Filtration Questions

[Talleyrand]

I think I have a filtration problem.
I have three tanks, two of which I have never had a problem with. Both smaller tanks have undergravel filters plus bio-wheel power filters. I have had both for several years.
A year ago I purchased a 55 US gallon tank 'kit' from the pet store. I dont believe the tank is overstocked, 6 fish between 8-14 centimeters, 4 smaller than 6 centimeters, plus 3 plecos. But I'm constantly having problems. Persistant Ich, a bout of fin rot, cloudy water, etc. Just when I think everything is finally OK something else happens. The filter that was supplied is a large power filter, 300 gph.
The two LFS's I frequent each have differing opinions. The one that sold me the kit assures me the stock filter is fine, my water chemistry if off. The other wants to sell me $300 worth of canister filters.
I am going to purchase a new or second filter, what suggestion do you have?

 

[Angry_Platy]

What are your water parameters? Readings like ammonia, nitrite and nitrate might help us to help you....

How long have you had the tank and how longe have you been having troubles?

Stocking.....assuming thast the 6 fish 8-14cm are each 10cm (4 inches).....

6 x 4 = 24
4 x 2 = 8 (assuming these are 2 inches)
3 plecos....depends on the pleco.....but at average of 8 inches per plec.....= 24

total of 56 inches......OK.....but depends how messy the fish are

A canister filter could be a good second filter. If you go weith this option make sure it has a high gph.

 

[Talleyrand]

Nitrate- 40 ppm
Nitrite- 0 ppm
Total Hardness- Soft GHppm-75
Total Alkalinity- Moderate KHppm-80
ph level- 7.2

 

[Talleyrand]

As for stocking-
7 inches of silver dollars
10 inches of cichlids
7 inches of gouramis
3 inches of catfish
7 inches of plecos

Lets say 35 inches (90 centimeters) of fish

 

[Talleyrand]

bump

 

[freddyk]

What brand is that power filter? What kinds of cichlids do you have?

Your peramaters seem fine, and if your filteration was inadequate and not providing proper bio-logical filtration you'd have fish with ammonia and/or nitrite poisoning, not ich and fin rot. The next thing that comes to mind after inadequate water is high stress in the tank.

 

[Talleyrand]

Aquatech 300, same as the filter in the link below sans bio wheels.
http/www.aquariumguys.com/penguinbio2.html

Cichlids-
Electric yellow lab-about 4"
Powder Blue or Pindani- about 3"
Ram- 1"
Red Zebra-2" (orange female)
Unknown Mbuna- 1"

 

[freddyk]

Are there specific fish that are having problems? Rams and Gouramis and silver dollars are simply not suitable tankmates for all those mbuna.

 

[a1wonder]

What about buying a water sterziler? You have similar problems to what I have in my 33gal and that's what fixed it for me

 

[Talleyrand]

They have all been living together since May without incident. The larger 3 spot gourami is actually more aggressive than any of the cichlids.
I forgot to list the two Figure 8 puffers, both about an inch. They seem to be the mine canaries. The first fish that started getting ich were 2 clown loaches that have since died, being replaced by the ram and unknown mbuna.

 

[Kittycat]

How about temperature?

 

[Talleyrand]

76 F
(currently 86 F as I am fending off yet another bout of ich)