hi everyone i did a 50 percent water change last nite and i just got home from work 24hrs later and water is starting to cloud up again i have 5 discus a sting ray abd 2 silver dollars i use a aqua clear 500 as my filter should i add another one or is it something else my tank has been set up and ruinning 4 about 6 weeks it should have cycled by now shouldnt it if u have any ideas let me know
do i need more filteration
- Thread starter cjdad
- Start date
I would first get a test kit, you need to know what your water parameters are. If ammonia and nitrites are at zero and you see an increase in nitrates between water changes, then yes your tank is cycled. If ammonia or nitrites present, then tank most likely not cycled.
A test kit is a must, especially with such sensitive fish. Next, what color is the cloud? Are there live plants? Finally, how many gallons is the tank?
You need to keep up with the 50% water changes and look into getting a canister such as an Eheim or Fluval. The rays and discus are both sensitive and need perfect water.
That AC110 fitler is more than enough fitler for your set up. Your problem is the tank has not been cycled and the fish you have are not very tolerant of ammonia. If it were me I would go buy some "ammo lock" made buy Aquarium pharmaceuticals treat the tank and then within an hour do a 50% water change. I would do this daily untill ammonia is no longer present. This will be a hassle but the fish will benefit from it.
As far as your filter goes set up the Ac110 (or 500 they changed the name.) with the foam insert, the biomax ceramic rings and an Amrid insert. Use the Amrid until the ammonia is no longer present then replace with more Bio Max. Along with weekly 50% water changes your discus will do very well.
Also reduce the amount of food yout feeding for now and if you have gravel make sure your vacuuming during every water change. There is a product called bio spira your can also add to help speed up the cycling process. Just keep at it, in a week you should be Ok maybe two weeks at the most.
Keep us posted.
As far as your filter goes set up the Ac110 (or 500 they changed the name.) with the foam insert, the biomax ceramic rings and an Amrid insert. Use the Amrid until the ammonia is no longer present then replace with more Bio Max. Along with weekly 50% water changes your discus will do very well.
Also reduce the amount of food yout feeding for now and if you have gravel make sure your vacuuming during every water change. There is a product called bio spira your can also add to help speed up the cycling process. Just keep at it, in a week you should be Ok maybe two weeks at the most.
Keep us posted.
Don't use the Amrid Zeolite, this will delay your cycle and it is bad for the tank. Zeolite can leach ammonia back into the tank after it has been absorbed. With discus and a ray in a 75, you need more than one AC110.
I would worry alot more about the current health of your fish right now, than how quickly you can get your tank to cycle. You've made a mistake and added too many fish to a tank that is not ready. Yes the zeolite will leach ammonia back into the water eventually as for delaying the cycle, I would debate this. But what it will do right now is remove excess ammonia from your tank. As I said in previuos post once the ammonia problem is under control remove the Amrid and put in more bio max.
It is not going to be easy there is no magic cure. You've spent alot of money one these fish and thier health at the present time should be your main concern. Do as recomended in post #8 and you will get through this.
As for the filter, I am currently running a Emporer 400 on a 75 gallon tank which I do a 40-50% water change weekly. It is stocked with a 13" silver aro, 6" gourami, 2x 5" rapheal cats, and 20 to 30 1/2" convict fry. This bioload is more than what you currently have. My water params BEFORE the water change are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and nitrates of 20ppm.
Ideal water conditions. Your Ac110 is comparable to the Emp400 if not better. I would not worry about another filter at this time.
Of course I am assuming that your discus and ray are still small, eventually you'll need to move the ray, but the Discus will be fine in that tank.
It is not going to be easy there is no magic cure. You've spent alot of money one these fish and thier health at the present time should be your main concern. Do as recomended in post #8 and you will get through this.
As for the filter, I am currently running a Emporer 400 on a 75 gallon tank which I do a 40-50% water change weekly. It is stocked with a 13" silver aro, 6" gourami, 2x 5" rapheal cats, and 20 to 30 1/2" convict fry. This bioload is more than what you currently have. My water params BEFORE the water change are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and nitrates of 20ppm.
Ideal water conditions. Your Ac110 is comparable to the Emp400 if not better. I would not worry about another filter at this time.
Of course I am assuming that your discus and ray are still small, eventually you'll need to move the ray, but the Discus will be fine in that tank.