Ammonia Problem

[Collie.lover.88]

Hi everyone,
Im new to the tropical fish forum. Please can somebody help me as im having alot of trouble so far with my fish tank. Ive had my tank set up for a few weeks and I added a few fish and my ammonia level has rocketed. Ive done regular water changes everyday and gravel cleans as i heard this reduces the ammonia level, Ive recently lost two fish due to the ammonia level, and now im worried that i will lose more fish too. Is there any way i can quickly remove the ammonia from my tank without my fish getting harmed any more? I bought an ammonia remover thing to put inside the filter, i currently have 2 small filters running in the tank as i thought this might help my fish? Also, i have a 40 litre tank if this would be of any help?
Any help at all will really be appreciated, im very concerned about my fish.
Thanks very much!
Stacy )

 

[WILDER]

How many fish and which type?
If in the united states you can buy bio spira.

The tanks cycling i'm afraid. All you can do is water zhanges and increase aeration.
Do you know any fish keepers who could donate you a mature filter sponge.

You don't preform gravel vacs to the tanks cycled.
Only thing you do is remove uneaten food, water changes, and rinse the white filter floss once a week.

Also read up on the nitrogen cycle.

 

[Collie.lover.88]

Also my ammonia reading is on 0.50.
Thank you

 

[WILDER]

You need to read about the nitrogen cycle.
The ammonia reading will raise off the chart, then you will start to see nitrites rise.

It's really best to do a fishless cycle.
As a cycling tank takes it's toll on fish.

Keep doing water changes about 2 to 3 times aday to keep the levels down.
Get you some info.

Here the link.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

 

[Collie.lover.88]

Hi there
Ahh thanks for replying to me. I have 3 male guppys, 2 mollies, 4 tetra neons, 1 plec and 2 silver dollars. I asked the lady in the pet shop and she said they would all be ok together but since ive had them ive noticed little pecks out of my guppys tails and people have since advised me that i should get rid of my silver dollars and that the pet shop lady should have told me not to mix them with small fish. Do u think i should put them away from my other fish in a different tank? I have a 40 litre tank and do clean it regular everyday. I have synthetic wool in my one filter and an ammonia thing in the other filter. i have a bubbler in there too. I dont know if its any good? Im really trying my best to keep them healthy, but i'm finding it really hard. When i first put the fish in the tank, i had nitrate and nitrite in there too, this has gone now though but the ammonia seems to be staying. I put stress coat and conditioners in there with every change too.
Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.
Regards, Stacy )

 

[Collie.lover.88]

Thanks for the link, its really helpful of u. I'll have a look at it and i'll read about the nitrogen cycle too. I'll start cleaning my tank 2 to 3 times a day to try and remover the ammonia too as im only doin it once a day now. How long do i need to keep cleaning my tank 2-3 times a day for?
Sorry to be a nag but i dont really now alot as im new to the whole tropical fish thing.
Thanks very much!
Stacy

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks severely overstocked.
For a start the tank way to small for the silver dollars.
I would take the silver dollars back, plec, neons tetra.
Neon tetra need mature tanks of 6 months.


When starting a new tank you are meant only to add a few hardy fish.
It's really best to do a fishless cycle. As fish tend to suffer and die in cycling tanks.

The best bit of advice I can offer is research the fish before you buy. For tank size, adult size, compatability.

You need to keep up with water changes till your ammonia and nitrite reading is 0.
Don't do a gravel vac till the ammonia and nitrite reading is 0.
Just remove uneaten food with a net.

Also only feed sparingly.

 

[Collie.lover.88]

ahh thanks for your reply. how big a tank does a silver dollar need? If its not too big, i could put them in another tank as i dont think i could part with them. i have noticed that the seem to be coming up to the top of the tank alot. I'll keep up the water changes everyday a few times a day. Thanks for all your help, i'll read up about the nitrogen cycle too. Thanks for your advice, i really appreciate it.
Thanks again
Kind regards
Stacy

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the other tank?
How many fish and which type.
What are water stats.

Ask in the cichlid part of the forum for tank size for silver dollars.
All I know is that your 40 litre is to small for them. That's it i'm afraid.

I would so a water change now if the fish are having trouble breathing.
If they start gasp immediate water change.

If you do decide to move the silver dollars, match ph and temp.