--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok I filled my tank with water added buffer, lake salt and Kent cichlid essential started filters (1 ? do I need carbon in filter heard its just to keep smell down) temp. 80 F put in some cichlids (fronts,peacocks,calvus,lamptosas) one week I check all levels with mardel 5 in 1 test strip (nitrate,nitrite,hardness,alkalinity and ph)the is results are nitrite between 5 and 10 hardness 250 alkalinity 160 ph around 8.2 and nitrate is 30(nitrate went up alittle since tuesday I never cycled the water I am new to cichlids and did not research well enough so went to lfs and they sold me live bacteria I put that in sunday can you explain cycle and what should I do know(water change, leave alone ) I really don't know, fish are all babies and don't want them to die they are in a 120 gallon tank thanks for the help
Ok I filled my tank with water added buffer, lake salt and Kent cichlid essential started filters (1 ? do I need carbon in filter heard its just to keep smell down) temp. 80 F put in some cichlids (fronts,peacocks,calvus,lamptosas) one week I check all levels with mardel 5 in 1 test strip (nitrate,nitrite,hardness,alkalinity and ph)the is results are nitrite between 5 and 10 hardness 250 alkalinity 160 ph around 8.2 and nitrate is 30(nitrate went up alittle since tuesday I never cycled the water I am new to cichlids and did not research well enough so went to lfs and they sold me live bacteria I put that in sunday can you explain cycle and what should I do know(water change, leave alone ) I really don't know, fish are all babies and don't want them to die they are in a 120 gallon tank thanks for the help
