fishchris

Thanks to all for the info. You've got me heading in the right direction. From what I've gathered in here;

I need to perform water changes more often with the undergravel filter, once a week as opposed to every two weeks.

I need switch to a liquid testing setup for pH and all. I have ordered a master test kit along with stress coat and a gh/kh test kits from AP through this site.

I need to be more choosey perhaps when looking for healthy angelfish.

I won't be allowing the water from the store into the tank when buying new fish.

I'll be vacuuming more from down in the gravel each water change to rid the tank of as much bacterial buildup as possible.

I'll be feeding less with the hopes of less waste hitting the bottom thus clogging the filter.

Thanks to everyone that participated. Its been very helpful and now I know where to go for quick answers from folks that all seem to be on the same knowledgeable page. I'll be back often to read other peoples concerns on other topics because I'm sure some of their questions will be the same as other questions I still have. I'll let you know the progress in a few days.

Thanks again!

Quick update - I found an AP pH test solution and vial I tried 6-8 months ago in comparison to the Mardel 5 in 1 test strips and didn't trust it. Now that you folks have reccommended it, I tried it, found the pH to be very high, 7.8 or more and after one treatment according to the instructions, I'm back in the 6.8-7,0 range.
Thanks again!

dustinb

I personaly have never kept angelfish but i have heard from different people that darker colored angels like blushing velvets are not as hardy as lighter ones like the koi angels i'll do some research to see if there is any truth behind that

fishchris

I'm back

After contacting the plumbing company to review my well water/iron filter/pH neutralizer system for the house drinking water, it was found that the water tests 7.0 ph, perfect neutral. After receiving my master test kit, I tested the water myself and found the blue color to be very deep blue, 7.4 or more, with the mid range pH test kit yet on the low end, 7.4 or less, of the high range pH test in the kit. A bit confusing but at least I have a handle on it. I tested the other components like GH and KH and found the KH to be 0-3 and the GH to be 5-6. Ammonia is 0 as is nitrites. But the nitrates are still high, 40-80 (tough to distinguish between the colors on the chart). I found these numbers before a 50% water change and did a water change last night, allowed the water to mix over night and tested again and found the same results for nitrates. I have cut way back on feeding and have decided to systematicly remove as much "muck" in the stones as possible as a result of the undergravel filter by plunging the syphon vacuum deep into the stone as I do a water change. Are there any other ways to remove the nitrates a bit more? The fish seem happy and feed eagerly, even though as you can see, the numbers are greatly reduced from originally. I want to get the nitrates in control before I add more fish but would like to do it asap. Any ideas?

10 neons
2 albino cats, small
2 algae eaters, small
4 tetras, medium size
2 guppies

penna32

fishchris ..
i have the same problem with my ph .. my stays constant around 6.2 in my 20 gallon .. but when i set up my 10 gallon the ph is 7.0 .. i have coral in my 20 gallon to help boost the ph . but isnt working .. the seachem ph regulater, bullseye 7.0, and fizz tablets havent done a thing for me ..

how do you acclimate your fish ? i just simply float the bag for 10 minutes .. dump about 1 cup in .. float for 5 minutes, and dump another cup and float for 5 .. then i net them out of the bag and put them in the tank ..

try to get amquel to reduce nitrates, as they are a littleee high

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