Dangerous Ammonia Level

[spike1]

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Tank size: 28 gallon
pH:
ammonia: Extremely High
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 79 (shows within zone on thermometer.

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Now hanging out on bottom or at top

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Frequent due to ammonia issues per pet store

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Use Tap Water Conditioner for water changes and Ammo Lock to try and get ammonia under control and I also use acquarium salt.

Tank inhabitants: 1 male velvet swordtail, 1 female cremecycle molly and fire wag tail (not sure male or female)

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): 1 velvet swordtail female

Exposure to chemicals: See above chemicals listed above.

Digital photo (include if possible):

I started the tank April 12th and have already gone through stages of the cycle process and had a spike in ammonia that took out 3 fish. As recommended from the pet store, I did frequent 25% water changes and started using ammo lock. Two days ago the water looked the best it ever had and tests were starting to be normal. I topped off the water as evaporation had occurred enough to do so. Next morning I could not see anything in the tank unless it was against the glass. I couldn't even tell if the fish were in there and alive! This morning I took a sample to the pet store and the ammonia level was off the chart. They instructed me to do a 40% water change and continue to use the salt and add the ammo lock and that I need to wait it out. I did that and also, my fiance read about algae spikes and putting a blanket over the tank to keep it dark for 24-48 would help. Is this the right thing to do? Please help!!!!! Ugh...I am so stressed and don't know what to do for my fish!

 

[WILDER]

Water change and increase aeration.
How often do you feed your fish.
Have you used any meds.
When the cycle ended did you start to use a gravel vac.
Cloudy water can ge a bacterial bloom.
I would take a sample of your water to the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.

 

[spike1]

Water change and increase aeration.
How often do you feed your fish.
Have you used any meds.
When the cycle ended did you start to use a gravel vac.
Cloudy water can ge a bacterial bloom.
I would take a sample of your water to the lfs and tell them to write the readings down for you.

I feed them every other day a small amount.

Yes, I have used the gravel vac for the water changes

I have heard that cloudy could be the bacterial bloom but I am really nervous about the ammonia level. It is extremely high. I will get some readings this afternoon. Since I am now using the ammo lock...would that mess up the reading?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

massive water change is your first port of call, like 90% which will at least temporarily bring it down to a safer level

we really need to know the exact readings to know what you're facing, get tests from the lfs and post up the exact results for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, if you can then buy yourself a test kit.

yes ammo lock can affect the readings, it converts ammonia to ammonium which is less harmful to fish (it's still bad, but marginally less so) so long as the test kit you have reads ammonia and ammonium then the reading is true.

 

[spike1]

massive water change is your first port of call, like 90% which will at least temporarily bring it down to a safer level

we really need to know the exact readings to know what you're facing, get tests from the lfs and post up the exact results for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, if you can then buy yourself a test kit.

yes ammo lock can affect the readings, it converts ammonia to ammonium which is less harmful to fish (it's still bad, but marginally less so) so long as the test kit you have reads ammonia and ammonium then the reading is true.

I took your advice and did a massive water change. The fish are actually back at where I bought them for the night so I can get the temperature up to where it needs to be and have the water filter through the night. I did use some of those test strips and the ammonia is about .75, PH about 7.0 and nitrite and nitrate seemed ok with the new water. Extremely better than where it was at. I also bought a master water tester that I hope is more accurate and will test with that in the morning. I am so glad I found this forum as I am new to this and have felt very lost and not knowing what to do so many times! Thanks for replying!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

so you've returned you're fish to the store then?

that's the best thing to do, you can now do a fishless cycle and get the tank fully prepared before adding any fish.

is the new test kit a liquid based one?

 

[spike1]

so you've returned you're fish to the store then?

that's the best thing to do, you can now do a fishless cycle and get the tank fully prepared before adding any fish.

is the new test kit a liquid based one?

They haven't actually been returned to the store...they are were just holding them for me for the night. I pick them back up today.

The new test kit is liquid based.

 

[rabbut]

At the moment you are fish-in cycling, which is the hard way to do things. It would be easier to get the LFS to hold the fish longer to allow you to complete a fish-less cycle. Below is a thread I wrote for people in your type of situations, you can find a link to fishless cycling in that thread if you can get rid of the fish for the time being. Fish-in cycling will take it's toll on them and you will likely have heavily casualties

The Fish-in Cycling Thread

All the best
Rabbut