Ammonia Spike, Please Help

[johnson.ce2010]

Hi everyone, this is my first post and I'm afraid it's asking for help & advice. I've fallen into the trap of many newbies and think I have new tank syndrome after reading many other posts on many forums. I have had my tank set up around a month, since 27/3/11. I added cherry shrimp after a week, danios after another week, and tetras the next week. About 6 days ago I had a massive bacterial bloom (cloudy white water) and my ammonia shot up to a whopping 8mg/L. I don't know what happened - it was previously 0, although I have never had a nitrite reading so I'm guessing my tank never fully cycled. My LFS told me I've killed my filter bacteria by using deoderant in my room??? Seems a bit far fetched to me, I was always very careful not to spray anything near my tank. However, something has happened as the filter sponge change from the nice happy pink colour back to its original white-ish.
My shrimp are now all dead (I feel awful) but 1 who I managed to save by moving to my moms 25L nano tank, also having trouble cycling. I'm worried my fish won't survive long enough for the tank to cycle properly. Everything was going so well, I wish I had known about fishless cycling before.

Here's my info:

Tank size: 60L (Biorb)
pH: 6.5 (API test strip, confirmed with Tetra liquid test)
ammonia: 8mg/L (API liquid test kit)
nitrite: 0mg/L (API test strip)
nitrate: 0-20mg/L (API test strip)
kH: 0-40 mg/L (API test strip)
gH: 30 mg/L (API test strip)
tank temp: 25-26 degrees centigrade

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): All seem fine, normal colouration etc.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Over the past 5 days; 75% on 3 days, 25% the next, 50% today. Water changes result in the relevant decrease in ammonia (e.g. todays 50% reduced 8mg/L to <4mg/L)

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Tetra aquasafe water conditioner (as required per water change), API ammo lock (not used in the past 2 days), API stress zyme previously used but not for about a week now as I was told it's rubbish and would aid bacterial blooms by my LFS.

Tank inhabitants:4 x longfin leapord danio, 6 x ember tetra.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Previously bogwood + java fern & wysteria (removed after complete tank scrub down ~4 days ago [have never rinsed filter sponge in anything but tank water]), now contains java fern, java moss, 1 x fake plant, 2 x large grey pebbles suitable for aquarium use, Biorb feng shui pebbles, aquaone black gravel, biorb ceramic media. All were rinsed in tap water before addition.

Exposure to chemicals: Previously possible aerosol contamination (tank is in my bedroom; deoderant, perfume, spray cleaner for small animal cage in same room)

Note: tap water tests 0.25mg/L ammonia.

 

[onebto]

Welcome to the forum Johnson

I think you have hit the nail on the head with the conclusion that your tank is not correctly cycled, don't beat yourself up it is easy done and we see it all the time, but you are doing the correct thing with the big water changes which I would suggest you do daily and I am afraid you are going to do that for a while.

Of course if you had got a containment in the water from a spray this would of aggravated the problem of a non cycled tank so I suggest that one makes up a cover of some description to put on your Bio orb ( I have very little knowledge of bio orb's as I have never had one and only read about them) so that this cannot happen again.

You are using dechlorinate with new water?

LFS, it is of wide opinion by most on here that the very large majority are in it for the profit and will steer you on an unwise path of advice if it means a sale further more there are quite a lot of LFS assistants that think they are knowledgeable and are giving you genuinely good advice but unfortunately they are not its always wise to check and study from a couple of good resources of which this forum I will recommend A+ We have a section called beginners resource centre (link at the bottom of my page) Which has a staggering amount of knowledge and advice I recommend you check it out.

Of course there are good LFS that give sound advice and will not push a sale but they are unfortunately in the minority

One word of caution with large water changes just keep an eye on your tanks water temperature as if it fluctuates to much you will stress the fish and considering they are in a bad way already it could kill them so make sure you up the temperature by using a kettles in each bucket

Regards onebto

 

[johnson.ce2010]

Thanks for the reply onebto. I have been heating the water as you say and am using the tetra aquasafe water conditioner which states it eliminates chlorine and chloramine, and binds heavy metals. However, when everything started to go wrong I had just run out off the aquasafe and was using nutrafin aquaplus, which my LFS told me wasn't as good. I noticed it also wasn't as expensive, but what do you expect. Thanks for the links, if there's any other advice yourself or anyone else could give me I'd appreciate it. I have purchased a 9W UV steriliser to help prevent any future bacterial blooms. Although I recognise this won't get rid of the problem, I do not want to have to go through the bloom again! I also recently purchased a koralia nano movement pump but I removed it after the problems started as I was worried it was interfering with the biorbs' water circulation. Ho hum. I thought getting a fishtank would relieve some of my stress!!!

 

[onebto]

Sounds like you have got most things sorted a few nice big water changes should help to get rid of the bloom.

there are lots of dechlorinates on the market they all very much do the same job some are a bit better than others and the price depends mainly on the level of greed of the retailer usually.

