Can't Reduce Ammonia! Help!

[egamdliw]

Please Help Me!!

I have a 12 gallon tank that originally had 2 small mollies and 1 small platys and a ghost catfish. I had them in the tank for 8 months without any difficulties. The tank cycled properly and I never had any ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate spikes. Then 2 of my mollies came down with a fungus, but when I treated it the ammonia spiked through the roof. Everyone died accept for the ghost catfish. This was back in the beginning of September. To keep the ammonia levels down I would do a 75% water change twice a week, but even still the next day the ammonia was back to at least a 5.0 and would reach a 10.0 by the next day.

I think during the first couple of weeks my brother was over feeding, still used to the hungry mollies. But I took over feeding and he got just a few flakes every other day or so, but still I can't keep the ammonia down. I use bottled spring water, and make sure to vac the gravel. I've also been adding stress zyme, a bacteria supplement, once a week. But this is getting ridiculous. The ammonia levels are everywhere.

Finally, about 3 weeks ago, I completely drained the water, rinsed the gravel, plants and ornaments, changed the filter and set everything back up. But a few days later I am back to where I was again. I did a 50% water change yesterday, and my liquid API test kit say the ammonia is at a level 10.0. What do I do?! I am willing to do anything. This fish has stuck it out but it is looking terrible, he's my favorite fish and I don't want to loose him. I had planned on getting him a couple other ghost cats bc I know they like a school, but I can't. I just want my tank back to normal. I've cycled tanks before and have never had this problem!!

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Have you checked the levels from the tap water? There is a possibility that there might be a high content of ammonia in your tap

 

[PJPJ]

Have you checked the levels from the tap water? There is a possibility that there might be a high content of ammonia in your tap

He is using bottled spring water.

However, tests from the water out of the bottle may help. PH, GH, DH as well etc.

That level of ammonia does sound very high, I didn't know ghost catfish were so hardy. Is your test 'liquid' still in date?

I know you don't need to use a de-chlorinator but, prime and amquel+ (I don't know what these are called or even if they are available in the U.S.) can effectively neutralise ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. They can however mess up your test results. Warning! These products do NOT eliminate the need to change water etc. they will simply help prevent further damage to your livestock.

Can you get hold of some mature filter media to help kickstart your bio-mass in the filter.

Ideally you need to keep the ammonia level below 0.5ppm and the nitrite as low as possible by changing out as much water as is necessary. This could mean draining the water down to the minimum you can with your livestock and re-filling with temperature matched water.

 

[balajake]

If you change your filter you effectively kill all the good bacteria it's built up that neutralises ammonia a nitrite. Your best course of action is to do 90% water changes every 24 hours. Always dechlorinate water before you put it in your tank and never wash your filter pads in tap water. Do it in old tank water or new water that's. Been dechlorinated. You now have to build up your filter bacteria up again which will take up to 5 weeks

 

[Rummynose]

Do you gravel vac when you do the water changes? It will pick up any uneaten food and waste from the fish!

Have you rinsed the filter housing? Debris may collect in there that could add to your problem.

Since you've taken apart the tank there is no possibility of a decomposing fish somewhere!?

Have you researched if the medication you used has the potential to kill the bacteria in your filter? This may have thrown you into a fish-in cycle. If you then did not do daily water changes the ammonia was allowed to get very high. Doing a 75% water change is still leaving you with toxic levels to which the ammonia will start adding again.

Have you checked your NitrIte and NitrAte levels?

Bring your ammonia (and NitrIte) level down to as close to 0 as you can in one day and monitor the levels frequently and daily. I would Keep changing water to keep it close to 0 whenever it rises, even if it means doing 2X 90% w/c back to back.