Ammonia Problem

[finalfantay85]

Thanks, just wanted to know i'd be ok doing this frequently. I didn't wanna be adding any un-needed stress on them considering how bad my water quality is at the moment

 

[finalfantay85]

Ok the ammonia levels are dropping, we're about 1ppm at the moment. I will just keep a very close eye on it and hope the Nitrite spike isn't too bad when it eventually happens and keep up the hourly water changes for the time being

 

[fatheadminnow]

Glad to hear it is working out. Still, 1 ppm is poisonous to the fish and should be down at or below .25 ppm.

Don't be worried about doing large frequent water changes, as the water changes are way less stressful to the fish compared to the high level of ammonia.

Keep up the good work.

-FHM

 

[rebrn]

Good work finalfantay85, told you you would get there FHM is the best helped me through my ammonia spike too.

 

[finalfantay85]

ok i'm down to about 0.5ppm gonna resume the water changes now cos i had to go out unexpectedly. If i manage to get the levels down to 0, or 0.25ppm, as long as i keep monitoring the levels would it be best to do once daily water changes for a few days anyway then just monitor them and change as needed?

 

[fatheadminnow]

ok i'm down to about 0.5ppm gonna resume the water changes now cos i had to go out unexpectedly. If i manage to get the levels down to 0, or 0.25ppm, as long as i keep monitoring the levels would it be best to do once daily water changes for a few days anyway then just monitor them and change as needed?

You might have to do more than a 50% water change a day. You might need to do two water changes or more a day. You can also do larger water changes, like 75% vs. 50%. I would just check the water parameters in the morning when you get up, and then do a water change(s) accordingly to bring the ammonia and/or nitrite level down as close to 0 ppm as possible. Then check the water parameters again in the evening and perform water change(s) needed.

-FHM

 

[finalfantay85]

Yeah i intend to keep testing, i was just wondering once i get the levels down is it worth carrying on the water changes for a few days regardless of getting a 0 or .25ppm reading just to help?
I am gonna try and do another 2 or 3 changes tonight but due to work tomorrow i won't be able to do a water change until the evening.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yeah i intend to keep testing, i was just wondering once i get the levels down is it worth carrying on the water changes for a few days regardless of getting a 0 or .25ppm reading just to help?
I am gonna try and do another 2 or 3 changes tonight but due to work tomorrow i won't be able to do a water change until the evening.

If you are reading 0 ppm, there is no need to do a water change. If it is .25 ppm, personally, I would do a water change to bring it back down.

-FHM

 

[rebrn]

Hello, once they get down to 0.25 ppm or below I would check them every 12 hours and do water changes accordingly. But remember to check about an hour after each water change to make sure they stay down other wise you may have to do an interm water change ... make sense? So bascially ... water change completed check in 1 hour, if remains at 0.25 or below check again in roughly 12 hours OR water change completed check in 1 hour above 0.25 complete another water change check again in 1 hour below 0.25 check again in 12 hours.

 

[finalfantay85]

Yeah thanks i get the idea now. I seem to be somewhere between 0.25 and 0.5ppm at the moment but it's not so easy to distinguish between the 2 shades of green. Not long finished a water change so will test and change in an hour then hopefully manage another one before i go to bed. Will test in the morning and hope otherwise i'll have to trust someone to do water changes whilst i'm in work