New to forum and would appreciate your help and advice.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I have to admit I feel I’m stuck in a nitrate war at the moment. Ammonia and nitrite are always zero but nitrates seem to be up and down. But then I’ve taken it to be tested at 4 different stores and it tests perfect there. I have to wonder if my test kit is faulty or if the nitrates really are high.

I do a 50% weekly water change as well as change the filter wool in the 140Lt sump. I rinse the sponge filtration I have in the sump once a fortnight in aquarium water. Am I doing something wrong? :1zhelp:
 
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I have to admit I feel I’m stuck in a nitrate war at the moment. Ammonia and nitrite are always zero but nitrates seem to be up and down. But then I’ve taken it to be tested at 4 different stores and it tests perfect there. I have to wonder if my test kit is faulty or if the nitrates really are high.

I do a 50% weekly water change as well as change the filter wool in the 140Lt sump. I rinse the sponge filtration I have in the sump once a fortnight in aquarium water. Am I doing something wrong? :1zhelp:
 
Welcome to the site.

What other fish in the tank besides the jags? Do you over feed ?

You could up the wc's to fin level. Meaning drain the water down to almost at the fished fins.

What size tank ?
 
jaws7777 said:
Welcome to the site.

What other fish in the tank besides the jags? Do you over feed ?

You could up the wc's to fin level. Meaning drain the water down to almost at the fished fins.

What size tank ?
Click to expand...

It’s a 6 foot 180 gallon with a 4 foot sump adding additional 35 gal or so.... So plenty of water volume and filtration. I have a range of SA cichlids and oddballs. I have it overstocked to cut down aggression thus the weekly WC. I took your advice and started increasing the level to approx 70-80%. But I also took the water to my local FS again and we tested it side by side... looks like my test kit is off even though it’s not even close to expired. They tested my nitrates at less than 5ppm. Mine shows greater than 180ppm. So I’ve just stopped testing lol!
Ammonia and nitrites are always perfect.
That being said... I noticed with the larger WC level that one of the Jags got quite stressed out over it and turned very pale... so I doubt the dark lines they usually show are “stress”, it seems like maybe it’s just their particular coloration? Guess I’ll have to wait till they mature. Looks like I have two females which is a little disappointing.
 
BirdieBoo said:
It’s a 6 foot 180 gallon with a 4 foot sump adding additional 35 gal or so.... So plenty of water volume and filtration. I have a range of SA cichlids and oddballs. I have it overstocked to cut down aggression thus the weekly WC. I took your advice and started increasing the level to approx 70-80%. But I also took the water to my local FS again and we tested it side by side... looks like my test kit is off even though it’s not even close to expired. They tested my nitrates at less than 5ppm. Mine shows greater than 180ppm. So I’ve just stopped testing lol!
Ammonia and nitrites are always perfect.
That being said... I noticed with the larger WC level that one of the Jags got quite stressed out over it and turned very pale... so I doubt the dark lines they usually show are “stress”, it seems like maybe it’s just their particular coloration? Guess I’ll have to wait till they mature. Looks like I have two females which is a little disappointing.
Click to expand...

Are you using the correct amount of dechlorinator?
 
BirdieBoo said:
It’s a 6 foot 180 gallon with a 4 foot sump adding additional 35 gal or so.... So plenty of water volume and filtration. I have a range of SA cichlids and oddballs. I have it overstocked to cut down aggression thus the weekly WC. I took your advice and started increasing the level to approx 70-80%. But I also took the water to my local FS again and we tested it side by side... looks like my test kit is off even though it’s not even close to expired. They tested my nitrates at less than 5ppm. Mine shows greater than 180ppm. So I’ve just stopped testing lol!
Ammonia and nitrites are always perfect.
That being said... I noticed with the larger WC level that one of the Jags got quite stressed out over it and turned very pale... so I doubt the dark lines they usually show are “stress”, it seems like maybe it’s just their particular coloration? Guess I’ll have to wait till they mature. Looks like I have two females which is a little disappointing.
Click to expand...
Were you hoping for both males?
 
jaws7777 said:
Are you using the correct amount of dechlorinator?
Click to expand...
I’ve just changed from API to Prime as its much more economical and seems highly recommended. It’s from memory 5ml per 200lt I think? I def add more than that tho. At least double. Is that bad?
 
Deadliestviper7 said:
Were you hoping for both males?
Click to expand...
Actually I was. I know it sounds weird but I don’t want any breeding in my Cichlid tanks so I’ve tried to curate an all male collection. I’ve had these two Jags for around 5-6mths from tiny 1.5cm fry. I was hoping I’d end up with at least one male and rehome the other.
I think the large male jags are stunning.
 
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