Filter size-tank size help

[Chockful O Phail]

The cycle is fish waste/ammonia a beneficial bacteria eats that and converts it to nitrites. A second beneficial bacteria eats that and turns it into nitrate. We do water changes to dilute/remove nitrates and organics that’ll decay into more ammonia. Any significant disruption to either of these bacteria like say if you rinse out your media in chlorinated water instead of tank water can cause the cycle to break and the cloudiness was explained in the previous post. Green tint is an algae bloom that is usually a result of too much nitrates + light.

There really isn’t an eye test, but if the tank is cycled and you’re keeping up on proper maintenance then test kits are only needed to get your maintenance scheme on track to keep nitrates at a ~safe level. Cloudy/green water are signs that something isn’t right, w/o test kits to know exactly what, alls you can do are more water changes. As duanes has said in many posts “the solution is always more water changes”

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Double post sorry

 

[Randy West]

The cycle is fish waste/ammonia a beneficial bacteria eats that and converts it to nitrites. A second beneficial bacteria eats that and turns it into nitrate. We do water changes to dilute/remove nitrates and organics that’ll decay into more ammonia. Any significant disruption to either of these bacteria like say if you rinse out your media in chlorinated water instead of tank water can cause the cycle to break and the cloudiness was explained in the previous post. Green tint is an algae bloom that is usually a result of too much nitrates + light.

There really isn’t an eye test, but if the tank is cycled and you’re keeping up on proper maintenance then test kits are only needed to get your maintenance scheme on track to keep nitrates at a ~safe level. Cloudy/green water are signs that something isn’t right, w/o test kits to know exactly what, alls you can do are more water changes. As duanes has said in many posts “the solution is always more water changes”

Thank you. More water changes it is. I looked at a python pump that was previously recommended to make fin level water changes faster. In truth after vetting the costs of many suggestions i could buy a 55G kit with all the appropriate equipment for $40 more. Maybe less after petcos grand opening discount. IDK if i should continue with the 29 as is and use it to "learn the ropes" or if the age of the tank and its equipment could be a factor to my problems.

 

[duanes]

Although cloudy water can indicate poor conditions, absolutely clear water is "not" necessarily an indication of good conditions.
Fish urine, ammonia, and nitrite are all invisible.
How many times have you seen pics of tropical rivers, or the Mississippi where they are brown, with poor visibility, but team with healthy fish.
I have also seen bodies of crystal clear water, that are lifeless.
Many of the South American fish which require very bacteria free water, live in areas where tannins tint the water the color of tea, the tannins are anti-bacterial and without them, many of these fish suffer from HLLE and other maladies.
If you are new to the hobby, get familiar with water chemistry tests, and check out the water parameters often listed on your water bill.
This info will tell you water fish will thrive in your tanks, and may explain why some don't.

 

[Randy West]

Although cloudy water can indicate poor conditions, absolutely clear water is "not" necessarily an indication of good conditions.
Fish urine, ammonia, and nitrite are all invisible.
How many times have you seen pics of tropical rivers, or the Mississippi where they are brown, with poor visibility, but team with healthy fish.
I have also seen bodies of crystal clear water, that are lifeless.
Many of the South American fish which require very bacteria free water, live in areas where tannins tint the water the color of tea, the tannins are anti-bacterial and without them, many of these fish suffer from HLLE and other maladies.
If you are new to the hobby, get familiar with water chemistry tests, and check out the water parameters often listed on your water bill.
This info will tell you water fish will thrive in your tanks, and may explain why some don't.

Thank you. In the last 2 minutes i found out my friend works at a pool place that tests water for free. Hes going to bring me a kit from work and give me the rundown. I love science so im excited. Hell i was excited putting vinegar on the brick i use to weigh down my crabitat for a rudimentary acid test.

 

[Chockful O Phail]

I vote learn with your 29 gallon, maybe upgrade your filtration as has been previously posted(the all in one 55 or whatever size the filters suck). The fish you have are ok in the 29 and later down the road when you’ve read a bit and have found some species you’d like, then you can figure out what tank you’d like to upgrade to that is suitable for the fish you want to keep instead of buying fish and then finding out they get to big. It’s always cheaper to upgrade to the proper size once instead of trying to keep up with fish a little at a time.

 

[Randy West]

I vote learn with your 29 gallon, maybe upgrade your filtration as has been previously posted(the all in one 55 or whatever size the filters suck). The fish you have are ok in the 29 and later down the road when you’ve read a bit and have found some species you’d like, then you can figure out what tank you’d like to upgrade to that is suitable for the fish you want to keep instead of buying fish and then finding out they get to big. It’s always cheaper to upgrade to the proper size once instead of trying to keep up with fish a little at a time.

My dad did that. He bought a cichlid that grew the size of a small plate, for some reason i think it was called a wolf cichlid. It broadsided and ate every fish he put in the tank. Ive been looking on amazon etc for the best deals on a ac70, python pump, bulk conditioner, a couple books and a few smaller things that were recommended.

 

[duanes]

A wolf cichlid (Parachromis dovii) shouldn't have anything less than a 500 gallon tank, in my opinion. There was an article in one of the last journal of the American Cichlid Assn that suggest a 1000 gal tank was too small for a pair.
The rule I try to follow (with cichlids), is 10 gallons of tank water per inch size, as an adult.
This does not mean numbers of fish. A 10 inch pair in a 100 gallon tank works for me.
But I usually also include inch of height and width, in addition to the inches of length in the equation..
To me (for example) a pair of full grown (8") Rocio( Jack Dempseys) shouldn't be in anything smaller than a 6 ft 100 gallon tank.
In nature a single spawning pair of JDs, will guard an area of about 4ft by 4ft by 4ft. @ 250 + gallons.
In the video I took in a Cenote in Mexico a small pair of JDs chase off any other cichlid in a 4 ft square area at the 1 minute 10 second mark of the video below.
Notice the water clarity is not great, and algae is everywhere, and yet, it is a very healthy ecosystem,.
Cristalino

 

[Randy West]

A wolf cichlid (Parachromis dovii) shouldn't have anything less than a 500 gallon tank, in my opinion. There was an article in one of the last journal of the American Cichlid Assn that suggest a 1000 gal tank was too small for a pair.
The rule I try to follow (with cichlids), is 10 gallons of tank water per inch size, as an adult.
This does not mean numbers of fish. A 10 inch pair in a 100 gallon tank works for me.
But I usually also include inch of height and width, in addition to the inches of length in the equation..
To me (for example) a pair of full grown (8") Rocio( Jack Dempseys) shouldn't be in anything smaller than a 6 ft 100 gallon tank.
In nature a single spawning pair of JDs, will guard an area of about 4ft by 4ft by 4ft. @ 250 + gallons.
In the video I took in a Cenote in Mexico a small pair of JDs chase off any other cichlid in a 4 ft square area at the 1 minute 10 second mark of the video below.
Notice the water clarity is not great, and algae is everywhere, and yet, it is a very healthy ecosystem,.
Cristalino

Thank you. Thats a cool video. JDs are beautiful fish. I didnt get to choose my fish as the tank was a gift from a friend but the EBA is interesting to watch. Once i figured out the difference between Green Meanie and the EBA and was able to ID the fish i found many "tricks" you can teach them on google and this forum.

 

[Randy West]

UPDATE:
I did the following
60% water change
Gravel vac
Filter change
Washed all decor in tank water
Took a water sample and my friend is showing me the basics of the kit.

Without any paramters on water the fish seem more active the last couple of hours.

FINGERS CROSSED I LEARN SOMETHING!