What Am I Doing Wrong?

[superemone]

I have a 55g mixed Africans that's been running and cycled for 4 months now.

It seems that not a week goes by that I don't have to deal with either ich or a fish not eating.

PH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10 - 30
50% water change weekly

Any ideas what's happening? I just want one month disease free!

 

[Toby_H]

Disease and not eating can both result from stress... how many of what species fish do you keep? A lot of times we will not see fighting, but that doesn't mean that the dominant fish are not putting excessive stress on the weaker fish.

Is the temp staying stable? direct sunlight, heat/AC vents, drafts from open doors, etc can all cause/allow temp swings which could lower a fishes immune system or decrease it's appetite.

What is your tap water's PH? Are you buffering it to alter the tap PH? If so how are you doing so? Allowing the PH to swing can cause both symptoms you are dealing with...

Honestly there are any number of little things, and very likely it is the result of the fish balancing out their pecking order and territorial possessions. 4 months is plenty long enough for the bacterial colony to "mature" but chances are your fish are maturing more and more every month which can cause shifts in the heirarchy.