Help! New tank

BTW how big is the other hap? Looks like a protomelas type (maybe protomelas taeniolatus, the red empress).

The big spotted one is an n. venustus (giraffe cichlid), the yellow ones are yellow labs (l. caeruleus), the red ones are jewel cichlids and the barred ones could be zebra obliquidens, but the pic is not too good to say for sure.
 
Thanks for the help it’s much appreciated. I just went out and bought a water testing kit the following are the parameters:

Ammonia – 0.10
Nitrite – 0
Nitrate – 30
Ph 7.5

They seem to be getting along fine. The Yellow Labs chase each other around the tank the Jewels stay together and the rest seem fine.

After reading about cichlids and there care and from your replies I need a much more rocky/caved environment.. I planning on doing that ASAP but I’ve only had this tank for about a day now. Cant really return the bigger ones as my friend has already left. I believe I can donate them to Big Al’s or Pet land.

Should I be doing daily water changes? Or weekly for now? Will that help get the Nitrate levels down?
 
i dont know what the first fish with the blue head and the striped ones are need a better photo aye, but the yellow ones are definite yellow labs african cichlid and the red one is a west african jewel cichlid , the one with a blue face and has the yellow pattern on it is a venustus it looks as all the fish are full grown and there fins look good and there general body condition looks good so tells me that there getting along i wouldnt do anything unless you want to aye in which case i would get rid of the red jewel and place more rocks and hiding spots, the striped ones look like they may be lake victorians also african, honest i say all are african but from different lakes aye
 
gravel vacuum water changes, your nitrates and ammonia are definite too high i would be more concerned with the ammonia back off to just once a day small feeding and do daily 30 to 40 percent water changes this will help reduce the ammonia and nitrates as well keep an eye on the ammonia aye..
 
I wouldn't say your nitrate is too high...40 ppm is generally regarded as the "max" nitrate level acceptable in the aquarium. Over that different fish will respond differently but anywhere below 40 is a safe level. However, most people shoot for under 20 ppm.

The ammonia on the other hand is too high and should be at 0 ppm at all times. Keep changing the water as soon as ammonia (or nitrite) is readable.

Once the parameters stay stable weekly water changes (~30%) are needed.
 
Well I did a 30% Water change today while using the gravel vac for the first time ever (Quite the experience). Water naturally seemed less cloudy and the fish seemed happier, (much more active) I re did the tests and got these results

Ammonia – 0.05
Nitrite – 0
Nitrate – 25
Ph 7.5

I'm using ammo-carb as one of the filter medias, Is it time for a change? because I have no idea how long it's been there.

Thanks,

Dhillon

 
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yeah if you dont know how long its been with the media i would change it out with new just to be on the safe side keep up those water changes and good job on the testing most folks do not do it enough..
 
Thanks, Even though I've only had these fish for about 2 days I wouldn't want them to die and testing only takes about 10mins. I'm sort of confused.. When people 1st set up there tank and go through the cycling process is the new bacteria established on the gravel? or in the filter? In my case on the ammo-carb? So if I change out the ammo-carb i'm not going to end up cycling my tank again am I?

and I think i'm sorting to like this hobby.. even though I was just thrown into it
 
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