Ammonia Spike And Problems!

[GTS_MAD]

First of id like to say hello to everyone on here.
This is my first time and completly new to Tropical fish, my mum has always had fish but iv always wanted a tank of my own.

I have had my tank now for 5 weeks and yesterday seen my tank water was very cloudy so was worried so had new local shop test my water and found out i had ammonia....

Iv had 1 angel fish die and also 1 clown loach, very worried about the other fish, but more about the loachs they are constantly around the side on the filter and will not come out.

Is there anything i should do iv dont a 50% water change and treated the water with Ammo Lock.Its a 200Litre tank.

Any help would be great!

 

[sami the cichlid]

did u cycle your tank first? wht is the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate reading now and wht were they when it "spiked"?

 

[GTS_MAD]

Yes the tank was cycled before any fish went in and then some hard water fish went in aswell as live bacteria to get the cycle started.

As for readings im unsure ot the spike as i wasnt expecting it

 

[sami the cichlid]

what about now?

 

[GTS_MAD]

well now iv only got the testing strips but they are matching up to be ok now iv done a 50% water change and added ammo lock and live bacteria.

But why are my clown loach hiding at back of tank or on the side of the heater?

 

[GTS_MAD]

does anyone have any ideas?

 

[WILDER]

How many fish and which type.

How often do you maintain the tank.

Test strip cards are not accurate. Liquid test kits are the best.

Clown loaches new large tanks of about 90 gallons. Also they shouldn't be kept in less than a group of 3.
Are the fish gasping or laboured breathing.

Water change and increase aeration.

Welcome to the board.

 

[GTS_MAD]

iv done a water change and have bubbles going in there so they cant be starving for air.

I dont know why they will not come out, they hide at the back and constanatly on the side of the filter.

 

[WILDER]

I would keep doing water changes.

How many fish and which type do you have in the tank.
Need to look at your stocking to make sure the tanks not overstocked.

 

[GTS_MAD]

10 Lemon Tetra's, 4 clown loach, 4 angel fish,2 cory dorys

 

[WILDER]

How big are the clown loaches.
Added far to many fish to soon.

What type of filter are you running.

 

[GTS_MAD]

loachs are around 1 inch at the moment and im using a Fluval U4 Filter

What shall i do?

 

[WILDER]

The filter size is ok.
Is the filter running at its full potential.
Make sure the filter running well.

Just keep doing water changes.

 

[GTS_MAD]

ok how often should i do them, weekly?

and also yes the filter is running as fast as it goes, so is there not a problem with the clochs on the filter then

 

[WILDER]

Don't over feed the fish.
I would preform at least two water changes aday till ammonia and nitrite are 0.