fish temperatments

Question
Hi Chris,
It's official!  My tank has finished cycling.  Ammonia - zero, Nitrites - 0, Nitrates 5.0!!!!  This past weekend, we added 2 new platys.  

One of my original fish, I'll call her fish A, is not at all happy with one of our new occupants, I'll call her fish B.  Since being introduced to our tank, fish A has sought refuge in one corner and goes there periodically when she needs some "me" time.  Whenever Fish B, the new addition, comes near Fish A, Fish A immediately clamps her fins!  Should Fish B enter the "me" corner when it is occupied by Fish A, Fish A does the clamping thing AND she literally tries to slap the other fish with her tail.  She'll swim by Fish B, get into position and swim backwards with her tail flapping to beat the band until she hits the other fish!  Is this unusual?  What is up with my fish with the attitude?  I thought Platys were suppose to be peaceful fish!  LOL!

Question number 2....what are the acceptable limits for nitrates?  The testing kit I have says 40ppm, what is your opinion?  I use the chemical reagent type test.  You know, the ones with the test tubes that break simply by looking at them!  LOL!!!

Have a great week!!!
Cathi

Answer
Hi Cathi;

I think they just need time to get used to each other. If they are both males they will act like that too. Provide plenty of hiding places for everyone to help them settle in.

Nitrates should get no higher than 40 ppm. Partial water changes of 25% every week should keep them down unless you tend to overfeed and/or the tank is overcrowded. Live plants help keep nitrates down a bit because they feed on it and provides hiding places for the fish too.

Have fun!

Followups Welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

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