red tailed catfish

[mickpedley]

Hiya

I am new to this!

We have a nitrate probelm...can anyone help? Our tank is 7ft by 2.5ft by 2ft and we have 3 filters which will turn over 900 ltrs. we have done 3 tank changes in the last 3 days and cleaned the filters out, we have only had our two redtailed catfishes in for 2 weeks and nitrate is too high. We have coral sand on the base about 5mm deep. Does anyone know how we can bring the nitrate level down?
Also one of our catfish has damaged its peptoral fin whereby the end part of the bone has separated from the fin by approx 2mm, we have put in antibacterial lotion to keep fungus at bay - will this heal?

Thanks

 

[catfishlover106]

if you really want some more information to gather to your needs you may try posting this thread over to the Catfish section of the Bottom Dweller

 

[mickpedley]

Thanks i think ive just done that!

 

[cjack]

it is probobly that your biological filter isnt established enough to keep up with your cats. You might want to do 20-25% water changes daily instead of 100%, so that there is some food for the bacteria to consume and multiply. BTW 2 weeks is a really short period of time to expect a biological filter to become established for 2 REDTAILED CATFISH.

as for the fin damage, it should heal as long as it does not get infected by fungus or bacterial invaders. just make sure that you watch your fish really closely for the next few days, vary their diet, do lots of small water changes, and use medication to prevent infestation from other stuff.

good luck on the healing and nitrates!!