Ammonia

[And76reW]

Hi all 

 
This is my first post onto the forum & i can imagine how many threads have been done about Ammonia .But i need help fast !
 
I have had my 88l tank set up for 6 weeks now & by the forth week i had my water tested & all was spot on .
I have 6 Red eye tetras , 5 Neon tetras , 1 dwarf Gourami & a sucking loach . I have been feeding them twice a day (pea size) with Tetramin flake . I have also been doing a water change weekly (25%) . All sounds good . About a week ago i had a Neon tetra die & this morning one of my dwarf (both males ) gouramis was on the gravel on its side with other fish nudging it . I eventually took it out and returned it to pets at home (which is a good clean store) & i got a refund . As they tested the water they couldn't replace the Gourami & the Neon as the Ammonia is high . I only changed the water yesterday (25%) so to get that reading of Ammonia i have just panicked & i am guessing its only a matter of time before the rest of my fish are netted out of the tank  

 . I think i am doing a lot wrong here . Im new to all this & as i said my new tank is only 6 weeks old . 
 
Is this the problem ?
 
Water change :
 
i take 25% out with a pint glass ( cannot afford a siphon pump until next week ) & replace it with tap water ( which is the right temp before it goes in ) & put some tap safe in .
 
When i eventually get the siphon pump will i need to clean the gravel with it ? 
How often do i clean the sponge in the filter ? ( 6 weeks old) - i know to clean the sponge in the dirty water ..remembered that one .
 
Feeding :
 
I have been feeding my fish with the Tetramin flake twice a day like i said a pea size , but often it looks like its snowing with food in the tank & i know this is wrong , i think twice a day is too much now & would like your views if possible . The gravel i think is full of fish waste & needs cleaning out , i can even see food flakes in the filter . I am trying to read as much on this great forum as i can & have learnt a bit already . I don't want to become a failure with my new hobby as i just love watching them & my 10 month old son does too . I am very keen to get stuck in & maintain the tank to its very best which the tropical fish deserve ! But i think the main problem at the moment is affording it , i got told it can be a bit expensive at first but i just laughed it off & somehow regret buying the fish as early as i did but  get told my water was fine . I think i need to sort out the Siphon pump/gravel cleaner , some seachem prime & a bit more patience ( so eager to get more fish in ) . 
 
 
 
 

 

[And76reW]

here is a link to my new set up
 
 
http/www.picresize.com/popup.html?images/rsz_1img_0475.jpg

 

[fluttermoth]

The problem is that your tank isn't 'cycled'; that means it doesn't have a colony of good bacteria living in the filter that eat the ammonia produced by the fish and turn it into less toxic substances; first nitrite, which is also toxic, and then nitrate, which is only toxic at very high levels, and which we keep low with water changes, in a cycled tank.
 
You need to do large water changes; get the 'crud' out as best you can until you can get a syphon tube; you can use a cut off piece of garden hose if you have any.
 
Try and change at least 95% of the water right now; leave just enough water for the fish to swim upright (don't forget to switch your heater/filter off first!) before refiling with warmed, dechlorinated water. Then do 50 or 60% every day until you can afford some test kits of your own. If you do get the shop to test the water for you again, get them to write down the actual numbers for you.
 
Cut right back on feeding until your tank is cycled. Fish don't need much food, so a small pinch (all they can eat in two or three minutes) every other day would help. Don't worry, they won't starve!

 

[And76reW]

Thankyou very much fluttermoth very much appreciated .
 
will do a 95%  water change now .