The reason I added my water was because I thought the fish would appreciate good tank water. Guess not...
Please don't misunderstand what I said, katelynthekatfish. Nothing wrong with using your other tank's water, it is just not going to help establish the beneficial bacteria you need to cultivate. Also, keep in mind, there is the possibility that your healthy tank has parasites or other organisms in it that although harmless to your other tank's fish, could get the new cichlid sick. If his/her tank has not been maintained properly, the convict could have a weaker immune system. Just something to think about. And the possibility of transmitting something that could harm the new cichlid is there if you use gravel, the filter media, or water.
I'm using API Stress Coat as a water conditioner and seems to work. I'll definitely keep doing water changes also.
It depends on the specific formula of API Stress Coat you are using if it can handle ammonia also. I don't use that brand currently, but I believe most will bind with ammonia. If the label says that it removes chlorine and chloramine and detoxifies ammonia, you have the best possible type of water conditioner.
Keep in mind, if the Stress Coat does bind with ammonia, its turning it temporarily to ammonium (less toxic at low doses that ammonia). However, the ammonium will read as ammonia on the test kits. So, the fish may be 'safe' from the ammonia but the test results will not show that. Once the beneficial bacteria have reproduced enough to handle the ammonia (and ammonium) in the tank, the levels will drop even on the test kit.
