Ammonia

[Fish Lover Forever]

I have done a water test with a test strip. The ammonia(NO2) level has been approximately 0.5 to 1.0. Since then I have done a water change and there hasnt been any difference. I do currently have treatment for rotfin and quite a few other diseases in there just to secure my possibly hurt guppy. That is not anything to do with the ammonia so I will make another topic for that. But the water was as clean as could be before we put the treatment in and it has made it a little bit green but the two tests were before I put the treatment in. I have 6 adult small tropical fish (5cm max) and 3 younger fish (2.5 max). I have a working filter, pump and heater with 2 real plants, (that are quite firm and aren't falling apart) 2 plastic plants, and an oceon rock witch is going a bit brown but I do clean it nearly every time I change the water.

HELP NEEDED!

 

[WILDER]

Test strip cards are not accurate. Liquid test kits are better due to them being more accurate.
How many gallons is the tank please?
Can you name the type of fish you keep?
What is the name of the medication you have added?
As some medications can cause a raise in ammonia.

 

[mark4785]

Don't you administer anti-bacterial meds for fin rot? If so, your medication could have a lot to do with your increased ammonia level as it may have wiped out your filter bacteria that is responsible for consuming ammonia and nitrites.

To get an ammonia level down to zero you ideally need to be doing 95-100% water changes sadly. As Wilder has said though, you may want to test for ammonia using a liquid test kit first (i.e. API master test kit) to ensure that you do in fact have an elevated ammonia/nitrite level.

 

[Fish Lover Forever]

The tank is 36 litres (Berta lifespace). I have 1 Siamese fighter, 4 guppies (2 adult, 2 babies) , 2 platies, 1 Mollie. I have not got a tester kit but I have API tester strips. The name of the treatment is : eSHa 2000 Fungus, confit and bacteria treatment. The strips and treatment was recommended by my trusted fish shop.

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks over stocked i'm afraid.
Also the siamese fighter fish will attack any fish with long flowing fins like guppys. I would maybe suggest buying the siamese fighter his own tank.

The medication might also be raising your ammonia levels.

Water changes. Increase aeration.
You could of added some salt to the tank but I wouldn't advise it with having fry in the tank.

 

[Fish Lover Forever]

The tank is 36 litres (Berta lifespace). I have 1 Siamese fighter, 4 guppies (2 adult, 2 babies) , 2 platies, 1 Mollie. I have not got a tester kit but I have API tester strips. The name of the treatment is : eSHa 2000 Fungus, confit and bacteria treatment. The strips and treatment was recommended by my trusted fish shop.

 

[Fish Lover Forever]

Well the Siamese fighter is calm and doesn't seem to bother the guppies. My trusted fish shop where I got the tank from said I can have 10 fish. The fry already have colour in their tails and they are 1 and a half months old.

 

[mark4785]

Well the Siamese fighter is calm and doesn't seem to bother the guppies. My trusted fish shop where I got the tank from said I can have 10 fish. The fry already have colour in their tails and they are 1 and a half months old.

10 fish in a 36 litre body of water is very excessive. I personally wouldn't be happy to put a juvenile shubunkin in such capacity of water.

I would advice that you go to a different LFS as they clearly want your money and don't care about the welfare of fish.

 

[WILDER]

A rough guide to follow in one inch of fish to one gallon of water.

Your filter won't cope with the fish load. You need to reduce your stocking.
Not all LFS are to be trusted. This is why is best to do your own research.
When a tank is overstocked the tank will never cycle. It best to under stock fish tank, and over filter your tank.

 

[Fish Lover Forever]

I appreciate all the help!

How many fish can I have?

 

[drdre2010]

36l is 8 gallons so you can have about 8 inches of fish. Please remember that this is to consider when they are adults and not 8 inches now.

Example: 8 x 1 inch plecos now in a few months they probably would all die as the bio load would be too much.

 

[Fish Lover Forever]

Well is there way to sort this out without getting rid of fish? I have had and raised these fish and although I have had them for 1-3 months I have grown on them a lot.

What are plexus?

What are plecus I mean

 

[Aquascaper]

Well is there way to sort this out without getting rid of fish?

Buy a bigger tank

 

[dannybgoode]

Plecos are commonly sold as algae eaters and are a type of sucker fish.

The issue with them is they're commonly sold in fish shops when they are an inch or two long and quite often the poor unsuspecting buyer isn't told they may grow to 24".

There are some smaller species (bristlenose for example) but again even they would be too big for your current tank.

With a smaller tank you really need to a real close eye on the water stats as they can swing more quickly than a larger tank - larger tanks are actually easier to keep in a lot of ways.

Cheers

Danny B

 

[Fish Lover Forever]

Well I am not planning on buying a new tank, getting rid of fish or replacing them with a pleco