Fish growing too fast! Tank health?

[johnnymax]

I have a 75g tank and I have about 20 small tilapia in it. Half are Mozambique and half Hawaiian Gold.
I knew they would grow fast. I received them at about 3/8” (9mm) long. After four weeks some are already almost 1 .75” (45mm) long. They eat a lot and make waste a lot. The only tank mates they have are nerite snails (getting very big) and 5 freshwater clams. (I dig them up and move them every week and they dig into the substrate and clean it) The clams seem to be doing well.

I have started feeding the fish a lot more and more often. When the water gets a little cloudy (only happened a couple of times) it clears up in a day. I assume that is because of the clams, not sure. I am concerned that water quality can get pour quickly. I tested for nitrate and it came back at 0 ppm.

I can’t find my kit to test for ammonia, but this has me concerned.
Thoughts and advice are welcomed as this is my fist tank over 20g and first time to have cichlids and fish that will get BIG.
I do not want my tank to crash and harm my fish.

 

[The Morning]

I would be concerned about your test kit. I don’t think I have ever seen a 0 reading for Nitrates.

 

[kno4te]

Cloudy water could be bacterial bloom with extra feeding etc. Be cautious with overfeeding and remove any left over food till u can check ur water quality.

 

[duanes]

You should probably start dividing them up by size into a number of tanks, maybe 3 or 4 tanks (half dozen fish per), or you will need to start doing daily water changes, with at least another 10% of water volume added, for each inch of growth Although Tilapines are pretty tolerant of poor water quality, if you want them to look good, clean water, and tanks with enough space so they don't tear each other up.
It also helps to keep 1 male and 3 to 4 females per tank, once they become able to be sexed.
With the Moozzambiques, males with be darker, and head profiles more duck like.

 

[johnnymax]

Thanks for your response. I knew I should be concerned.
Right now water change is the way.
I may be moving in less than two months. I hope to make it, until then before doing anything drastic.
I feel I may have to sell or give some away.

I was thinking about getting two 360 gallon tote tanks. I can get a couple pretty cheap.
But I don't know if I want to do that, because I won't see them that often. Not too enjoyable.

Agreed, I have read that a breeding colony is best with one male and a few females.
I wish I did not have two different types of Tilapia. I would like to have a male of each and 2 females each.
I think they will fight, because they are both Mozambique. At least the Hawaiian Gold started out as a Mozambique Tilapia.

When I move, I will have well water, so water change will be painless, No chemicals in the water.
Not sure about the nitrate test kit being bad, though.
It is new, ordered from Amazon.
I put the drops in the water and the color was light, light blue.
According to the card, it was 0 ppm.
I was looking at it in disbelief also.
I will test it again today.
But, I have slacked off a lot on feeding.

I have never had fish that go crazy like these. I just walk near the tank and they go nuts
I can't feed them enough.
And almost no matter how much I feed them, it is gone in like 30 seconds!
I am eventually going to buy a 40 lb. sack of game fish feed from Tractor Supple.
It states on the label that it is formulated for Tilapia also.

I am thinking about getting a Wi-Fi fish feeder. I could then feed my fish from anywhere with a phone app.
I will be able to feed small amounts more often.
Also, I can stay sitting in my Lazy Boy and feed the fish while reclining. (Lazy fish keeper)
Does anyone have a Wi-Fi fish feeder?

 

[Jexnell]

Petco still has the Aqueon glass tanks on sale. You can get brand new 40b for $49.99 half normal cost.

 

[johnnymax]

Petco still has the Aqueon glass tanks on sale. You can get brand new 40b for $49.99 half normal cost.

Back in the day, I had a 55g long tank that was on a metal stand.
The stand was designed so you could have a tank on top and a tank on the bottom.
I wish I had a stand like that for my 75g.
I would then be on the lookout for a second hand 75g tank and put it under my current tank.
I have a 35g tank, but I need to seal it

 

[fishhead0103666]

You could always do a concrete block stand. They’re cheap and strong but not too pretty unless you dress it up.

 

[Niki_up]

It is new, ordered from Amazon.
I put the drops in the water and the color was light, light blue.
According to the card, it was 0 ppm.
I was looking at it in disbelief also.
I will test it again today.
But, I have slacked off a lot on feeding.

Nitrates...blue? Are you sure your not testing for nitrites?
I would double check what you are testing for...nitrates are usually yellow, orange, and red colors

 

[johnnymax]

Nitrates...blue? Are you sure your not testing for nitrites?
I would double check what you are testing for...nitrates are usually yellow, orange, and red colors

Now that you mention it..... I am not sure. That would make sense though!