Morledzep;2189553; said:well, the colors on the card for 80 ppm and 160 ppm shades are quite close. i'm reading it as 80 ppm. which is high, no doubt. but i think it's not so bad that it will impair the fish. especially big healthy dudes like these tems.
the good news is it's friday, and that means Jason is going to be home tomorrow and he can help me do a 50% water change on their tank. and then i can start a standard 7 day course of pimafix and i can stick a whole cup of salt in (cause i don't remember the last time i added salt was and i've done a few water changes).
i know a couple of you guys are local.. who wants to come over and help a sick old woman do a water change sooner rather than later?
after reading all your post in and out and upside down i have come to the conclusion of your problem which is stress induced by the other fish.. normally the most abused cichla becomes the whipping boy which usually wont kill him or her but enough to stress them out. ( this happens usually with ever group of cichla) now for the reason why your tem isnt eatting normally is most likely between the stress and the nitrates.. normally they will have no problem being the whipping boy ( you will occasionally have to make sure they enough food to keep up with the growth of others) sometimes they will even have the brightest colors out of all your cichla. so in conclusion it seems to me that the mix between the stress and nitrates took a negative effect on your tem.. he should be better after the water change or tank move whatever you do or have help.... wish i lived closer, i would swing by with my python and take care of your tank.. i hope the info helps and i also how you feel better
your a good man.
