Ammonia

[Sambo]

I have just bought a 2nd hand Rio 125 tank been setup now for about 3 weeks.

I have a few fish in but I have very high levels of ammonia, i have done a water chamge and added ammo lock, but when i do a reading it is still really high!?

At the top of the fitler there is also some sort of gathering of muck. What could this be?

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[WILDER]

What are your other stats in nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
Keep doing the water changes and increase aeration.
Do you mean brown algae near the filter.

 

[rdd1952]

How many/what type fish do you have? Also, are you using a liquid test kit or strips? I would suggest another water change as soon as possible to get the level down. I know you used the Ammo-Lock to detoxify the ammonia but any ammonia created since you added it would still be toxic. The high level will also delay the cycling process. The tank will cycle faster if you can get the ammonia back down. I would water changes as needed to get the level down to .25 and keep it there. A large water change of 50% is fine unless your tap and tank pH readings are considerable different.