Ammonia Levels...grrrr

[ilovejack]

So lately the ammonia in Jack's tank has been elevated. I posted another post about this last week, and took the advice of people who responded, but so far nothing has worked.

Water stats:
Ammonia: .5ppm
Nitrite: .5ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
pH: 7.4ish

I just did a 20%ish water change and then took those stats. Before today, the temp had been up around 88F, but today its 81F. We have no air conditioning, so I dont have much of a choice on temp. Do you think there could be something wrong with the ammonia test itself? I test our tap water and it reads .5ppm, and we shouldnt have any. I bought some stuff that neutralizes the ammonia, chlorine, and cloramine, but it doesnt seem to be helping. Should I go and buy another ammonia test kit to be sure? I used tetracycline about 2 or 3 weeks ago to treat a spot on Jack, so it wiped out the bacteria colony on the under gravel filter. I have always had a reading of ammonia. Last week it was up to 1ppm, but now it's down to .5. I know that ammonia is bad for Jack, but I dont know what to do!

Also, Jack has been having the worst time keeping his fins/tail full. His bottom fin is clamped and raggedy, his top fin is raggedy as well as his tail. And the little fin thing right under his 'chin' is torn as well. I wish you could come over to my house to check everything out for yourselves, but alas no can do.

In the water I put "Kent's Freshwater Betta Bowl Essentials" which is the neutralizer. Also, I put aquarium salt in either every other or once every three partial water changes. I feed Jack once every other day so the ammonia levels are down, but so I dont starve the poor boy. I try to do a 15-20% water change every day, but might skip a day if I forget or am not home.

His fins start to grow back and I get my hopes up that he's better, and then I'll see they got worse again. I know that with fin rot comes discoloration of the ends of the fins, and I do see some of that with Jack. I'll see when I wake up in the morning that he lost a bunch of his tail. I dont think he's nipping his own fins, as I dont think he can reach them. He is as active as ever, and eats when I do feed him. I'll see him vegging out either at the top or the bottom for a rest once in a while, but when I come into the room or call his name he swims right over to me. I love that

Anyways, I hope someone can help me out with my problem. I just dont know what to do anymore. I think I'm doing everything possible, but it's not enough apparently.



-E

 

[tttnjfttt]

Before blaming your test kit, i would do some research into your local water supply. If your water has chloramine in it, you will get an ammonia reading. Most places have a web page now. Next step would be to just take two samples to the LFS, and have them test both. Why waste the money when you just need to test it? As for the ammonia in water, you are doing the right thing by using something to neutralize the ammonia.

I would hesitate to use salt long term, that could be irritating. As for his fins growing in then eroding, could it be from him being a tail bitter? Some bettas are notorious for eating their own tails. I know i have had a few that like to do that.

 

[ilovejack]

Well I just tested my bottled water, and no ammonia readings. So I know it's not my test kit. I am going to start buying the big bottles of NON DISTILLED water at the store, because there is no ammonia in that. I understand that I need to introduce it to him slowly and stuff, and I will do that. The reason my water has the ammonia is because it is treated water. We have some of the highest rated water for cleanliness, and since they care more about people then fishies I will just pay for the bottled water. It's not that expensive, and I only have a two gallon tank, so it wont cost too much. My only problem is where I am going to store it while at school. Oh well, that's for me to figure out.

So any ideas on how to get Jack's fins back to normal? I have some BettaFix laying around, but I dont know if I should use it or just let nature work. And can anyone help out on the clamped fins? I have mentioned it several times and have never gotten a response, and nothing I do helps. They have been that way for as long as I can remember. I have only had him a couple months. That is a big concern for me, and I just want them normal!

-E

 

[tttnjfttt]

Ok, DO NOT use distilled water with him. The problem with it is, it is too pure. Fish need some of the minerals and other "stuff" that is found in water everywhere. Just keep using an ammonia neuteralizing chemical, and you will be fine. Your filter will eventually get strong enough to break it down, just minimize it after water chagnes.

For as how to get him back to full health, I would give him time, clean water, and no stress. That seems to be the best. Also, keep him on a varried diet, more than just betta pellets.

Good Luck!

 

[ilovejack]

I was not planning on using distilled water, hence the NON i had in my previous post. Bottled water that is not distilled has those minerals and such that fish need. I will wait to see if the water down at school has ammonia or not, and if it does i will buy water. I wont have the time, or the energy, to see to the ammonia levels as often while at school for the first few weeks as we have practice three times a day and such, so putting ammonia free water in would be my best choice.

Now the varied diet is somewhat challenging. I try to feed the frozen blood worms to Jack and he ignores them. I will try again soon, but it's going to be a difficult task. He's a stubborn little boy. I think he takes after me

-E

 

[diademhill]

If you used a product that claims to make ammonia safe it can foul up your test kit readings. What actual product & what brand of test kit?
How many bottles for the ammonia test?

 

[ilovejack]

If you used a product that claims to make ammonia safe it can foul up your test kit readings. What actual product & what brand of test kit?
How many bottles for the ammonia test?

The test kit I use is the 'Freshwater Master Test Kit". There are two bottles for the ammonia test. The stuff I use to neutralize the ammonia is "Kent Freshwater Betta Bowl Essential". It was the cheap stuff and I wasnt the one purchasing

Before I start spending even more money, I would like to know if purchasing bottled water would be a good investment. I dont want to add ammonia to the tank every time I do water changes, and I dont know if the neutralizer actually works or not. It wouldn't be a huge expense, as I only have the two gallon, but I want to do whats best for Jack.

-E

 

[tttnjfttt]

Honestly, since your betta is in a cycled tank, i wouldn't bother. Using a dechlorinator like you use makes the ammonia safe, which will then be used by the filter. It will not harm the fish in any bad ways.

If you really want to you, can buy the bottled water. You know about the minerals, so that is good. One thing is even with the bottled water, still use a dechlorinator because there can be small amounts of chlorine in it.