Personally I like using Seachem prime its good stuff and gives you pretty good value for money and I get it on line if you do not know already most products you need for running a tropical tank are best bought on line and if you buy over a certain amount you get postage free with some outfits my personal favourite is Charter house aquatics but there are plenty to choose from everyone has there own favourite that you will discover soon.

prime dechlorinate from my chosen place of purchase

As for the stress that will ebb away and eventually you will be left with the joy of watching your fish doing what they want but it just needs a bit of time, knowledge and experiance to get there we have all been in the same boat don't worry the euphoric days of fish keeping are just around the corner

In the mean time any problems we are all hear to help

Regards onebto

 

[clgklg]

I to had a Ammonia spike, not sure why since my tank has been established for almost 5 years. Although my spike was only .25 from 0, I used Prime and it almost instantly fixed the problem. I wonder if that should be used in all water changes? Any opinions on that?

 

[johnson.ce2010]

Thanks for the response everyone, this issue has now resolved itself and all fish are still present, although they are quite listless and a few have their mouths open. I'm guessing this is because their gills have been damaged Does anyone know is there is anything I can do to help them, or if this is reversible over time? They were transferred to a new tank yesterday (with the old filter & gravel) so are likely to be stressed from that. Ammonia readings are now 0 mg/L thankfully.
clgklg - I am now using Prime water conditioner, it's much better!

 

[clgklg]

It's a miracle worker! I hope everything turns out well for you, I do think you can somewhat repair the ammonia damage with a product called AmQuel.

Good luck!

 

[johnson.ce2010]

I lost 3 ember tetras yesterday. Another is on his way out today, and 2 of my danios have clamped fins and are very wobbly. Poor things. I was thinking it was surprising I hadn't lost any fish, seems I spoke too soon. pH has climbed to 7.6, so I am adding bogwood as I have read a lower pH (6.5-7) can help the symptoms of ammonia poisoning. Anyone have any thoughts?
Also, nitrite readings are 0 despite my ammonia levels being 0, even though I thought the tank was cycling. They have been this way for at least 24 hours. Nitrates are between 0 and 5ppm (all now determined using the API liquid tests) I am using Stability bacteria supplement recommended by my lfs, so I asked them about the lack of nitrites and was told that there won't be a nitrite spike when using stability. I am confused - does anyone have any experience of this being the case?

 

[johnson.ce2010]

Well, the end of this story is unfortunately a sad one. I lost all of my fish except 1 little ember tetra, and 6 out of 8 shrimp (safely transferred to my mums 25L nano tank). Absolutely gutted.

However, fishless cycle (oh if I had only known about this before) is now well underway, hope to complete it in the next 7 days and then stock with fish. I only hope that others will learn from my mistakes.

Hoping to have a mini fish tank, if you get my meaning -
6 x ember tetra
6 x celestial danio / galaxy rasbora
6 x pygmy cory
4 x checkerboard cichlids/rams (forgotten the precise name at this moment)
and hope to have back my 1 ember tetra and 2 cherry shrimp from my mum, although she's really taken to them.
Obviously, not stocking all these fish at the same time. Looks like a lot but the first 3 fish types only get to 2cm!

Also have amazon swords, some type of fern, a java moss bridge, and some type of vine growing on my bogwood. Hoping to add some amazon frogbit to give some shade too. Should be good!

Charlie

 

[Tizer]

Well, the end of this story is unfortunately a sad one. I lost all of my fish except 1 little ember tetra, and 6 out of 8 shrimp (safely transferred to my mums 25L nano tank). Absolutely gutted.

However, fishless cycle (oh if I had only known about this before) is now well underway, hope to complete it in the next 7 days and then stock with fish. I only hope that others will learn from my mistakes.

Hoping to have a mini fish tank, if you get my meaning -
6 x ember tetra
6 x celestial danio / galaxy rasbora
6 x pygmy cory
4 x checkerboard cichlids/rams (forgotten the precise name at this moment)
and hope to have back my 1 ember tetra and 2 cherry shrimp from my mum, although she's really taken to them.
Obviously, not stocking all these fish at the same time. Looks like a lot but the first 3 fish types only get to 2cm!

Also have amazon swords, some type of fern, a java moss bridge, and some type of vine growing on my bogwood. Hoping to add some amazon frogbit to give some shade too. Should be good!

Charlie

A fishless cycle in 3 weeks is a little hopeful, but good luck.

i wouldnt be putting any corys in a biorb tank since they are gravel substrates and corys, especially pygmy prefer sand. I would also say that you dont really have the space for any rams either, agressive little fish at times and very little space to establish their own territory.

10/12 small rasboras/tetras would see the tank well stocked.

 

[johnson.ce2010]

I've not go the biorb any more, it's a normal little bowfront tank with a sand and smooth gravel substrate, so the cory's will be fine. I've read that the checkerboards are unusually paceful for rams, but you're right, I probably don't have enough space. I'll stick to the other types of fish mentioned. Nitrites are almost zero so my fishless cycle will be over in the next few days. Woohoo! Finally, a bit of luck.

 

[Tizer]

Good luck, but remember those days could become weeks. nothing is set in stone.