Ammonia And Nitrite Spike

[Ogrt48]

Last night before bed I did a little 10% water change for my 10g.
The tank is currently overstcked but the stats have been fine all week, ph 7.2 nitrites 0 and ammonia 0.
This mourning I went to check it and ammonia blew up to atleast 4.0, as high as my test goes, and nitrites 2.0
I paniced and did a 30% water change, its been an hour and its down to nitrites .50 but ammonia is still high at 2.0
Is there more I should do or just another small 10% change tonight followed by a big one again in the morning?

 

[Squid]

Depends on what your plans are.. the tank is overstocked and was ok, but now it isnt.. perhaps its time to take some fish back to the LFS

was the tank cycled prior to adding fish, or is this a new tank with new fish, or and old tank with new added fish... That might help explain why the stats were ok, but are now showing ammonia and nitrites.

i think you will need to continue doing more water changes perhaps 25% in the morning and the evening.. dont quote me on that though.. perhaps others would like to comment on that part of the question.

Squid

 

[Ogrt48]

Depends on what your plans are.. the tank is overstocked and was ok, but now it isnt.. perhaps its time to take some fish back to the LFS

was the tank cycled prior to adding fish, or is this a new tank with new fish, or and old tank with new added fish... That might help explain why the stats were ok, but are now showing ammonia and nitrites.

i think you will need to continue doing more water changes perhaps 25% in the morning and the evening.. dont quote me on that though.. perhaps others would like to comment on that part of the question.

Squid

It was put together sat with some fish thrown in same night and next day.. Yes its dumb but I didn't do it, its my roommates. Petland won't take any live fish back, only the tank and heater. So I need to find a way to fix this for now.

 

[Squid]

ok.... looks like waterchanges are the way to go then.. hopefully someone can advise you more on how much and when..

Im in the UK, so i have never used it, nor am i that familiar with it. But.. as you are in the US, i believe there is a product called bio-spira. perhaps somebody could post as to whether this can be added with the fish already present. This should hopefully add a load of beneficial bacteria into the tank, and combined with water changes may give you the best result if the fish cannot be taken to an LFS..

How many fish do you have in the 10g tank? and which ones?

Squid

 

[pokagon55]

Yea, the bio-spira idea is very good advise. It cost about $15.00. It works in about three days. Just keep changing your water to delute the ammnoia and the nitrites. Make sure you have a big enough filter for your tank. I used it when my bio-filter took a dump because of a med. called Malichite Green. I used it to treat a Ick problem that I had. I had a ammonia spike and then the nitrites. I went to my lfs and they gave me this product. I put it in my tank and did water changes and the ammoina and nitires went down to 0 with in a week. Really good stuff. Just dumped it right in with the fish and did not have any fish loss.

 

[Ogrt48]

Ok, I'll try to get it tomorrow. I'm stuck at work until 10pm now.
In the 10g is a 1 inch red devil, 2-3 inch oscar,2-3 inch banded jewel , 2-3 inch firemouth, 1 tiny crayfish, 1 2 inch texas cichlid and I think thats it. Yeah I know these fish all need 55-75g EACH.. =\ I hope I can get atleast one nice large tank.. The fire devil is great.. but is gonna get huge and needs to be alone.

The firedevil and banded jewel are MEAN. They work as a team and keep the other in a top corner huddled together. =[ I want to put the texas, firemouth and oscar in my other tanks but ones already over stocked and i think that they'll eat the neons in the other =\ I don't know what to do and can't take em back

 

[Squid]

Ok, I'll try to get it tomorrow. I'm stuck at work until 10pm now.
In the 10g is a 1 inch red devil, 2-3 inch oscar,2-3 inch banded jewel , 2-3 inch firemouth, 1 tiny crayfish, 1 2 inch texas cichlid and I think thats it. Yeah I know these fish all need 55-75g EACH.. =\ I hope I can get atleast one nice large tank.. The fire devil is great.. but is gonna get huge and needs to be alone.

The firedevil and banded jewel are MEAN. They work as a team and keep the other in a top corner huddled together. =[ I want to put the texas, firemouth and oscar in my other tanks but ones already over stocked and i think that they'll eat the neons in the other =\ I don't know what to do and can't take em back

I'd look for a new tank sooner rather than later

Good luck getting the bio-spira, but it may be the least of your worries..

Perhaps another LFS will take some fish back, or advertise them..

Squid

 

[Ogrt48]

Ok, I'll try to get it tomorrow. I'm stuck at work until 10pm now.
In the 10g is a 1 inch red devil, 2-3 inch oscar,2-3 inch banded jewel , 2-3 inch firemouth, 1 tiny crayfish, 1 2 inch texas cichlid and I think thats it. Yeah I know these fish all need 55-75g EACH.. =\ I hope I can get atleast one nice large tank.. The fire devil is great.. but is gonna get huge and needs to be alone.

The firedevil and banded jewel are MEAN. They work as a team and keep the other in a top corner huddled together. =[ I want to put the texas, firemouth and oscar in my other tanks but ones already over stocked and i think that they'll eat the neons in the other =\ I don't know what to do and can't take em back

I'd look for a new tank sooner rather than later

Good luck getting the bio-spira, but it may be the least of your worries..

Perhaps another LFS will take some fish back, or advertise them..

Squid

Well I would too but after paying all my bills I only have $10 left and have to eat for 2 weeks on that some how.. =\

 

[pokagon55]

well in that case just do water changes and hope for the best.

 

[plecoguy]

im telling you, find someone who will take this fish, im sure petland will take them if you just give the fish to them. They will probably die, or kill eachother in that tank.