Ammonia Problem

[glyndawn]

hi folks

i have a 90ltr tank with a fluval 3 filter the tank has been running now for 13 mths with 10 neon tetras in


i just checked my ammonia levels and its 1.0


why whould this be so high and why isnt the filter controling this level ?

 

[the biffster]

hi folks

i have a 90ltr tank with a fluval 3 filter the tank has been running now for 13 mths with 10 neon tetras in


i just checked my ammonia levels and its 1.0


why whould this be so high and why isnt the filter controling this level ?

have you been doing weekly
water changes and tank maintenance
if you have how have you been cleaning
the sponges out in you filter in old tank
water or in tap water

 

[glyndawn]

ive been doing a 20ltr change a month i clean the pads out in the old tank water is this enough ? how much and when should i change the water

 

[the biffster]

ive been doing a 20ltr change a month i clean the pads out in the old tank water is this enough ? how much and when should i change the water

i recommend doing a 50% water as soon as
possible and an other one the day
after you need to get your ammonia
down as soon as you can do you know the
other stats on your tank as well 20lts
a month is a very small amount i my self
would be doing 25 to 30 % a fortnight

 

[glyndawn]

ph = 6.0
nitrate = 5.0
nitrite = 0
ammonia = 1.0


is it advisable to put my black carbon filter pad in with the white pads ?

 

[glyndawn]

also whould it be advisable to add some live plants ?

 

[onebto]

Totally agree with Biffster your other water stats would help.

20 litres a month thats like 19% a month its really not a lot at all, I must admit I am surprised you have not had trouble before.

My thinking is if you do a 50% water change you get rid of 50% of the ammonia by diluting it with the fresh water 0.5 Ammonia is not good for your fish.

I would recommend an 80% water change, wait an hour or so do a test then do another 80% water change then check your water stats at least once a day and do water changes of between 50 and 80% untill you got the Ammonia licked. But that's just what I would do

I would recommend you keep doing your 20 litre water changes but if thats the volume you want to do on a water change then I would do that change weekly. But that's what I would do

Finally I would be asking myself why has my Ammonia got so high? Because if you have maintained the same regime for 13 months then it is not entirely your maintenance scheme.

I would test the source of water that you are using to clean your tank.

I would ask myself have I been over feeding my fish of late?

I would check are there any fish missing?

If so are they dead and decaying in the tank?

Did I clean my filter sponge out to vigorously? (even though I done it in old tank water)

What I am trying to get you to see is why this has happened. We all here have learnt from mistakes that we have made or someone else has done and read about it on here.

Oh one question what are you using to test your water stats?

Good luck and we are always here if you need more help

Regards onebto.

 

[the biffster]

ph = 6.0
nitrate = 5.0
nitrite = 0
ammonia = 1.0


is it advisable to put my black carbon filter pad in with the white pads ?

every thing seem right there
i wouldn't bother with the carbon
pad you only need them when you are removing
medication from your tank like i said No1 priority
is to get your ammonia down and the only way to do that is WC's

 

[glyndawn]

im using a freshwater test kit

the pads i put in tank water squize them once then back in filter

 

[Carlovel1]

PERFORM A WATER CHANGE!

 

[Harlequins]

I agree with a large water change to bring the ammonia back down to zero or close has possible...

Regarding the ammonia -have you given your substrate a good clean lately? - waterchanges ideally need to be done weekly or at a push fotnightly on normal tank maintenance.

Do you have any decaying plants or fish that have died recently or are missing?
Do you have any decaying plants in the tank?
Have you change any media in your filter at all or is it the original media pads?