Ammonia And Ph Chaos!

[electric yellow]

Advised to cross post...
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=275162

I have a problem with ammonia and acidity in my 28ltr tank. I noticed it a week or so ago and it doesnt seem to be getting any better.

Tank details are as follows...
Pink Aqua Start 320 28ltr
Gravel decor
Divided by penplax plastic dividers and houses two betta. 1x veil tail 1x PK
Internal filtration with spray head
1x air stone on each side
1x silk plant on each side
1x ceramic pot on each side
Light is hardly on due to being in a well lit room
2x plant cut offs (OLD) now removed incase of ammonia cause
heated to 26deg celcius

Water stats:
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ammonia 8.0
ph 5.8

I have been doing water changes every two days to try to bring it down and also used water conditioner that takes away all the metals and ammonia. I added ph balance stuff but nothing seems to be working. Today i did another 50% water change and its come down a fraction. I removed the plants incase the oldness of them is what has caused it. They arent fed every day and when they are they are only fed what they can eat. Which for my bettas is one flake!

Id rather not add any ammo lock or other lock chemicals. id rather find the cause and treat it before it kills my fish.

 

[bronzecat]

Hi

I believe that I have read somewhere on the forum that Ammo lock neutralises ammonia. The problem is that you will still get a reading for ammonia when you test. I'm sure someone can explain it better though

Also, test your tap water to see what levels you have there.

It sounds like, for whatever reason, your filter may have crashed and started to cycle again. This can caused by many things i.e. forgetting to add dechlorinator; cleaning the filter in tap water etc

If your tap water is zero for ammonia, then a 50% water change should technically reduce the ammonia a fair bit. But if you still get the same ammonia reading straight after a water change it could be the ammo lock giving a false reading.

I'm no expert on ammo lock, never used it, but i do believe it can give false readings. Hopefully someone will confirm this......please

P.S Snap

 

[electric yellow]

^^
Awesome
Ive redecorated today so will post photo later. I added a second power head on the opp side to see if that helps...

Im assuming yours is heated? You hide your filter and heater well! Do you have a filter on both sides of yours? I have air stones in either side...but im thinking of removing them. Bettas are surface breathers so they dont really need them do they..

PS your profile pic is identical to my lil PK gorgeous colouring!