8.0 Ppms Of Ammonia!?!?!?

[DiscusKeeper403]

I just did an Ammonia test on my 20 gallon tank and it is showing 8.0 PPMS of Ammonia. The tank is cycled, and I have had fish in it for over a year, this has to be wrong, right? I'm using a Doc Wellfish ammonia test kit, but it's pretty old, could it be defective? I change the water once per week 25 percent. The tank is planted. I'm going to do a 50 percent water change right now. I'll be back.

 

[-germ-]

With what dechlor?

 

[Puffdaddy]

Have you added any meds. to the tank in recent past or forget to add the dechloronator during last water change? What is your nitrite reading?

 

[Bluejay]

You could try a test on some tap water and see what that comes up with? Then you might know if its defective?

 

[rdd1952]

Definitely sounds like a bad test (too many/few drops). It could be an issue of age too. API kits for instance are good for 3 to 4 years (3 for ammonia, with nitrite and KH lasting 4) from the manufacture date stamped on each bottle. But as mentioned, it could be a result of medications as some will wipe out the entire bacteria colony.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Yep, did use some medication the other day actually I tested the tap water and it was reading 0 I can't belive the fish are still alive! I tested the tank water agian to be sure and it has the same reading, but it seems like it's actually only 4.0 I was using some anti internal parasite medication, which i'm guessing did the trick. I will test my other tank and switch filter media in a moment.

oh yeah dechlor is api stress coat, and helps eliminate ammonia from the tap

 

[Puffdaddy]

The med is most likely what did it. Most parasite med are good at wiping out the bio-filter. Also stress coat does not remove ammonia it just makes un-toxic to the fish.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Okay, I tested my other tank and Ammonia was 0. I will switch media, and test the tank again tomorrow. If it shows any I will do a 50 percent water change and buy some Ammo Lock/ Ammo filter cartridges on Monday.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

The med is most likely what did it. Most parasite med are good at wiping out the bio-filter. Also stress coat does not remove ammonia it just makes un-toxic to the fish.

Yeah, this one said it was "more effective" on the bottle, it said it takes out 33 percent more chlorine, 135 percent more chloramine and detoxifies ammonia in tap water.

 

[Puffdaddy]

Make sure you do some large water changes and add new carbon to your filter before you move the "good" filter media over, so you can be sure all the meds. have been removed from the tank. You are done treating the tank right?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Yep. I have been done since maybe 3 weeks ago. I will get new filter cartriges on Monday along with some Ammonia detox stuff.

Hey, do you guys think Windex would trigger an Ammonia spike? We just got a cleaning lady, and she has been wiping down the dresser I have it on (the top is glass) I told her my mom I didn't want her using it period. But she insisted that she would have to put it on a cloth away from the tank and wipe the glass down, although maybe some windex "mist" could have gotten in.

 

[rdd1952]

I use Stress Coat and it does not mention ammonia at all. It does say that API Ammo Lock 2 will instantly detoxify ammonia.

I would move filter media ASAP and also do a very large water change, at least 50%. Most likely your ammonia reading is actually higher than 8ppm as that is as high as most test kits go. I would try to get it down to at least 2 ppm before adding the media. If you add the filter media with the ammonia that high, the bacteria may be overwhelmed by the high level and die off.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I use Stress Coat and it does not mention ammonia at all. It does say that API Ammo Lock 2 will instantly detoxify ammonia.

I would move filter media ASAP and also do a very large water change, at least 50%. Most likely your ammonia reading is actually higher than 8ppm as that is as high as most test kits go. I would try to get it down to at least 2 ppm before adding the media. If you add the filter media with the ammonia that high, the bacteria may be overwhelmed by the high level and die off.

Yeah umm... I already did that, im not really worried about the media, I am getting some Ammonia detox on Monday and I will do another 50 percent water change in the morning. and it was actually more like 4.0 PMS and this is a new type of stress coat, labeled "more effective" you can see the details of what it does above on my other posts.

 

[rdd1952]

Have not seen the new Stress Coat before. I buy it in the gallon jugs and the last one I bought was still the "old" stuff.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Just wanted to point out that the API test kits have a 3-4 year shelf life...but are only good for about a year after being opened.