Can't Get The Ammonia Levels Down !

[mrv1976]

So, I already have done a 75% water change, and for the last 3 days I've changed out the water 25% and used the aquasafe product and looks like the ammonia levels are going down some. Should I continue to do the 25% water changes daily until the levels are safe?

 

[Jabba]

In a word yes but you do need 'some' ammonia to get your system working < 1ppm should be OK, if you are really concerned what is your water pH? although filter bacteria prefer 7.5 to 8 or so ammonia is more toxic at this level, if you filter over some peat to reduce your pH to below 7 more of the ammonia will change miraculously into a less toxic form (NH4 instead of NH3), it shouldn't impact too much on the cycling process, but how are you doing your Ammonia testing? sticks or a liquid test kit?

If you aren't using a liquid test kit then now is the time to invest in one.

Have you tested the ammonia level in your tap water?? - are you on a water authority supply or a borehole of your own? what is this 'filter' you mention? - it wouldn't be a water softener would it - they are a darn menace as far as fish keeping goes (too much sodium hydroxide / salt in the water), you need to get an unfiltered / untreated feed from before it if it is - either way I'd invest some time finding out what it is and what it does.

If you have done such large changes of water then with only three fish I really really really don't see your Ammonia remaining at toxic levels at all, a 75% change should have really dropped the ammonia down, at 4ppm do a 75% water change and I would expect to see 1ppm or better - something else is going on here, nobody is using one of those stupid antibacterial sprays or something nearby are they? - or even diligently cleaning the tank with some other nasties.

Tetra Aquasafe should deal with Chloramine or Chlorine and the ammonia too , there are also two others available though not quite so readily they are AquaScience Ultimate and Seachem Prime.

If you want a good source of water catch the rain, once your tank is matured you won't need that much to stay on top of the nitrates etc.

 

[mrv1976]

Jabba,

Thanks for the reply. I am using the sticks to test the ammonia. I am on a water authority. The filter I was talking about it a Equinox EQ 300 whole house water treatment I have running. I don't clean the tank with anything. I thought the initial problem was I was over feeding them way to much, so I cut back feeding them now to a small pinch every other day. When I'm doing the water changes, I still have picking up a lot of excess food in the gravel.

 

[Jabba]

Well the filter seems not to be the cause, I'd check the ph / Ammonia out of the tap, I would also seriously check around the house in the tank area for other ammonia sources such as household cleaners etc that could be finding their way to the tank.

If you are taking so much out of the gravel get a powered gravel cleaner (http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Gravel_Cleaners_333.html), if things are a mess then waiting for water change time just to remove crud won't be helping because that crud will be producing ammonia. I know this filtration runs the water back to the tank, I know the tank may go a little cloudy but is worthwhile in the end, ignore the doom mongers and Mr Perfects these things save a lot of hassle, and go get a liquid test kit such as the Nutrafin mini master test kit or if you really want to test everythingthe full blown Nutrafin master test kit.

I'd also run some activated carbon in the tanks filter, as I said I would consider peat too if I knew your pH could stand it.