mix, but I think that the cloudiness might be due to the newness of the tank.
I have never personally experienced this, but read that it is a common thing. (a bacterial or algeal bloom, I forget.)
More importantly, I don't think that your tank has cycled.
Know anything about the nitrogen cycle?
In a new tank with fish, you are going to be having dangerously high levels of amonnia and nitrites until certain things occur that will level this off.
What you need to do is
1) Understand what's going on
2) get and use tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
3) change a lot of water to keep the fish safe.
Number one is probably the hardest part. Read the sticky on cycling in the newbie forum. and any other information you can find about 'cycling with fish'
or 'fishy cycling'
If you already knew this, well ten just disregard this message :)

[tnlooking]

I don't have any input about your fish mix, but I think that the cloudiness might be due to the newness of the tank.

Your probably right! I'm very new to the whole fish tank world. 45 and this is my first tank.

I have never personally experienced this, but read that it is a common thing. (a bacterial or algeal bloom, I forget.)
More importantly, I don't think that your tank has cycled.
Know anything about the nitrogen cycle?

No... glad you replied to my posting but since you said something about nitrogen cycle I'll do some research. :read:

In a new tank with fish, you are going to be having dangerously high levels of amonnia and nitrites until certain things occur that will level this off.
What you need to do is
1) Understand what's going on
2) get and use tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
3) change a lot of water to keep the fish safe.
Number one is probably the hardest part. Read the sticky on cycling in the newbie forum. and any other information you can find about 'cycling with fish'
or 'fishy cycling'
If you already knew this, well ten just disregard this message :)

Thanks again for your reply and if you might want to keep up with my progress I'll keep you posted
(just in case you would like to know how things goes?)

I'm also new to this site and it's taking me some time to figure out how to post pictures. Would it be to much to ask for some help with this as well?

[bigstorm]

I would get the Gouramis out ASAP, they are community fish and very peaceful, which is the opposite of most of you cichlids.

Just my input.

[Puffernewbee]

tnlloking,

You have way to many fish for the tank you have. The fish you have may be small juveniles at this time but the Electric Yellows are going to be 8" apiece when they mature. The Johanni's 5 inces and the Acei 4-6 inches. Tiger Barbs will probably be lunch some day for the cichlids. I have seen Gouramis live with cichlids but there were 4 of them and only one cichlid.

Do what ZAZZ says about looking into the Cycle process. When I get home I can post some sites I used to get cycling information when I started in this hobby.

You may want to see if you can return alot of these fish until later, because you are going to be doing lots and lots of water changes to keep the water safe for the fish.

Good Luck

[tnlooking]

Thanks for your reply and everone else.... I'll be getting another tank for srue now.. maybe even 2 more!
Oh gessssss what have I done? :eek:

[zazz]

Yes i definitely do want to know how it goes. Thanks
Great that you can get more tanks! I strongly suggest you cycle them with the fishless method before you add fish. I think its a good idea to return some fish if you can too... kind of back up a bit.
No, they shouldnt be rubbing on rocks. Get the water 'cleaned up' ammonia wise, and see if that doesnt help.
I don't know about posting pics. If you look around in the stickies, i think there is a how to sort of thread somewhere that may cover it. You can also make a new thread to ask the picture question.
feel free to ask more questions about cycling, start testing your water, and keep on changing lots of water *s.

[Puffernewbee]

I was looking at the web sites I used for cycling info and they are all for a fishless cycle. Since you seem to be stuck with a Fishy cycle here is a site with some info for you.
Fishy Cycle (http://honors.montana.edu/~weif/firsttank/cycle.phtml)

You may want to go to the LFS you bought your fish from and see if they will give you (or sell you) some seed gravel. It is the least they can do for you since they are the ones that got you in this situation. Seed gravel is just gravel from their established tanks. This helps speed up the cycling process.

Another option is to buy some BIO-SPIRA. It is not the cheapest stuff but it is the only cycle in a package that works. I have used it myself and I give it glowing reviews. You will not find it at Petco or Petsmart. You will probably need to get it a smaller LFS. If it is not refrigerated do not buy it. It is recommended you bring a cooler with you just to make sure it stays chilled. The package is no bigget than a mans wallet so you do not need the 100 quart Igloo.

I would highly recommend you do one or both of the options above ASAP because your fish are probably not very happy at this time and these should help.

[sky.eyes.woman]

I'm going to second the recommendation for Bio-Spira. It's going to save you a lot of work and headaches at this point.

I don't think anyone else mentioned this in previous posts, if you have a pleco in a new tank there isn't any algae for him to eat so he will need algae wafers ASAP since you probably don't want him to starve. If it's late where you are and the stores are closed you can drop in some romaine lettuce or zucchini for him and he'll be fine. the cichlids will go after that too, so drop in enough for everyone but be careful not to overfeed.