mini cycle?

[siang]

have got a 4 month old established aquarium. found a dead gourami in there this morning, other fish seem fine. have tested water and got readings of:
ph- 7.6
ammonia- 0.25ppm
nitrite- 0.25ppm
nitrate 40ppm

is my tank going through a mini cycle? last water change was 6 days ago, was hoping to leave till tomorrow to do next one. also 2nd tank, new setup, 3 weeks old. no fish as yet, only 3 apple snails. readings are:
ph- 7.6
ammonia- 0ppm
nitrite- 0ppm
nitrate 40ppm

looking ready for fish now? have 3 apple snails and one plant in there

 

[siang]

anyone?

 

[rhodes_96]

Sounds like it by your water parameters.
what size tank ?
number and types of fish ?
type of filtration ?, and quantity of bio media ?
water change procedure ?

 

[siang]

ok, tank is 96 litres. 16 fish, 2 red honey gourami, 4 dalmation mollies, 2 peppered cory's, 2 bronze cory's, 5 cherry barbs, 7 apple snails (was originally 4, they seem to have bred) and 1 bristlenosed plec. filtration is a fluval 3+ with the sponges rinsed out in tank water about a week ago. water change procedure is 20% every week. use aquasafe in the new water every time. other fish seem perfectly fine. have done a 30% water change since my first post as tank was looking filthy so wiped inside with a brand new cloth and did water change. not re-tested yet.

 

[siang]

come on people, someone must know? also, i only have one gourami left now, do i need to get him 1 friend, or can i get another 3 males to have a small shoal? and i have moved the cherry barbs into a different tank, so now only have 10 fish in my 96 litre tank, how many more could i put in there?

 

[siang]

someone please answer me

 

[siang]

anyone?

 

[Racersk]

I don't think it is a mini cycle, but with that much bio load(yeah, they are small fish, but it is also a small tank too), you might think about changing the amount of water changed, like 40-50% and maybe add an air powered sponge filter. More air in general would be good too...

Gourami's are pretty hardy IMO, maybe it just died? I wonder how much inbreeding goes on for some of the colors that come up...

GL

 

[Racersk]

come on people, someone must know? also, i only have one gourami left now, do i need to get him 1 friend, or can i get another 3 males to have a small shoal? and i have moved the cherry barbs into a different tank, so now only have 10 fish in my 96 litre tank, how many more could i put in there?

Gouramis are not generally social, even towards females, either have 1 or 5, but not untill you have a handle on the dying fish, IMO.

 

[siang]

i do have plenty of air going in there, i have an air pump running two airstones, a long one and a round one. i am tryingo get hold of an external filter for the tank, but not having much luck yet. lack of funds is the main problem. what kind of sponge filter would you recommend? i have taken the cherry barbs out now,so just have the other 10 fish in there but it looks really empty.