50 gal tank setup

[thisguy87]

i recently bought a 50 gal tank because i bought too many fish ( pacu, oscar 2 columbian shark cat, and a pleco)to put in a 10 gal (im new at this) and the nitrite and nitrate would stay at high levels even after 2 water changes a week. The 50 gal was setup with 5 gouramis when i bought it, broke it down and transfered it to my house. cleaned out alot of the nasty stuff from the gravel and cleaned alot of algae of of the decor, i also cleaned the gunk in the filter ( its a large hang on) but left the bio filter and filter cartriadge alone .

does my tank have to cycle again, because i cleaned the filter box and stirred up the gravel and sucked out the nasty stuff.
also,
should i get another filter/different type of filter since i have 10 fish and a crayfish

 

[itzacraze]

it sounds like a combo of things ..... a heavy fish load how much are you feeding them? cut it dont too once a day replace the charcoal media in the filter and think about adding a second source of filtration at least another hang on or a medium sized canistor and do 25 percent water changes twice a week untill things level out,,, untill then add some supplement bacteria and think about dropping a few specimens the pacu and oscar will outgrow your fifty fairly quikly i would ressomend you getting a aquaclear 110 its fairly cheap compared to a canistor and even other hang ons and alows you to stack your own blend of filtration wich is what a can does basically... go get a nitrite/nitrate removing bag and throw it just below the bio max bags.... u should have a decent playing feild after you do this.... just think bigger for the oscar and pacu next year!

 

[ziggy2]

Yes. your tank will have to cycle again. And I would add another filter.