Dire Fish Emergency! Ammonia Spike On Est. Tank

[Fishlovingirl]

I need some serious help! My beloved blood parrots just spawned for the first time and I wake up this morning to find my parrots and dither fish on the bottom of my tank. Ammonia and nitrites very high. I've had this tank up and running for about 4 months with no problems. The only thing I could do this morning was a 50% water change before I came to work. I am very worried. Any advice?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup, as many big water changes as you can manage, keep ammonia and nitrite as low as possible never letting them get above 0.25ppm

you can also try something like ammo-lock which converts ammonia to ammonium which is less toxic but can still be used by the bacteria.

has anything changed in the tank? cleaned the filter recently?

 

[Fishlovingirl]

I did just do a water change and put in new filters on Saturday. My tank uses four filter cartridges though, and I only replaced two, hoping to ensure that this kind of thing wouldn't happen!

 

[rabbut]

As well as taking the remedial action you have, you want to try work out what caursed the spike also. This lets you stop it happening again...

For the moment, as many large waterchanes as possible. Take a look at the link in Miss Wiggles signature, "What's cycling" and follow the guide as it is Just hope it's a mini-cycle, and not a full one

What levels did you get for Ammonia and Nitrite?

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Fishlovingirl]

I'm sorry! I was in such a hurry this morning- trying to get ready for work and save my fish at the same time. I didn't really read the tests numerically. I just looked at the colors quickly and knew the nitrites and ammonia were very high. I will have to test water again after work and hopefully fish will survive. I almost cried when I saw all my fish struggling on the bottom of my tank. I really don't want to lose my parrot cichlid pair. They've just matured and spawned! I was so happy last night taking pictures of their eggs and laughing at their protective behavior! Should I just do another water change after work or should I try the Ammo Lock and a water change? Should I change the water daily?

 

[Colin_T]

as Miss Wigglies Poppins said and you can do big water changes each day if the ammonia levels are high, ie: do 75-90% water changes. Just make sure any new water is free of chlorine and has a similar temperature & PH to the tank.
Do a gravel clean and remove as much gunk from the tank as you can.
Don't feed the fish for a few days or until the ammonia levels have gone completely. If you do have to feed the fish, feed them and do a big water change about 6-8hours later.
Increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise the oxygen levels in the water and help the bacteria recolonise the new filter media.
In future only replace one filter cartridge at a time or better still, change the cartridges to foam blocks or noodles. These will last much longer and not need replacing for many years, if ever.

 

[rabbut]

What filters have you bought?
What happened to the old filters?
What is in the filter cartriges?

Cichlids breeding are fassinating to watch aren't they, particularly when guarding eggs or fry. It's always annoying when something goes wrong

If you have ammo-lock, use it with a large waterchange when you get back. You will likley have to waterchange more than daily if levels are high and the tank's fully stocked

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Miss Wiggle]

changing the filter cartridges will be whats done it, you/ve effectively reduced your filtration capacity by 50%

what sort of cartridges are they and why are you replacing them? most filter media doesn't need to be replaced at all even though manufacturers tell you otherwise!

 

[drobbyb]

I did just do a water change and put in new filters on Saturday. My tank uses four filter cartridges though, and I only replaced two, hoping to ensure that this kind of thing wouldn't happen!

You shouldn't need to replace the inserts on a regular basis. Do you have a bio-wheel or other media to house the bacteria?

I fear that you may have wiped out a good portion of your bacteria. That would explain the ammonia and nitrite spike. It will take some time for the population to reach the full size again. It's commonly referred to as mini-cycle. Keep on top of your waterchanges, test, and feed sparingly.

Edit: I didn't realize I was posting at the same time as everyone else! Whoops!

 

[Fishlovingirl]

I have a Marineland Biowheel 350 Filter. Tank is 45 gallons. Filter is rated for 70 gallons. I was smelling something foul coming from the filter and so I replaced two of the four cartridges when I did vacuum/water change on Saturday. I figured since I have the biowheel bacteria, it would be safe to change two of the four cartridges. The cartridges have carbon inside and a sponge. I thought I was supposed to change the filters once monthly and the biowheels would provide the supply of beneficial bacteria! I am confused. Shouldn't I be changing the filters once monthly? Maybe I got my tank too clean. I did thoroughly vacuum substrate too. Hopefully my parrots will survive until I can get back home and check levels again.

 

[rabbut]

The Bio-wheel shoud support enough bacteria in a mature filter to allow you to replace all the cartriges in one go. A 4 month old tank isn't mature however.... I would have said that replacing the cartriges is possibly what's done it, but you wouldn't expect "high" levels of Ammonia and Nitrite from a 50% change of media, just a moderately small mini-cycle...

Carbon is a cash sink, a way of the manufacturer extracting more money from your pocket... I'd open the cartriges next time and tip out the carbon, replacing it instread with more sponge The sponge will be more cost effective Carbon is not needed under normal use in a well maintained aquarium

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Fishlovingirl]

Okay, so I really don't need to replace these filters monthly? Should I just rinse them out when they get nasty? Should I put the yucky filters that I took out on Saturday back in there? I will have to dig through the trash to find them, but they should still be wet. I put them in a plastic bag so they wouldn't leak.

 

[rabbut]

Probibly not a worth while activity TBH. If they were bagged, Oxygen will have ran out by now and they will have died

You can safely rince out the cartriges in old tank water when they gunge up I'd cut them open and remove the carbon though, putting in normal foam instread

All the best
Rabbut