Questions about chemicals in cichlid tank??

[Slappy*McFish]

Yeah...she's a lean, mean typing machine aint she.

 

[ChevGirl]

They are small, but we've had them since April or May maybe. Our largest is maybe 2 inches or 2.5, might be smaller, but I think it is 2 inches for the largest.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Yeah...she's a lean, mean typing machine aint she.

Haha theres nothing like pretending to do my research paper!


2 inches is still juvinile for these fish, as they get to be 3 or 4 inches and up. Although, they should be larger by now if they were purchased in May or June, if they were normal juvie size when purchased (1 inch). Its most likely due to the tank size, but diet and frequency of water changes also plays a big part in the development of fish.

I dont know what to say, i can make reccomendations based on my experience and that of close friends until the cows come home, but its up to your to provide the best environment for your fish. I know your intentions are good, but its time you took the warnings seriously or else you'll be loosing some fish.


-Diana

Edit: and i know we all want to try new things and do things the way we want... its human nature... but IMO its irresponsible when the lives of living animals are at stake.

 

[mooman]

Well said LMK. I will just echo the thought that those fish should be larger by now, and the probable reason they're not is an inadequate water change schedule.

Chev, you gotta choose between the kenyi and auratus or the zebras and labs. If you don't, you'll end up with a bunch of dead/terrified/beat up Labidachromis.

 

[apeco69]

what type of cichlids do you have

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

what type of cichlids do you have

*blinks*

BTW my cichlids are :
An Auratus
A Red Zebra
3 others that we are not sure of, but we think one might be a Albino Kenyi and we will be adding a Yellow Lab and another Kenyi.

:coffee:

 

[PumaWard]

If you need to remove heavy metals from your well water, you should probably have it checked .

 

[ChevGirl]

I don't need to remove anything from my well water, it is OK the way it is. We always do condition it tho, just in case. But whenever we check the PH, it is always at 8.0. So in my research I've done with these cichlids I have, that is a good PH level.

 

[Owens187]

i kept african cichlids for years before moving on to marine.....all i ever used is "Malawi Victoria Buffer" <---raises and maintains ph, and "Cichlid Lake Salt"<---adds all needed salts and trace elements, replicating the natural cichlid environment. both of these are by Seachem. i never had any over aggression problems in my 55 gallon and kept many diffrent kinds overstocked. i overstocked which seems to confuse them from singling out one fish. i was very successful at breeding also. to help maintain ph i used argonite sand, and a couple shells/ dead coral peices to buffer the water. just my 2 cents