Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: thebbqguy on May 07, 2015, 09:03:14 PM
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Any suggestions for a water filter?
My tap water has 1.0 ppm phosphate straight from the tap. I can't help but think the water is causing some of the problems I have been experiencing.
Currently the tank water tests at .5 ppm for phosphate, 0 nitrites and 1.0 ppm ammonia. Ammonia has never been higher than that. Phosphates have never been above 1.0 ppm that I know of. I have an Aquaclear 110 filter and a Deep Blue sponge filter. I have a air stone in the tank as well.
I have had 3 of 6 rotkeils die on me so far. The zebra danios are all alive and extremely healthy and active.
I feel like the rotkeils aren't eating enough food. I have had them almost 4 weeks and I've never actually seen them eat.
I am feeding them flake food recommended by Fantastic Fins when I purchased the fish. They are quiet fish that like to hang out in the clay pots, in the artificial plants, or near the heater. They are pretty shy fish overall. Since I've had them I can't really tell that they've grown any at all, but coloring has improved on 3 of them that are still living.
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I'd have the fish on pellets. Flake wastes a lot & you have to feed more often than if using a pellet.
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Cheapest way to lower phosphates caused by your water supply is add PhosGuard to your tank. Any RO/DI system should work removing phosphates...the main thing in the RO system that removes the phosphates is the membrane.....then the DI resin. Buy a hand held TDS meter. Test the water before filtering with the TDS meter, then test water after filtering, to see if you're getting the results you want. Your RO membrane should last for years as long as you keep up your changes of filters(sediment, carbon) they protect your membrane from wear. Plus disinfect the whole system at least once a year. If you store your water, check the water stored to see if your storage container is leaching any phosphates.
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My severums don't care for flake very much either. They will take some veggie based pellets but prefer zucchini, spinach, bok choy, and kale. All of which I blanch and sink for them. A bonus is that the BNs that live with them dig that stuff too. I hope your three remaining Rotkeils make it for you.
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What size are the Rotkeils? Severums can be a little temperamental when small, but usually by the time they're a quarter or half dollar size they should be pretty bulletproof. Do you know the parameters of the water they were raised in. If they were significantly different, that can cause problems, but they are usually immediate.
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The ones that are still living are between a quarter and a half dollar size. I have seen them today eating a little bit from the bottom of the tank.
I'm not sure about the water they were raised in originally. They came Fantastic Fins.
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The remaining rotkeils are eating well and are beginning to color up with the bar patterns becoming more and more prevalent.
Water quality has improved dramatically the past 2 weeks. I guess some of the struggles I was having was part of the new tank cycling process.