Freshwater/Cichlid Question

[9supratt4]

I have a friend who has a 26 Gallon tank that has 6 Cichlid's and a Pleco in it, along with some snails. She is running 2 Aqueon HOB filters and 3 air stones.

In the tank is bamboo, a few pieces of rock and a piece of coral for ph control. She says her ph and hardness are good, but her Nitrates always creep up.

Her problem is that after a week or so after her water changes, the water gets a pink/yellow tint to it.

I don't know anything about chiclids so I was looking for some guidance on how to help her.

Thanks!!

 

[howze01]

Are all the decorations tank safe? Could be one of the rocks or the coral leeching something into the water. What kind of Cichlids? What size? 26g sounds small for a pleco and 6 Cichlids.

 

[9supratt4]

Ok...she says she has 1 piece of red coral, a few clay pots, a white stone, and there are a variety of cichilds. Everything from peacock to just generic African.

She doesn't know what type of rocks or coral though.

 

[howze01]

The red coral could be doing it. Flower pots *should* be OK. How long has the tank been set up?

 

[MadReefer]

I agree about pulling the red coral. Is it plastic or dead coral? In the old days the dead white coral was died, that could be the issue.

 

[Hawkeye]

perhaps the tank doesn't have enough carbon?

 

[howze01]

I just noticed it said taht there's bamboo in the tank too. Is that a decoration or something? Is it real babmboo?

 

[wienerdog]

Its def not the clay pots. My cichlid tank is full of the pots. The coral dec may be leaching. But, how long has the tank been runnin? Has it completely cycled? Majority of cichlids can handle high nitrates for awhile, but its just not healthy. How is the ammonia? I would suggest removing the dec's for now and see what happens. Could also suggest adding carbon to the fiters.

 

[9supratt4]

Yes...it is real bamboo and the tank has been up and running for about 2 months.

What about taking down the 2 HOB filters and switching to a canister??

 

[wienerdog]

Canisters are great. Especially the FX5! Bit pricey though. Suggest it be rated for 2.5 times the capacity of the tank. I would also recommend Aqua Clear 110's. I have two of them on my 75g fresh....as well as a great canister.

 

[howze01]

Is real bamboo in a tank nomral? I've been out of the FW game for a few years now but never heard of anyone using actual bamboo in the tank. Is it live and growing or just dead sections?

I always ran canisters on my FW tanks. As long as you keep up with maintenance they work awesome. I was never much of an Aquaclear guy. I always liked the Whispers better.

 

[AJ1080]

As long as you keep up on the canister filters they can be great. Just make sure they clean them out often.

I've seen petco and more stores selling the ornamental bamboo or "lucky bamboo" that you see in florists and what not. Im assuming this is what they mean. While I dont think the bamboo is causing the problem, the bamboo is not meant to be fully submerged like they sell it in the stores. Like a mangrove the base should be submerged in water and the leaves out of the tank. If this isn't done eventually the bamboo will begin rotting and throwing off the levels in the tank too.

Like everyone else has said, Id def take out the red corals. If you really like them in there put them back in 1 by 1 until the problem comes back and then you know what the culprit was.

 

[JRWOHLER]

The tank is not that established in regards to Nitrates. I would guess the pink is from the coral.

 

[CFM6793]

I wouldnt go crazy about the nitrates with the cichlid tank. They dont affect the fish like it would in a saltwater tank (if the fish are brackish it will). Cichlids are very dirty fish so it going to happen.