New to cichlids! Blue Acara and Firemouth?
- Thread starter ElizabethFrancis
- Start date
What cycling a tank means, is growing a large enough population of bacteria in the filters and tank that use ammonia and nitrite as food, if there're not enough bacteria, the fish poison themselves with their own urine and waste. A full cycle can take 6-8 weeks.
By the way don't thoroughly clean your filter media during the process of cycling. Don't throw away filter pads
If the media clogs, squeeze the pads out in some water you have removed from the tank during a water change and put them back
Those pads (sponges, cloth, whatever kind is in your filter) are growing the bacteria you need.
If algae grows on any decor, don't wash it off, it uses the waste products and also contain those beneficial bacteria.
By the way don't thoroughly clean your filter media during the process of cycling. Don't throw away filter pads
If the media clogs, squeeze the pads out in some water you have removed from the tank during a water change and put them back
Those pads (sponges, cloth, whatever kind is in your filter) are growing the bacteria you need.
If algae grows on any decor, don't wash it off, it uses the waste products and also contain those beneficial bacteria.
Okay, awesome, good to know. I’ve been reading up on cycling a lot, but I’ll make sure not to scrape algae or throw away the filters. Also using that test kit has been helpful in understanding what I’m trying to do. Thanks for your help.
Hi all,
So I’ve been testing my water twice a day, adding the seachem prime and stability, and have been changing the water to keep the ammonia under .25ppm.
Today, I noticed my blue Acara rubbing against the gravel a couple times. I did a 50% water change, treated the added water, and retested everything.
So far, I’ve seen no nitrite or nitrate, my ph spiked yesterday, but I added a stabilizer and it went back to normal.
Ammonia after the 50% water change is still at 0.25ppm (it was at .50ppm right before changing the water).
I noticed my Acara did the same rubbing motion against the gravel again twice since the water change. I’ve been watching closely but haven’t noticed anything else that seems off.
Is there something I could be doing differently or better at this point?
Thinking of going to my fish store and asking for some media to cycle with or picking up bottled bacteria at a different pet store.
Also, would an additional filter help? My tank has good surface movement from my filter, but anything that can help it do better.
So I’ve been testing my water twice a day, adding the seachem prime and stability, and have been changing the water to keep the ammonia under .25ppm.
Today, I noticed my blue Acara rubbing against the gravel a couple times. I did a 50% water change, treated the added water, and retested everything.
So far, I’ve seen no nitrite or nitrate, my ph spiked yesterday, but I added a stabilizer and it went back to normal.
Ammonia after the 50% water change is still at 0.25ppm (it was at .50ppm right before changing the water).
I noticed my Acara did the same rubbing motion against the gravel again twice since the water change. I’ve been watching closely but haven’t noticed anything else that seems off.
Is there something I could be doing differently or better at this point?
Thinking of going to my fish store and asking for some media to cycle with or picking up bottled bacteria at a different pet store.
Also, would an additional filter help? My tank has good surface movement from my filter, but anything that can help it do better.
Hes rubbing because the ammonia is burning him. Unless he has ich any white spots?
As for keeping them together acaras and firemouths are pretty mellow they will be fine. I've had a mated pair of ebcs in with 5 or 6 firemouths all good. No babies survived though but I had cories too so I'd guess the eggs didnt even make it.
Get a bottled bacteria to help with your cycle. Prime will bind the ammonia and stability will add bacteria. Ive never had good luck using the two of those together although that's how you are supposed to do it. Get a bottle of nitrobacter7 and follow the directions. Ive started many tanks using it with 0 loss. If you get the nitrobacter7 discontinue prime and stability and dont do water changes till its cycled about 5 to 7 days. You should still do weekly doses of nb7 for the next 4-6 weeks afterwards.
As for keeping them together acaras and firemouths are pretty mellow they will be fine. I've had a mated pair of ebcs in with 5 or 6 firemouths all good. No babies survived though but I had cories too so I'd guess the eggs didnt even make it.
