Ammonia Level What To Do

[paully21]

Wow...I really need some help.

I bought a new 20 gallon fish tank 6 weeks ago. I know now that I made the bozo mistake of adding my fish too fast. I have in there two (2 inch) oscars, 1 pleco, and three (2 inch) catfish. The tank has two over the back filters...The first is suitable for a 50 gallon tank and has a bio wheel. The second is just for a 20 gallon tank and doesn't have a filter, just a bio bag full of ammonia reducing material from Marineland. The tank also has an active filter from (http/www.angelsplus.com/FiltersSponge.htm). I've used Tetra SafeStart and a few other bio starters as well.

My problem is my API ammonia test is off the chart...Like seriously so green it's almost blue. I even bought a different API kit from another store and it too is way off the chart. I used the test strips from Jungle and they register high ammonia too. Lastly, I have an in tank NH3 monitor from Mardel and it says everything is GREAT.

I also have done water changes and ammonia reducers to try to bring the level down and nothing helps.

My fish seem fine, but I was gauging the ammonia level so I was sure not to over feed (currently once every two days).

Uggh...This is not as easy and relaxing as I hoped...Any advice?

 

[Jamepsss]

Hi. Large water changes is the only way to reduce the ammonia during your fish in cycle. 50% once or twice a day I would say.

Also, 20 gallons is far too small to house oscars long term.

 

[paully21]

Hi. Large water changes is the only way to reduce the ammonia during your fish in cycle. 50% once or twice a day I would say.

Also, 20 gallons is far too small to house oscars long term.

Totally agree...I plan to get a larger tank when needed.

When doing the water change should I just take it "off the top" or use a siphon to vacuum the gravel in the process?

 

[Jamepsss]

Hi. Large water changes is the only way to reduce the ammonia during your fish in cycle. 50% once or twice a day I would say.

Also, 20 gallons is far too small to house oscars long term.

Totally agree...I plan to get a larger tank when needed.

When doing the water change should I just take it "off the top" or use a siphon to vacuum the gravel in the process?

When doing this many water changes you can just syphon off the top mainly, maybe hoover the gravel a couple of times a week as well.

 

[Skins]

Hi. Large water changes is the only way to reduce the ammonia during your fish in cycle. 50% once or twice a day I would say.

Also, 20 gallons is far too small to house oscars long term.

Totally agree...I plan to get a larger tank when needed.

When doing the water change should I just take it "off the top" or use a siphon to vacuum the gravel in the process?

Yes, vac the gravel when performing your water change.

Keith.

Sorry jamepsss, you beat me to it.

 

[mattvillas]

When using ammonia reducers, it will convert the NH3 (toxic) ammonia to NH4 (non-toxic). However, when you use a test kit like API, it will register the total ammonia (NH3 + NH4). So you will get a false positive afterwards. Unless you have a test kit that only tests NH3, there is no way to know how much of your total ammonia reading is actually toxic to your fish.
Are they acting funny in any way or seem affected by it? Do the water changes and keep an eye on your fish. When using ammonia reducers, it's pointless to test for ammonia until a while later.

 

[paully21]

When using ammonia reducers, it will convert the NH3 (toxic) ammonia to NH4 (non-toxic). However, when you use a test kit like API, it will register the total ammonia (NH3 + NH4). So you will get a false positive afterwards. Unless you have a test kit that only tests NH3, there is no way to know how much of your total ammonia reading is actually toxic to your fish.
Are they acting funny in any way or seem affected by it? Do the water changes and keep an eye on your fish. When using ammonia reducers, it's pointless to test for ammonia until a while later.

That must be it. The API bottles say they test for NH3 / NH4. And during my water changes (every two days 50%) I would add a conditioner that not only removed chlorine but ammonia. So then I'd test the water and it would still be bad. Anyway...I have a conditioner that only removes chlorine and I'm gonna just use that and give up the ammonia reducers all together.

 

[Tizer]

Whats the point in locking ammonia and then doing a 50% water change? Why not do a 90% water change and save yourself the cost of expensive and unnecessary treatments.

make sure you dechlorinate your new water or you will kill off the bacteria in your filters that process the ammonia.

Just do a 90% change today, then at the same time tomorrow do 40% and do it every day for a week.

Reconsider you fish stock too, small fish dont stay small forever and will grow deformed without you knowing it.

 

[paully21]

Whats the point in locking ammonia and then doing a 50% water change? Why not do a 90% water change and save yourself the cost of expensive and unnecessary treatments.

make sure you dechlorinate your new water or you will kill off the bacteria in your filters that process the ammonia.

Just do a 90% change today, then at the same time tomorrow do 40% and do it every day for a week.

Reconsider you fish stock too, small fish dont stay small forever and will grow deformed without you knowing it.

I just did a 50% with the dechlorinator...I'll just keep that going for a while...As I said, that's probably it.

The plan is for a new tank, but how would I reconsider my stock? I'm kinda stuck with them (and, I like them).

 

[Tizer]

Aquatic shops are generally happy enough to take fish back to resell and may even let you swap a couple in the process.

Its easier to detatch yourself from them now than it will be 6 months down the line.

Oscars need big tanks without question and the Pleco, if its a common, could grow up to 18 inches long, he wont be able to turn around in your tank....better off swapped for a bristlenose, they dont grow too big.

Sure its going to take a long time to get to that size, but its nearly impossible to determine when deformaties will set in.

I like horses but i keep mine in a field not the back garden

Point is, you should buy fish which dont grow too big for small tanks, even if they do look cute and happy when babies.

Of course the other option is to buy a nice big tank for them in a years time