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Help! Ammonia Problem

What I should do is only clean the filter media in old tank water once a month, and clean the wool part once a week (or as needed, preferably at longer intervals) in old tank water, very lightly. Just enough to clean it up a little, not spot-free, you want the bacteria to stay on there.

Try to keep the ammoina down below .25ppm and see where that takes you.

Take water readings everyday and post your results, so that way we can further asses the situation.

Question 1: How long after you have added the frogs have you had ammonia present in the tank? The whole 5-6 weeks?

Question 2: Did you change or clean any filter media during the cycle?

1st Assumption: If that is the case, then it seems that when you have added the new filter media once a week that it was killing off the bacteria colony.

2nd Assumption: The high pH has made your bacteria dormant...but I am going to have to do some research to see if that is the case.

-FHM
 
Well I just found out that a pH over 8 runs a very high possibility to stalling a cycle, or making your beneficial bacteria dormant. In which case not processing any ammonia/nitrite.

Adding bogwood can lower the pH.

Hopefully someone will come by and give you more options to lowering pH levels.

-FHM
 
fatheadminnow said:
Well I just found out that a pH over 8 runs a very high possibility to stalling a cycle, or making your beneficial bacteria dormant. In which case not processing any ammonia/nitrite.

Adding bogwood can lower the pH.

Hopefully someone will come by and give you more options to lowering pH levels.

-FHM
Click to expand...
I don't agree with this. The data from Hovanec is that pH 8.0 to 8.4 is optimal for the two species of bacteria we want. I'm not sure about 8.8 but I tend to think of pH 9.0 as the starting point for stalling/die-off. The 9.0 is not empirical though, just from reading.

~~waterdrop~~
 
fatheadminnow said:
What I should do is only clean the filter media in old tank water once a month, and clean the wool part once a week (or as needed, preferably at longer intervals) in old tank water, very lightly. Just enough to clean it up a little, not spot-free, you want the bacteria to stay on there.

Try to keep the ammoina down below .25ppm and see where that takes you.

Take water readings everyday and post your results, so that way we can further asses the situation.

Question 1: How long after you have added the frogs have you had ammonia present in the tank? The whole 5-6 weeks? yes 1st 2 weeks high then less than 0.25ppm for the rest till 10 days ago 1ppm 8 days 0.25ppm 4 days 0.5 3days 0.25 this morning (14hours ago)amonia 0.25ppm nitrate 0 nitrite 0 ph 7.4 , then 50% water change

Question 2: Did you change or clean any filter media during the cycle? no only started after christmas

1st Assumption: If that is the case, then it seems that when you have added the new filter media once a week that it was killing off the bacteria colony.

2nd Assumption: The high pH has made your bacteria dormant...but I am going to have to do some research to see if that is the case.

-FHM
Click to expand...


my ph could of been higher than 8.8 as api master test kit only goes up to this. tap water was at ph 7.2 today

i have bog wood all ready, and 5 live plants
 
my two penneth on this is to get rid of the white albino claw frogs if that is what they are.

they have caused me nothing but problems in the past and will eat your fish once they get bigger.

could you possible let us know which part of the world you live in, i myself am getting tired of trying to add advice

when this piece of information is missing,as its hard to offer correct advice.

as for you filter i know the model kind very well and to be honest i dont think the flow rate is that good on an internal filter.


do you have good surface flow or good air stones for the tank this is vital for bacteria.


i would strongly advise if you can afford one to buy an external filter they are by no means cheap but will be a lot better for you tank.
here goes first thing to do is rip up the manual as has allready been stated the manufacture only wans you to spend more money.

i would personally remove the activated carbon as well as the polymer wool no need to have in the filter unless you have a bad water area(we dont know this as you dont provide location details)

and the polymer wool only causes more problems with regard to flow rate.

the fact you say your test kit does not read your ph properly is saying to me that you could be using a mid to high range test kit these usually only moinitor ph above 7.5 as a starting point you need a low range test kit as well.

crushed coral can help reduce ph levels in a tank as can bog wood.

the smell in your tank is ammonia and this is not right as there should be no smell at all this would suggest a higher level of ammonia of at least 1.0 ppm.
 
waterdrop said:
fatheadminnow said:
Well I just found out that a pH over 8 runs a very high possibility to stalling a cycle, or making your beneficial bacteria dormant. In which case not processing any ammonia/nitrite.

Adding bogwood can lower the pH.

Hopefully someone will come by and give you more options to lowering pH levels.

