Ammonia Issues

[denzil1nil]

Ive switched my lights on this morning and noticed that my female betta has two large splits in her tail. This has happend a few times with this fish and the fin repairs itself within a couple of days.

I have had issues with finrot but ive been clear for 3wks now. when i had the finrot i was testing my water daily and had no problems but last week i did a test just before i changed the water and had a ammonia reading of 0.25.

I started testing daily again and my tests were all ok until ive just tested again and my ammonia level is back at 0.25. Im not due to change water again until 15-03/12.

The tank is 30gal.

Inhabitants, 1Rainbow shark, 1b/n catfish, 1female betta, 1 marble hatchett and 2 neons.

Water paramiters ph 7.8, nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 40ppm, Ammonia 0.25

Tank is Lightly planted and decor is two pieces of small bogwood and a slate cave (these came from my old tank)

What i would like to know is why does the bettas tail keep splitting (no white on the areas splitting or bleeding) then repairing itself over a short time with no treatment or extra water changes.

Also I dont understand why im getting a rise in my ammonia levels when my fish stock has gone down and i added a fluval u4 on 11-1-12 and this is running alongside the fluval 2 filter which came from my old tank and this has been running for over a year now (fluval 2) and i havnt done anything daft with the media that would affect the bacteria (my stocking of the hatchetts and neons can not be replenished until im certain my tank is safe. Also the rainbow and betta will be going asap.)

Im getting very frustrated with all this i had no problems until i moved to this 30 gal tank. Ive bought a 4ft tank thats ready and waiting to be set up but i dont want to go spending lots of money and time setting this up if im gonna have the same problems.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Why did your fish stock go down?

I don't have bettas, but from what I've been seeing on here, I think a 30g tank might be too big for it to be comfortable. If it's stressed (and it might just be with your other fish) that could be the reason for the tail problems.

How often do you do water changes?

 

[denzil1nil]

water changes are 40% weekley and the fish stock has gone down due to my battle with finrot i lost quite alot of fish. And from what ive read on here the problem that you mention with bettas in bigger tanks mainly refers to male bettas as there kept alone in very small glass cubes with no other tank mates.

Females however are usually kept in larger tanks with other species of fish so are used to the larger space and tankmates.

 

[TraceyB]

Ive switched my lights on this morning and noticed that my female betta has two large splits in her tail. This has happend a few times with this fish and the fin repairs itself within a couple of days.

I have had issues with finrot but ive been clear for 3wks now. when i had the finrot i was testing my water daily and had no problems but last week i did a test just before i changed the water and had a ammonia reading of 0.25.

I started testing daily again and my tests were all ok until ive just tested again and my ammonia level is back at 0.25. Im not due to change water again until 15-03/12.

The tank is 30gal.

Inhabitants, 1Rainbow shark, 1b/n catfish, 1female betta, 1 marble hatchett and 2 neons.

Water paramiters ph 7.8, nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 40ppm, Ammonia 0.25

Tank is Lightly planted and decor is two pieces of small bogwood and a slate cave (these came from my old tank)

What i would like to know is why does the bettas tail keep splitting (no white on the areas splitting or bleeding) then repairing itself over a short time with no treatment or extra water changes.

Also I dont understand why im getting a rise in my ammonia levels when my fish stock has gone down and i added a fluval u4 on 11-1-12 and this is running alongside the fluval 2 filter which came from my old tank and this has been running for over a year now (fluval 2) and i havnt done anything daft with the media that would affect the bacteria (my stocking of the hatchetts and neons can not be replenished until im certain my tank is safe. Also the rainbow and betta will be going asap.)

Im getting very frustrated with all this i had no problems until i moved to this 30 gal tank. Ive bought a 4ft tank thats ready and waiting to be set up but i dont want to go spending lots of money and time setting this up if im gonna have the same problems.

Have a read at this site, there is a lot of reading but the section on nitrifying bacteria might help you

http/www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html

 

[snazy]

Never had a betta but considering they like quet water and you have two filters there, it could be just it's tail splitting because of the strong water flow.

As for the ammonia issue when adding a second filter it's better to split the media from the cycled filter betweeen both filters to ensure it will be colonized with bacteria faster.
Still, there shouldn't be an ammonia rise if you haven't increased the stock. Maybe you didn't add enough dechlorinator to the new filter or your tap water contains ammonia or cchloramines that break down to ammonia and chlorine which the old filter can't cope with since the ammount of water volume is higher in your new tank?

 

[fluttermoth]

What colour is the betta? I'm wondering if the rainbow shark is taking exception to a similarly coloured fish as it matures?

I'm not sure what to suggest for your ammonia problem; it's most probably just a mini cycle from the filters being moved/having different flow.

Maybe add some more plants? Especially floating ones or tall bunched ones, like cabomba. Should help with your ammonia levels and will make your hatchet feel more secure.

 

[denzil1nil]

Thanks tracy b took some reading but once you get ya head around it its very helpfull I think anyone having problems should take the time read this.

I think snazzys right aswell i should of put some of the old media actually into the new filter instead of just running them together, however im positive im dosing correctly for dechlorinator and my tap water tests at 7.8 ph, ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, nitrate 40ppm my tank water was testing the same until i tested 8-3-12 when the ammonia level rose to 0.25pm for the first time so i did my reguler water change the next day and these dropped to 0ppm but this time the rise in ammonia has come even sooner after my water change. Ill be testing again later see if its risen anymore if so ill do a water change.

The Female betta is a blue crown fin both were mature fish when added to the tank but ive noticed since the theres been less stock in the tank the rainbow is getting more territorial so i need to get my backside in gear and take her back to the lfs.

Ill also look to get some more plants as soon as i can get the ones ive got to grow again.

when i had these in the old tank they were also very healthy ang grew very quickly but since ive changed to this larger tank my plants are also suffering ive upped my lighting and changed my liquid ferts but they are only just growing i have to keep taking the lower leaves off of one set of plants reguler as they go brown quite quick but they grow enough to root and be pruned and re planted there just nowhere near as vibrant as before i have some java fern aswell and this is ok but doesnt grow very tall anymore

 

[TraceyB]

Yes it is heavy reading, however it does explain a lot to help understand why things could be going wrong....... I hope you get things sorted and don't lose your fish...... I think its good that the LFS can take back your fish that way you don't need to worry ........... Best of luck.... TB

 

[denzil1nil]

thanks as expected the betta seems totally fine now her fins are completly back to how they were i still dont understand why this happens with her lol anyway rainbows gaiong back to the shop today and as soon as i get on top of these troubles i can restock. I cant wait my tank looks pretty barren these days.