9 Wks And Still Ammonia In Tank Why!

[Loobie]

Could anyone shed any light on the scene. I bought 3 platies and put them in my BiOrb30, not realising I should cycle (novice!!) they went though alot and unfortunately I lost 2

I bought another 2 a couple of weeks ago to keep the 1 I had left company (as I didn't think it would harm seeing as though the tank had been used to 3 fish), but 9 weeks since I originally started I'm still getting ammonia in my tank!!

I do 10 litre water changes daily (vacuming out all debris with a home made device) and feed every other day. The only time I have had no ammonia is when I did a filter change at 6 weeks and that lasted 4 days ish.

I'm really getting beside myself as I would have thought the bacteria would have multiplied enough to support my fish.

Can I buy pre colonised lava rock from anywhere to save me cycling again?? I'm just thinking I may have to clean the lava rock and start it again with new bacteria? Would that not put the fish through another cycling??

Please any advice would be helpful

My ammonia fluctuates between 0.25 to 1 (depending if I've done a water change)
My Nitrites are 0
My Nitrates 15
My PH 8.2

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

I couldn't figure it out, and then i re-read.

The filter change- that's where all your good bacteria hide out. The gravel/lava hold a little, but when you changed the filter I believe that sent your tank into a whole new cycle. My understanding is that you should rinse out the filter in tank water (from a water change) to get rid of the gunk but not kill the good bacteria.

 

[voo]

All of the bacteria hang out in the filter (mostly), not on the lava rock.

What did you change in the filter? Or did you change the whole filter to a different one?

 

[Loobie]

Still being a novice, I did the recommended filter change which means you replace the whole filter, It's like a plastic circular container with the sponge and gravel bits in it, and added the new bacteria and I replaced the whole thing (as recommended).

I take it I've done the wrong thing!!!

As far as I can remember if I take the sponge out there some sort of gravelly bits in it too, what's the best thing