Ammonia Levels At 1.0ppm Despite Regular Water Changes

[heathm_wa]

I like many other newbies has made the mistake of setting up my tank and adding fish staright away. I have then done reasearch into their odd behaviour and realised my mistake. So as my descriptions says I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation.

I have had the tank now for 4 weeks. It is a 29l tank with an Aqua One hang on filter, air stone and about 4 live plants. I have 4 mollies, 2 swordtails, 2 algae eaters and 3 neon tetras. The water temp is 25 degrees celsius.

I have been doing daily water changes of 25 - 40%, the tap water has no ammonia and is slightly high Ph. The tank ph is neutral and as stated the ammonia levels are always about 1.0 ppm. The fish seem fine, they are active and appear to be healthy (none have died - except one swordtail who jumped through a small gap in the glass). After each water change (with treated water) I have been putting in a small amount of aquarium salts, and stress zyme.

I have been feeding them either 1 cube of frozen bloodworms, or 1 algae wafer, or 2 small pinches of tropical fish flakes a day. I have also been cleaning the base of the tank with a siphion. I noticed a lot of debris coming up when i did that.

Also the water appears to be a little milky. I have been treating with magic clear (the bottle doesn't say if it can be harmful to the fish and how often it can be used.)

Lastly the water flow in the filter does appear to have slowed down. I peformed the filter maintainece suggested in the instruction manual 1 week ago. I cleaned out the carbon filter under the tap water. I then soaked in in old aquarium water. I did NOT touch the sponge which does appear to have alot of gunk on it. I was concerned about losing the established bacteria (wish I'd thought of that before adding the fish)

I'm concerened about the welfare of my fish. I call my swordtails the 3 musteekers ... I want to replace the third lost in battle, but not before I know its safe.

Please any help is hugely appreciated

 

[ArauraDiscus]

I wouldn't do any maintanence at all on the filter for at least a month. And if at that point the filter is gunky, merely use tank water to rinse the gunk off and keep using the same carttridge. On products it says to replace each month. Thats bull IMO> I feel like they just want to make money. I have used filter pads for up to three months. Simply washing them with tank water, it works great for me. Just my opinion.

 

[Lucylou]

I think you have alot of fish for 29l may try to take some back to the shop, until you can cycle your tank. Your carbon filter should not be rinsed under the tap because the cholrine will kill off any bacteria you had. The milky water suggested that there may well be a bacteria bloom which you want. Keep up with the water changes, and hope for the best good luck

 

[rdd1952]

There are several things that are causing your high ammonia level. First, you are teribly overstocked. Your tank is only about 7.5 gallons. It is really only large enough for about 5 or 6 smallish like tetras. If the algae eaters are plecos, they will grow way too big for your tank and are also huge waste producers.

Second, never rinse a filter under tap water. Always lightly swish it in the old tank water. When you rinse under tap water, the chlorine will kill the bacteria on the filter. As mentioned, don't do anything to the filter until the tank is cycled other than mybe lightly rinsing in the old tank water to get any build up off if it causing the flow to slow more than just a little.

Last, I would cut down on the amount you are feeding them until the tank cycles. For the fish you have, a full cube of bloodworms is a lot. I only feed my 75 gallon which has about 20 fish in it a partial cube (some goes to the bettas). I wouldn't feed them more often tha every other day for now.

If the ammonia level never goes lower than 1, I would take a water sample into the lfs and have them check it. Your test kit could be bad. Is the 1 ppm before or after water changes? How much does a 25% WC lower the ammonia?

 

[heathm_wa]

There are several things that are causing your high ammonia level. First, you are teribly overstocked. Your tank is only about 7.5 gallons. It is really only large enough for about 5 or 6 smallish like tetras. If the algae eaters are plecos, they will grow way too big for your tank and are also huge waste producers.

Second, never rinse a filter under tap water. Always lightly swish it in the old tank water. When you rinse under tap water, the chlorine will kill the bacteria on the filter. As mentioned, don't do anything to the filter until the tank is cycled other than mybe lightly rinsing in the old tank water to get any build up off if it causing the flow to slow more than just a little.

Last, I would cut down on the amount you are feeding them until the tank cycles. For the fish you have, a full cube of bloodworms is a lot. I only feed my 75 gallon which has about 20 fish in it a partial cube (some goes to the bettas). I wouldn't feed them more often tha every other day for now.

If the ammonia level never goes lower than 1, I would take a water sample into the lfs and have them check it. Your test kit could be bad. Is the 1 ppm before or after water changes? How much does a 25% WC lower the ammonia?

Hey thanks for your advice. As mentioned in my original post, even after making the water change the ammonia reading doesn't appear to drop. But I'm continuing to do them until it does. I thought the kit maybe faulty as you suggested , so I tested several other sources of water and it came up with different readings. Example my tap water has no apparent ammonia in it. I take you point on the stock levels. I have been considering a larger tank and using my old media and gravel. If I don't and manage to get the fish t survive the cycle period ... is it still too overstocked ?

As for the filter. I'm abit confused about that. I was under the impression the sponge contained the good bacteria and the wool covered carbon filter was to remove impurities etc. For that reason and the fact it said so in the instruction manual I cleaned it ... clearly a mistake. So can I clean the sponge (by lightly shaking it in old aquarium water ) ?

