fish growth

Question
HI,
I HAVE A FIFTY GALLON TANK WITH 2TEXAS CHICHILIDS,4 BLOOD PARROTS,4AURATUS AND TWO BALA SHARKS LIVING HARMONIOUSLY SINCE 1 YR.EVEN AFTER A LOT OF STRUGGLE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE WATER TESTING KITS FOR AMMONIA, NITRIE ,NITRATES AND PH IN INDIA.ALL I DO IS 20 WATER CHANGE PER WEEK.ONCE A MONTH SIPHONING OF GRAVEL IS DONE TOO.CAN YOU SUGGEST SOMETHING ADDITIONAL AND MORE PRACTICAL SO THAT MY FISHES HAVE GOOD GROWTH AS WELL.INSPITE OF USING ALL TETRA PRODUCTS I FIND THEM TO BE LACK LUSTRE.I FEEL ALL PRODUCTS CLAIMING TO BE COLOR ENHANCING ARE FAKE.ANY COMMENTS.  

Answer
Hi Shailesh,
I have found that I have achieved the best growth in my fish by feeding a variety of frozen brine shrimp,bloodworms and also feeding pellet food such as Hikari or Omega  brand fish foods. Also, it is good to feed foods such as spiralina. Some fish foods contain spirilina or you can buy it separately. Also, the more water changes you do will usually help fish to grow and just feel better.
Some products probably are not really color enhancing. If you feed a variety of foods you might get better color than using a color enhancing type food.
I don't know if your blood parrots are getting enough foods since sometimes they have problems competing with other fish that can get the foods faster than they can. With my parrot fish I have sometimes had to hand feed him since he sometimes has problems competing with the other fish for food because of the shape of his mouth.
Try a variety of foods such as some of the ones I suggested and you could try changing a larger amount of water each week. Also, if you feed your fish a variety of foods you may have to siphon your gravel at least once a week just to be sure that it doesn't get dirtier from feeding them diferent types of foods.
Best of luck with your fish.
Hope this has helped,
Karen