-FHM
Click to expand...
I don't agree with this. The data from Hovanec is that pH 8.0 to 8.4 is optimal for the two species of bacteria we want. I'm not sure about 8.8 but I tend to think of pH 9.0 as the starting point for stalling/die-off. The 9.0 is not empirical though, just from reading.

~~waterdrop~~
Click to expand...
I am sorry...I meant a pH close and over 9...not 8.

-FHM
 
Chris w said:
my two penneth on this is to get rid of the white albino claw frogs if that is what they are.

they have caused me nothing but problems in the past and will eat your fish once they get bigger.

could you possible let us know which part of the world you live in, i myself am getting tired of trying to add advice

when this piece of information is missing,as its hard to offer correct advice.

as for you filter i know the model kind very well and to be honest i dont think the flow rate is that good on an internal filter.


do you have good surface flow or good air stones for the tank this is vital for bacteria.


i would strongly advise if you can afford one to buy an external filter they are by no means cheap but will be a lot better for you tank.
here goes first thing to do is rip up the manual as has allready been stated the manufacture only wans you to spend more money.

i would personally remove the activated carbon as well as the polymer wool no need to have in the filter unless you have a bad water area(we dont know this as you dont provide location details)

and the polymer wool only causes more problems with regard to flow rate.

the fact you say your test kit does not read your ph properly is saying to me that you could be using a mid to high range test kit these usually only moinitor ph above 7.5 as a starting point you need a low range test kit as well.

crushed coral can help reduce ph levels in a tank as can bog wood.

the smell in your tank is ammonia and this is not right as there should be no smell at all this would suggest a higher level of ammonia of at least 1.0 ppm.
Click to expand...
i'm from uk. South west devon. .sorry my mistake there not claw frogs. They are dwarf african frogs. I have two ph test kits. Low and high.. Test this morning gave me ammonia 0 nitrate 0 nitrite 0 ph 7.2
 
i have good water flow from filter. I will not use the pads or carbon any more.. I have a fluval u3 on the way free from magazine subscription.

Ps i really appreciate your help. And would like to say Thank you
 
Chris w said:
my two penneth on this is to get rid of the white albino claw frogs if that is what they are.

they have caused me nothing but problems in the past and will eat your fish once they get bigger.

could you possible let us know which part of the world you live in, i myself am getting tired of trying to add advice

when this piece of information is missing,as its hard to offer correct advice.

as for you filter i know the model kind very well and to be honest i dont think the flow rate is that good on an internal filter.


do you have good surface flow or good air stones for the tank this is vital for bacteria.


i would strongly advise if you can afford one to buy an external filter they are by no means cheap but will be a lot better for you tank.
here goes first thing to do is rip up the manual as has allready been stated the manufacture only wans you to spend more money.

i would personally remove the activated carbon as well as the polymer wool no need to have in the filter unless you have a bad water area(we dont know this as you dont provide location details)

and the polymer wool only causes more problems with regard to flow rate.

the fact you say your test kit does not read your ph properly is saying to me that you could be using a mid to high range test kit these usually only moinitor ph above 7.5 as a starting point you need a low range test kit as well.

crushed coral can help reduce ph levels in a tank as can bog wood.

the smell in your tank is ammonia and this is not right as there should be no smell at all this would suggest a higher level of ammonia of at least 1.0 ppm.
Click to expand...
i'm from uk. South west devon. .sorry my mistake there not claw frogs. They are dwarf african frogs. I have two ph test kits. Low and high.. Test this morning gave me ammonia 0 nitrate 0 nitrite 0 ph 7.2
 
good flow from filter.

I have a fluval u3 on way free gift from magazine subscription.

I will discard manual, carbon and wool when the ammonia has gone.

Will it be ok to run these two filters at the same time?
0
thanks for your help i really appreciate it
 
Chris w said:
crushed coral can help reduce ph levels in a tank as can bog wood.
Click to expand...

Not so. Crushed coral will raise pH levels.

Bogwood can help to reduce pH, but will only usually be effective if your water is soft.

BTT :good:
 
benralph said:
good flow from filter.

I have a fluval u3 on way free gift from magazine subscription.

I will discard manual, carbon and wool when the ammonia has gone.

Will it be ok to run these two filters at the same time?
0
thanks for your help i really appreciate it
Click to expand...

Quality filter I have it running along side a fluval 2+ to colanie both of them for my brother and its a really nice filter and so easy to clean and use.

The 3 flows are a brilliant idea.

andrew
 
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