Hi everyone, I'm a new owner of beautiful 1 flowerhorn, 1 jack dempsey, 1firemouth,1 wolffish and 2 plecos in a 36 gallon bow front for the past 2 weeks and I realized after my purchase about cycling. I have done 25% water change applied special blend and night out and stress coat check ph all the time its @7.5 but im very high on ammonia i have 2 filters aquaclear and filter that aqueon 36 gallon came with. I know very soon im going to need a bigger tank 55 maybe but is this normal ammonia spiking and when do i know im doing the right thing i love my fish and there eating good swimming all the time and not get along but can hold ground and i have many hidden spots for them i really need help i would like to keep them as healthy as possible
need advice new cicihlid owner
- Thread starter camelot
- Start date
First off welcome to AC!
To get a little more background on this: how big are the fish that you have?
I wouldn't worry about your pH unless for some strange reason it's fluctuating.
The ammonia levels are high, what level are they at?
1 PPM? Higher?
As far as your stocking goes, the wolf fish is the one that seems most out of place to me.
Hoplias malabaricus will grow to be over 2 feet long and will need a larger tank than a 55 gallon.
Cycling can take a couple of weeks to a month to complete.
I would recommend testing daily and recording the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels.
Once they all spike and drop back down you'll be done with the cycle.
After that it is up to you to maintain the water quality with partial water changes.
I would think 25-30% 2 times a week would be best for your stock list.
Hope this helps.
To get a little more background on this: how big are the fish that you have?
I wouldn't worry about your pH unless for some strange reason it's fluctuating.
The ammonia levels are high, what level are they at?
1 PPM? Higher?
As far as your stocking goes, the wolf fish is the one that seems most out of place to me.
Hoplias malabaricus will grow to be over 2 feet long and will need a larger tank than a 55 gallon.
Cycling can take a couple of weeks to a month to complete.
I would recommend testing daily and recording the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels.
Once they all spike and drop back down you'll be done with the cycle.
After that it is up to you to maintain the water quality with partial water changes.
I would think 25-30% 2 times a week would be best for your stock list.
Hope this helps.
Welcome to AC,
First you need to research the types of fish you have. Every single one of those fish will outgrow a 36 gallon very quickly and there is a good change that the agression you are seeing will get a whole lot worse as they age. In addition you will need to look into "fish-in cycling". There is a sticky at the top of the newbie forum on here that may be able to help. Basically you'll have to do at least 50% daily water changes and maybe even more. It may not sound good, but if I were in your shoes, I'd rehome all of those fish ASAP and start fresh with a cycle and research.
HTH
First you need to research the types of fish you have. Every single one of those fish will outgrow a 36 gallon very quickly and there is a good change that the agression you are seeing will get a whole lot worse as they age. In addition you will need to look into "fish-in cycling". There is a sticky at the top of the newbie forum on here that may be able to help. Basically you'll have to do at least 50% daily water changes and maybe even more. It may not sound good, but if I were in your shoes, I'd rehome all of those fish ASAP and start fresh with a cycle and research.
HTH
thank you guys i know it a crucial for them i was ill prepared but im determined to give it my best and i must have used my computer more times for them then i do for myself i work with patients all day (not a doctor just their assistant) but i feel awful wishing i knew before, ammonia is still high, im going to do a 50% change and hope they could survive im kinda fond of them i really love to keep them for some time my next step is to get a 55 gallon and another sooner after if
they pull through
they pull through
Personally I would rehome the wolf fish, it will likely be your biggest and meanest fish and you will need an aquarium 75+ to keep it and even then probably by itself... just too much work for a beginning fish enthusiast.
Last night did a 75% water change and ammonia had gone down to it looks like 1 ppm. Fish looks alright , I wont feed this morning. Should i continue today to do water change tonight , would it help if i bought lots of live plants and stones like limestone. I believe you guys saved them ,still in critical care but really helped they look better.
You have to do these water changes everyday and check your parameters everday. ANY ammonia or nitrite is deadly to your fish. The water changes help keep it down. Plants and rocks will not help because what you need are the beneficial bacteria that beakdown ammonia. Please read the sticky in the newbie section about cycling your tank.
water changes, water changes, water changes until you can get the cycle established.
that said , do you know any trusted fish keepers locally? if you do you can ask them for some media from their tanks.. this will have bacteria to jump start your cycle. either that or you can use Dr. Tims one and only..this will also jump start your cycle.
that said , do you know any trusted fish keepers locally? if you do you can ask them for some media from their tanks.. this will have bacteria to jump start your cycle. either that or you can use Dr. Tims one and only..this will also jump start your cycle.
I would try to get a 75-90 gallon if at all possible. Jack Dempsey's get larger and meaner than most people realize. Mine is close to 10" and it completely owns my entire 60 gallon aquarium.