Help With New Set Up...

[TheGodfather]

I am setting up my first mbuna tank... I have two questions that need attention...

1) I do weekly water changes and my nitrate levels remain the same as that which comes out of the tap, i.e they have not increased... The problem is that the nitrate levels out of my tap are high (roughly 25-35) how can I reduce this level of nitrate?? As I do not have another water source do things like nitrate removal filter pads for my eheim work?? Please help.

2) One of my afra's is doing something I'm not sure about... Whist looking out of the tank he opens his mouth (as if he were screaming), shakes his tail very hard and blows the sand backwards- sometimes creating quite a hole... Any ideas???

Cheers Ollie

 

[chishnfips]

1) I wouldn't worry about the nitrates 25-30 isn't really that high, I think mbuna needed a low nitrate compared to other fish but I wouldn't say that was a bad reading.



2) sounds like he is just diigging a hole, my acei does this as well, using his tale to shift the sand.


chish

 

[Matt_northants]

A cheap way to get low nitrate water is to use a Nitragon, not used one myself, but i hear its a resin filter you connect to your tap which removes nitrates.

 

[Soaup]

Normal behavior for a fish to dig or shuffell the substraite around.