first water tests for new cichlids

[greenfox]

Three weeks in and I've done my first water test on the Cichlids.

Results are: Nitrates 0 ppm, ammonia 0 ppm, pH around 8, and nitrite 0 ppm - or at least I think so, as the colour wasn't quite right for 0, but it's not near 25 ppm either, so I'm guessing it's low, maybe 10 ppm. Water temp is 27 degrees.

I've got 16 Cichlids in the tank, a mix of Salousi and Jalo reef, all still pretty young, plus 2 small Bristlenose. The tank's got coflake sand and ocean rock.

I haven't done a water change yet, figured it'd give the tank a chance to settle. I'm pretty happy with the results, but the pH is rising, which is a bit of a worry - I think it should be between 7.5-8 for both fish.

Would a 25% water change help them out? Am I right to be happy with these results?

[techy]

No nitrates, but some nitrite showing up - did you properly cycle the tank before introducing the cichlids. I'd be inclined to do a more substantial water change, around 40-50%, to ensure those levels don't get out of hand.

[greenfox]

the tank was cycled already as the filter was running up to the day before, was in full use, so i just swapped the fish out for cichlids, added new substrate and ocean rock