:help:
Hello all. I'm a retiree getting back into the Aquarium hobby. 20 + years ago I started off with a 35 gal. community tank which eventually turned into a chiclid only tank which evolved into one large Jack Dempsey about 6" long. He used to jump out of the water to get the bologna I held up for him. More than once he drew blood because I held the meat to short. He really became a pet to my family. Had him for about 3 years before he died.
Anyway, now my son-in-law got me interested in brackish water African Chiclids. I just started my tank a week ago and need some help getting my water clear. I have a 65 gallon tank with a pennplax Cascade canister filter Model 1000. Water temp is constant at 78F. Currently stocked with 9 chiclids, largest is about 1 1/2 inches long. Haven't lost any fish yet. Today's readings were Ph 7.4, ammonia .50, nitrite 0.0, nitrate 10.0. Salinity measured with hydrometer = 1.002. Water is slightly cloudy, not crystal clear which I expected with this filter.
I sent an e-mail to filter manufacturer because their instructions covered 2 models (700 & 1000). The 700 only has 2 filter baskets but the 1000 has 3 and the instructions only covered what to put into the bottom basket which was a bag of carbon pellets that came with the filter. In the middle basket I left the white sponge that was there and in the top basket I put some white hollow "beads" that the store sold me. They told me it was to start the biology in the tank.
The only chemicals I've put into the tank so far are these:
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals "Stress Coat" to eliminate Chlorine from the water.
Nitromax Marine to introduce Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter, and "Instant Ocean" Sea Salt to bring salinity up to 1.002.
I ran the filter and air bubbles for 48 hours before introducing fish. Then introduced 4 fish and 48 hours later 5 more. 2 days ago I tried Top Fin Water Clarifier to no avail. Finally, there are no live plants in the tank.
Sorry for this long intro and don't know if I'm in the right spot to post this. I'm thankful for any help I can get.
Hello all. I'm a retiree getting back into the Aquarium hobby. 20 + years ago I started off with a 35 gal. community tank which eventually turned into a chiclid only tank which evolved into one large Jack Dempsey about 6" long. He used to jump out of the water to get the bologna I held up for him. More than once he drew blood because I held the meat to short. He really became a pet to my family. Had him for about 3 years before he died.
Anyway, now my son-in-law got me interested in brackish water African Chiclids. I just started my tank a week ago and need some help getting my water clear. I have a 65 gallon tank with a pennplax Cascade canister filter Model 1000. Water temp is constant at 78F. Currently stocked with 9 chiclids, largest is about 1 1/2 inches long. Haven't lost any fish yet. Today's readings were Ph 7.4, ammonia .50, nitrite 0.0, nitrate 10.0. Salinity measured with hydrometer = 1.002. Water is slightly cloudy, not crystal clear which I expected with this filter.
I sent an e-mail to filter manufacturer because their instructions covered 2 models (700 & 1000). The 700 only has 2 filter baskets but the 1000 has 3 and the instructions only covered what to put into the bottom basket which was a bag of carbon pellets that came with the filter. In the middle basket I left the white sponge that was there and in the top basket I put some white hollow "beads" that the store sold me. They told me it was to start the biology in the tank.
The only chemicals I've put into the tank so far are these:
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals "Stress Coat" to eliminate Chlorine from the water.
Nitromax Marine to introduce Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter, and "Instant Ocean" Sea Salt to bring salinity up to 1.002.
I ran the filter and air bubbles for 48 hours before introducing fish. Then introduced 4 fish and 48 hours later 5 more. 2 days ago I tried Top Fin Water Clarifier to no avail. Finally, there are no live plants in the tank.
Sorry for this long intro and don't know if I'm in the right spot to post this. I'm thankful for any help I can get.
