jack demspey cichlid

Question
QUESTION: 55gallon tank, 1jack dempsey7-8", 1black convict5", 1crawfish, 1pleco8". NO live food. Penquin biowheel-350 filter. I've had this set up for a couple years now. Recently added a peice of wood. Water has yellowed, but peramiters are good...except hard water, but I have always had hard water. Everyone(fish) acts fine except Jack. PROBLEM- Jack sit on bottom of tank always. He swims around on the bottom scooting over the gravel and is always resting and leaning on the bottom. If he thinks its feeding time he swims around all crazy like he is hungary, but as soon as he is either feed or fiqures out he isnt getting fed he immediatly goes back on the gravel. When he does swim his tail is lower than the rest of his body, like he is swimming at a angle. I do 35% water change every week. Im going to take the wood out and do two extra water changes this week to see if that helps. Any advise is appriciated.

ANSWER: Hi Patrick,
  I assume that the wood was from a pet store and not just something that you collected in a local pond??  I never use local wood because it can have all sorts of issues.  The yellowing of the water is very typical.  I usually soak wood for about a month in a tub of water (changed weekly) before putting it in a tank, just to reduce the amount of yellowing. The yellowing is caused by tanins being released from the wood. They don't hurt anything but will tend to make your water softer and more acidic.   

 The Jack Dempsey behavior is likely unrelated to the wood (assuming the wood is pet store wood). Typically that sort of behavior is associated with deteriorating water conditions. Doing the weekly water changes is excellent and hopefully the extra ones will help.  Is your filter working properly?

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Whats the best filters to use? Canister, power filters, or something else? Maybe a combination? Whats your opinion?

Answer
Hi Patrick,
 Each kind of filter has its pros and cons.  In my largest tanks (150 gallons+), I use MarineLand Biowheel filters in the sump.  For anything smaller, I use Fluval internal power filters along with sponge filters, one each in a tank.  I have never much liked canister filters -- I had one of the early models many years ago and I absolutely hated getting that thing started.  For 20 gallon or smaller tanks, I use sponge filters.  You can't beat a sponge filter for good filtration, low cost and easy maintenance. The only drawback is that many people don't like looking at sponge filters in a tank.

-- Ron C.
   rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>