There are several things that are causing your high ammonia level. First, you are teribly overstocked. Your tank is only about 7.5 gallons. It is really only large enough for about 5 or 6 smallish like tetras. If the algae eaters are plecos, they will grow way too big for your tank and are also huge waste producers.

Second, never rinse a filter under tap water. Always lightly swish it in the old tank water. When you rinse under tap water, the chlorine will kill the bacteria on the filter. As mentioned, don't do anything to the filter until the tank is cycled other than mybe lightly rinsing in the old tank water to get any build up off if it causing the flow to slow more than just a little.

Last, I would cut down on the amount you are feeding them until the tank cycles. For the fish you have, a full cube of bloodworms is a lot. I only feed my 75 gallon which has about 20 fish in it a partial cube (some goes to the bettas). I wouldn't feed them more often tha every other day for now.

If the ammonia level never goes lower than 1, I would take a water sample into the lfs and have them check it. Your test kit could be bad. Is the 1 ppm before or after water changes? How much does a 25% WC lower the ammonia?

Sorry ... the algae eaters aren't pleco's they are simply listed as algae eaters at the fish shop. Pleco's $25.00 - Algae Eaters - $2.50

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Probably a Chines or SIamese ALgae eater. Possibly an Oto.

 

[rdd1952]

If the ammonia level isn't changing after a water change, then either the ammonia is in your tap water which means the water changes aren't doing anything or your have a bad test kit. A water change of 25% should always result in a lower ammonia reading.

As far as he algae eaters are concerned, you need to identify them as soon as possible. If they happen to be Chinese Algae Eaters which I would guess to be the case if they don't identify them in the pet store, then they will definitely be a problem. First, they grow to about 6", much too arge for your tank. Second, they become very aggressive as they get older and will try to suck the slime coat off any slower moving fish. They will also attack each other. Post a photo and someone will ID them. And common plecos shouldn't cost $25. They are relatively inexpensive at most fish stores.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

actually i would advise doign a small bit of filter maintenance. while the theory is sound that you don't want to disturb your bacteria, if the flow is very much reduced from the filter then the bacteria are not getting as much food as possible and therefore may not be developing fast enough.

when you do your next water change give the sponge a very very gentle squeeze in old tank water. just get some of the gunk off that is restricting the flow, obviously don't go to town be very careful with it, but just get the worst of the gunk off it so the water can flow through the filter properly.

cleaning the carbon under tap water is a bad move, while carbon does remove impurities it will also still house some of your bacteria which you will now have lost through cleaning it under the tap

 

[MHunt]

I wouldn't bother with the aquarium salts, they may do more harm than good for your neons.

I personaly would also be inclined to lay off the water changes for a couple of days and reduce the amount you feed the fish. Perhaps once a day with a bit of flake. Enough to feed them with, but not so much they produce loads of waste and ammonia. Rather than stress zyme, i would suggest ammo lock. This turns the ammonia into ammonium, which is less harmful to the fish, but the bacteria can still feed on it to cycle the filter. It will give your fish a bit of a harder time, but your filter will cycle quicker, and the ammo lock should protect the fish a bit too.

I'll be honest i cycled with fish the first time and the five guppies in my 20 survived well until recently. Good luck.

 

[heathm_wa]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your input. Its really appreciated.

I've reduced their feeding by quite a bit since I posted this and have continued the water changes. I'll lay off the Stress Zyme and start using Ammo Locak every other day. As mentioned a couple of times I have tested the water in several different water sources and yielded different results each time, however to be sure I'm going to buy a new test kit tomorrow.

I had a thought that perhaps the filter was insufficient because of the tanks being overstocked and the fact there are live plants in the tank as well. Perhaps a larger volume filter would help ? (of course I would use my old sponge and carbon filter in the new filter.

 

[rdd1952]

Rather than stress zyme, i would suggest ammo lock. This turns the ammonia into ammonium, which is less harmful to the fish, but the bacteria can still feed on it to cycle the filter.

My understanding of Ammo-Lock (and it could be incorrect) is that it binds tha ammonia making it non-harmful but also making it uavailable to he bacteria to process thus meaning the tank will not cycle.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Rather than stress zyme, i would suggest ammo lock. This turns the ammonia into ammonium, which is less harmful to the fish, but the bacteria can still feed on it to cycle the filter.

My understanding of Ammo-Lock (and it could be incorrect) is that it binds tha ammonia making it non-harmful but also making it uavailable to he bacteria to process thus meaning the tank will not cycle.

i was always under the impression that it converts it to ammonium which can be used, i could of course be incorrect though!

 

[rdd1952]

I've heard both recently and about to try to research to find out what is true.

 

[heathm_wa]

I've heard both recently and about to try to research to find out what is true.

I've also heard both ... Can you please post the results of your research ... thanks rdd1952

 

[Miss Wiggle]

this site seems to support the theory of it converting to ammonium which is still useable by filter bacteria. although it does not specifically say it converts it to ammonium

http/www.aquariumsuperstore.co.uk/mall/apiammolock.asp