Don't Know What To Do..

[dzsigmond217]

I have this 29 gallon tank, fully stocked with fish, that I accidentally somehow killed the bacteria in. So now I'm going through cycling all over again. Had a pH problem..was below 6 so bacteria wouldn't grow. Solved that problem and my ammonia spiked. I usually do 2 50% - 75% water changes a day before work and after work but during the 10plus hours I'm at work the ammonia goes up to 8ppm. I was told that the beneficial bacteria wont grow in ammonia levels this high and could be why I never have any readings of nitrite. I'm stumped and don't know what to do..How the heck do I keep the ammonia down to get my nitrites to start growing?? I use Ammo-lock as well to try to make the water conditions as good as possible for the fishies in the tank and use a dechlorinator. (Prime) Any advice GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Thanks!

 

[rust81]

With your ammonia levels going that high, i am surprised you have any fish left at the moment to be honest. I think you either need to get some mature filter media from your LFS or maybe a local member, or try and get someone to take your fish off you for the time being. That way you can get your filter cycled and make sure the fish are still alive.

 

[dzsigmond217]

If I can find a LFS that sells the media will the high ammonia levels kill the beneficial bacteria? What I should ask is once I put the media in will it automatically decrease the ammonia levels? If I do find the mature media to buy how do I go about making sure it sticks? Any and all advice is again greatly appreciated.

 

[Genesis]

If I can find a LFS that sells the media will the high ammonia levels kill the beneficial bacteria? What I should ask is once I put the media in will it automatically decrease the ammonia levels? If I do find the mature media to buy how do I go about making sure it sticks? Any and all advice is again greatly appreciated.

The bacteria should turn the ammonia into nitrate and then nitrite without any harm

 

[Colin_T]

stop feeding them

the more food you put in the tank the higher the ammonia and nitrite levels will go. The fish will be fine for a couple of weeks without food but could well die if they stay in water with a really high ammonia level.
If you want to feed them only do it a couple of times a week and do it when you get home. Then do a water change an hour or two later. That should dilute any ammonia produced by the fish food you just fed.

And if you want to drop the ammonia levels quickly do a 80-90% water change. Just make sure the new water is free of chlorine and has the same PH & temp as the tank.

 

[eb2]

stop feeding them

the more food you put in the tank the higher the ammonia and nitrite levels will go. The fish will be fine for a couple of weeks without food but could well die if they stay in water with a really high ammonia level.
If you want to feed them only do it a couple of times a week and do it when you get home. Then do a water change an hour or two later. That should dilute any ammonia produced by the fish food you just fed.

And if you want to drop the ammonia levels quickly do a 80-90% water change. Just make sure the new water is free of chlorine and has the same PH & temp as the tank.

what about Biospira?, I've used it in a pinch and worked great, the noteable thing was that the nitrates came up by the next day and needed to change the water right away but that was on a real small tank