Get a bottled bacteria to help with your cycle. Prime will bind the ammonia and stability will add bacteria. Ive never had good luck using the two of those together although that's how you are supposed to do it. Get a bottle of nitrobacter7 and follow the directions. Ive started many tanks using it with 0 loss. If you get the nitrobacter7 discontinue prime and stability and dont do water changes till its cycled about 5 to 7 days. You should still do weekly doses of nb7 for the next 4-6 weeks afterwards.
No white spots, so Im assuming it’s the ammonia.
I’ll get some nitrobacter7 tomorrow and give it a try. Glad to hear you’ve had success keeping them together. I’m working on keeping them alive and learning from my mistakes. Thanks for the help.
Okay, I’m here with yet another question.
I found a 55 gal tank on Craigslist that I can pick up this weekend.
Now that I am aware of cycling and have begun the process with my current 20gal tank, i could use some advice.
To recap, I have 1 firemouth and 2 blue Acara, all 1 1/2 to 2” big together in the twenty.
With the 55gal, what is my best move? Should I cycle it with some smaller dither fish then add the cichlids once it’s cycled and continue cycling the 20 gal as I am?
Or should I move the cichlids and cycle the 55 with them in it?
If the answer is dithers, which ones and how many do you recommend?
I found a 55 gal tank on Craigslist that I can pick up this weekend.
Now that I am aware of cycling and have begun the process with my current 20gal tank, i could use some advice.
To recap, I have 1 firemouth and 2 blue Acara, all 1 1/2 to 2” big together in the twenty.
With the 55gal, what is my best move? Should I cycle it with some smaller dither fish then add the cichlids once it’s cycled and continue cycling the 20 gal as I am?
Or should I move the cichlids and cycle the 55 with them in it?
If the answer is dithers, which ones and how many do you recommend?
Well I have mostly done just what you are suggesting. A fish in cycle. If you use the mb7 you should have 0 issue. If you arent using a bacteria additive then you are torturing those fish. You can do a fish less cycle using bottled ammonia, human urine or animal urine. Ive done a fish less cycle twice and both times I used bottled ammonia. I like cycling with fish. A lot of people think its cruel. If you do it right its not an issue.
What kind of dithers do you want? Since you have CA and sa cichlids you could do swordtails, tetras there are tons of tetras that could work. If you dont care about keeping it on the same continent you could go with smaller barbs or danios, rainbow fish. Tons of options. As for how many depends on the size of them. If you went with neon tetras I'd say 20 at least. If you go with a larger tetra like say a bleeding heart say maybe 8. Personally I'd go with smaller tetras but not to small to become a meal to the acara or FM. I had a tank with 2 acara and 20 neon tetras worked for about a year then the tetras started disappearing......
What kind of dithers do you want? Since you have CA and sa cichlids you could do swordtails, tetras there are tons of tetras that could work. If you dont care about keeping it on the same continent you could go with smaller barbs or danios, rainbow fish. Tons of options. As for how many depends on the size of them. If you went with neon tetras I'd say 20 at least. If you go with a larger tetra like say a bleeding heart say maybe 8. Personally I'd go with smaller tetras but not to small to become a meal to the acara or FM. I had a tank with 2 acara and 20 neon tetras worked for about a year then the tetras started disappearing......
I am using a bacteria additive so I think I’m cycling appropriately at this point.
For dithers, I’m not picky. I’d like something that gets big enough to not be eaten and I’d like to add some color to my tank, maybe I’ll do swordtails.
Would you recommend I complete my 20gallon cycle with the three cichlids as is, and cycle the 55 with dithers before moving the cichlids to the 55?
I dont think it matters as long as you do it right. Id personally do the dithers then once your tank is cycled move the acara and like a week later the FM. I've never liked the standard orange sword tails but I saw a few at the lfs that were white and red and they looked so cool.
