OK, it's like this. I have a 130 gallon with ...
1 x severum 5"
1 x chocolate cichlid 3"
2 x Uaru 6"
2 Acarichthys heckelii 3"
plus other small bits and pieces.
These have all been living happily together for some months. THe problem is that my tank water is hard and pH 8.0. Ammonia and nitrite are zero. Nitrates are now at 10ppm, although have been running much higher at about 30ppm until very recently when I bought a nitrate filter for my tapwater. They get two 25% water changes a week (minimum).
The sev and the choc are clearly thriving. They are happpy, feed well, are growing well, and have excellent finnage.
However, I am concerned about the uaru and the heckelii. The 2 x uaru came to me with very roughed up fins due to the arowanas they were kept with. I was expecting some quick healing with me, but this has just not happened. The uaru seem "happy" and feed very well, but the fin damage has just not healed and the other fins have rather a tatty appearance. I have had them about 3 months.
The A.heckelii also seem happy, and feed well. The thing is with them is that I have had them about 4-5 months and they have not grown a jot. Not one tiny bit. For cichlids like these, which potentially can reach 8" or so, I was really expecting some seriosu growth, especially with their good appetites. They do look good, with good finnage though.
I am concerned that my water is simply not going to provide them with an environment in which they can thrive. If so, my options would be to either get an RO system (awkward in the space I have) or to rehome them to a more acidic, softer water home (which would not be easy, as most of the tapwater here in the UK is hard and alkaline).
Or... am I simply worrying about nothing and not being patient anough for the heckelii to grow ?
Would really appreciate your opinions.
1 x severum 5"
1 x chocolate cichlid 3"
2 x Uaru 6"
2 Acarichthys heckelii 3"
plus other small bits and pieces.
These have all been living happily together for some months. THe problem is that my tank water is hard and pH 8.0. Ammonia and nitrite are zero. Nitrates are now at 10ppm, although have been running much higher at about 30ppm until very recently when I bought a nitrate filter for my tapwater. They get two 25% water changes a week (minimum).
The sev and the choc are clearly thriving. They are happpy, feed well, are growing well, and have excellent finnage.
However, I am concerned about the uaru and the heckelii. The 2 x uaru came to me with very roughed up fins due to the arowanas they were kept with. I was expecting some quick healing with me, but this has just not happened. The uaru seem "happy" and feed very well, but the fin damage has just not healed and the other fins have rather a tatty appearance. I have had them about 3 months.
The A.heckelii also seem happy, and feed well. The thing is with them is that I have had them about 4-5 months and they have not grown a jot. Not one tiny bit. For cichlids like these, which potentially can reach 8" or so, I was really expecting some seriosu growth, especially with their good appetites. They do look good, with good finnage though.
I am concerned that my water is simply not going to provide them with an environment in which they can thrive. If so, my options would be to either get an RO system (awkward in the space I have) or to rehome them to a more acidic, softer water home (which would not be easy, as most of the tapwater here in the UK is hard and alkaline).
Or... am I simply worrying about nothing and not being patient anough for the heckelii to grow ?
Would really appreciate your opinions.
