Ammonia Levels Remaining High

[michaela123]

Hello all, I hope everyone is well. I have a big problem with my fish tank. I have a 125L tank with approx 15 fish of varying species (danios, guppies a pearl gourami and a catfish). I have some live plants and millions of trumpet snails (could they be the problem?? - see problem below). Since Saturday last my ammonia levels have been astronomically high (around 2.0) I fist noticed on Saturday that the water seemed cloudy so I did a test using the API master test kit. Nitrates were acceptable, Nitrites 0, PH around 6.6 ammonia around around 2 (help : ) I did an immediate 50% water change and added AmmoLock to the tank. On Sunday I visited my local aquarium shop and took a sample of water in to be tested again. The agreed with my readings and suggested a 30 - 40% water change everyday, they also sold me a NitroZorb pouch (I previously had one of these which I removed the Wednesday previously as it was around a year old and I had recharged it quite a few times. Today - Thursday the PH has gone up to 7.5 the other readings are as they were but the Ammonia is still around 2.0. I added the ammolock again yesterday but am I doing the right thing as surely the water changes are reducing the ammolock quantity each time. I would be hugely grateful for some advice as I don't know what else to do. When can I expect the Ammonia levels to drop? I have checked the tank for dead fish and there are none. Is it the snails as there are zillions? Please please can anyone help, my fish are fine at the moment but for how much longer

Sorry for the long post!!

 

[onebto]

I am not sure with the stocking and the trumpet snails invasion hopefully someone else will advise on that but a few questions.

How long has the tank been running? and how did you cycle it?

For the moment I would recommend at least an 90% water changes daily while the Ammonia is above 0.0 if you have the time do a water change in the morning give it an hour then test the levels if you have Ammonia do another 90% water change.

One other thing you posted your water stats but you failed to put down your Nitrate reading.

regards onebto.

 

[Lolly123]

Hi,

First off like onebto said did you cycle the tank...did you allow enough time for a bacterial colony to build up before you added the fish? If you didnt, thats why you are receiving high ammonia readings, if you dont have the beneficial bacteria established in your filter it will not be able to process the toxins until it has been given the appropriate time to colonise.. therefore it is up to you to keep the levels at an 'accpetable' amount and you must water change to keep those low, otherwise the damage caused to your fish will most likely be significant.

I cannot write much more right now as I have to go, but what filtration are you using, internal, external filter, what are your water changing regimes, do you gravel vac each time, get rid of excess food etc, how long have you been running the tank...the more info the better.

Ill check back later.

Lolly.

 

[the biffster]

hi how long as the tank been
established

 

[Skins]

Hello,
Take a look at this link and go to the forth post.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/332092-ammolock-should-i-have-it-for-emergencies/page__hl__AmmoLock__fromsearch__1

Hope its of some use , Skins.

 

[michaela123]

Hi,

First off like onebto said did you cycle the tank...did you allow enough time for a bacterial colony to build up before you added the fish? If you didnt, thats why you are receiving high ammonia readings, if you dont have the beneficial bacteria established in your filter it will not be able to process the toxins until it has been given the appropriate time to colonise.. therefore it is up to you to keep the levels at an 'accpetable' amount and you must water change to keep those low, otherwise the damage caused to your fish will most likely be significant.

I cannot write much more right now as I have to go, but what filtration are you using, internal, external filter, what are your water changing regimes, do you gravel vac each time, get rid of excess food etc, how long have you been running the tank...the more info the better.

Ill check back later.

Lolly.

Hi Lolly, thanks for your reply. The tank has been up and running for three years now so it's definitely not a new set up. The filter is a FLUVAL internal filter -never had a problem before. I do a 20% change every two weeks and use this change to also gravel vac. Today the reading has dropped to 1.0 which is an improvement. I have added another dose of Ammo lock today. Hope this info helps.

I am not sure with the stocking and the trumpet snails invasion hopefully someone else will advise on that but a few questions.

How long has the tank been running? and how did you cycle it?

For the moment I would recommend at least an 90% water changes daily while the Ammonia is above 0.0 if you have the time do a water change in the morning give it an hour then test the levels if you have Ammonia do another 90% water change.

One other thing you posted your water stats but you failed to put down your Nitrate reading.

regards onebto.

Hi and thanks for the reply. I've posted a rely to Lolly also so that may help answer some of your questions - the tank is a three year old set up. The Nitrate reading was around 20 which although isn't great has been like that for around a year with no adverse effect to the fish. Today my reading has dropped to 1.0 so at least this is an improvement, I'm a little worried about doing a 90% water change isn't that a bit drastic? Many thanks in advance onebto.

 

[michaela123]

Hello,
Take a look at this link and go to the forth post.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/332092-ammolock-should-i-have-it-for-emergencies/page__hl__AmmoLock__fromsearch__1

Hope its of some use , Skins.

Hi and yes it was really helpful. I havent fed the fish since Sunday and have been doing between 30 and 50% water changes since then also. My Nitrites are reading 0 and the tank is three years old so not a new set up. Onebto suggests 90% water changes but I have mentioned that I'm worried they are a bit drastic. I've added another dose of ammolock today however after reading the post I'm now not sure what readings I have ammonia or ammonium?

 

[the biffster]

if your worried about doing a 90%
water change only do a 50% change
and do another 50% a day or two later

with ammo lock you still
get a reading when you test