Amonia Levels!

[Tuppers]

Hi i have had my tank running for about 8 weeks now with fish in but i have the following:

Amonia < 1.2 but > 0.6
ph between 7.7 and 8.0 cant tell cos the green is either or!!!

Is this a problem? not tested the nitrates or nitrites not go the kit! the fish seem perfectly happy!! Its just weird when reading the posts on here i should have 0.0 level for amonia??

Thanks in advance

Tuppers

 

[BigIan]

what you need to understand is called the nitrogen cycle,

your fish produce amonia through there waste.
this ammonia is deadly for your fish

beneficial bacteria in the filter break the amonia down into nitrItes
this is less harmfull to your fish but still bad,

the nitrites are thhen turned into nitrAtes these are harmless to your fish unless you let them reach high quantitys....

what you have my friend in an uncycled tank, meaning that the bacteria in the filter havent had chance to grow to a large enough colony to be able to cope with your fish waste....

what you need to do is regular water changes (every other day or so) try and keep your amonia below 1 ppm.

and make sure you use declorinator when you do water changes......

any other questions or anything else you need just ask

 

[Tuppers]

thanks for that!!! i just dont get it!! the tank has been going for ages now!!!! but never mind!!

One thing i have a fluval 2 how often do you pull it out and clean it? i have seen 4 weeks but the clogging meter still shows fine and i is 4 weeks tomorrow?? do want to stop these good bacteria!!

Thanks for the advice i will do a partial change tommorrow! I have a ten gallon about 10% or nearer 25% best?

Cheers

 

[BigIan]

i generaly don`t clean my filters untill the flow drops down,
but you my friend don`t want to clean your filter at all untill your tank is cycled

thats the sign to clean them in my book. other people do it evey 4 weeks religiously

 

[BiffMalawi]

I would also suggest that you get a test kit for Nitrites and Nitrates. It is useful for monitoring the progress of your tank's cycle.

As ammonia goes down the nitrites go up.
As the nitrites go down the nitrates go up.

I agree do not clean filter until necessary. If you do, simply shake it in a bucket of tank water. If you run it under the tap the chlorine will kill your bacteria. Does your filter have an ammonia packet in it. Usually white stones. If it does remove it. Ammonia removers in filters artificially remove ammonia and do not promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Use a water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramine in all water or it will kill the bacteria.

I am glad your fish are ok so far. Exposure to high ammonia levels will strees them badly and open them up to disease if the ammonia doesn't kill them.

I would change 25% of the water until the levels are more under control.

 

[Tuppers]

hi i did my water change this morning!!! The fish seem fine!! i dont want to kill them!!!

What should i look out for with the amonia levels? wait till they get to zero???

Cheers

Tupps

 

[d3tained]

Hi there.

Some advise that worked for me.

Add the fish.Wait untill your amonia starts to climb.About after the 1st 3-4 days.Then do 10% water change every day untill you amonia is gone.Took me about 2 weeks.The focus on nitrites.You will find by that time that your nitrites will ROCKET to the top.Keep it high for 2 days apart and then do 20%water change just to relieve most of the stress.After 2 weeks my Nitirites was gone ( 0 ).So in 4 weeks you should have 0 Amonia and 0 nitrites depending on tank size filters and amount and type of fish but the basic rule apply as stated above.

Keep in mind that there are 2 types of bacteria in your tank. 1st Amonia to Nitrite bacteria ( Develops fast ) 2th Nitrite to Nitrate Bacteria ( Develops slower. )

If you follow these steps you will have not problems.I did not loose a single fish due to water problems.

To answer your question focus on your amonia 1st.Do 10% water change every day untill its zero.

Hope this helped

 

[Tuppers]

Hi there.

Some advise that worked for me.

Add the fish.Wait untill your amonia starts to climb.About after the 1st 3-4 days.Then do 10% water change every day untill you amonia is gone.Took me about 2 weeks.The focus on nitrites.You will find by that time that your nitrites will ROCKET to the top.Keep it high for 2 days apart and then do 20%water change just to relieve most of the stress.After 2 weeks my Nitirites was gone ( 0 ).So in 4 weeks you should have 0 Amonia and 0 nitrites depending on tank size filters and amount and type of fish but the basic rule apply as stated above.

Keep in mind that there are 2 types of bacteria in your tank. 1st Amonia to Nitrite bacteria ( Develops fast ) 2th Nitrite to Nitrate Bacteria ( Develops slower. )

If you follow these steps you will have not problems.I did not loose a single fish due to water problems.

To answer your question focus on your amonia 1st.Do 10% water change every day untill its zero.

Hope this helped

cheers

thanks for your help!!!!

Tups