Help! High Ammonia Not Going Down!

[puppyduck]

We've done two water changes in the past 2 days, added stress coat and stress zyme and a water conditioner and the ammonia levels are still not going down. The Nitrite is going up slightly but the ammonia is still very high, almost 2.0.

Is there anything we can do to rid of any excess food that may be still in there or clean the filter?

We don't know what else to do. It's stressing our fish.

 

[WILDER]

No don't touch the filter, the cycling getting going now.
Remove the food with a net.
If the fish are coping leave the tank best to get it over and done with as quickly as possible.
What fish do you have, also increase aeration in the tank.


Reason asking what fish salt will help them if there not scaless fish.

 

[puppyduck]

Ok

We have 3 corys and 3 glass catfish.

Theres a small amount of ammonia in the tapwater. Also there is high nitrates in the tapwater.

how do we aerate the tank?

We've been told not to add salt.

 

[WILDER]

They can tolerate a small amount of salt, how many gallons or litres is the tank.
Can you turn your filter up, if not an airstone and pump you can buy them from the lfs.

 

[puppyduck]

They can tolerate a small amount of salt, how many gallons or litres is the tank.
Can you turn your filter up, if not an airstone and pump you can buy them from the lfs.

We have the pump in the filter. Whats an airstone?

We have a 20 gallon tank.

 

[WILDER]

They create bubbles.
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/listsecti...retp=322&rets=X

What fish do you have in the tank.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/listsecti...retp=322&rets=X
Just add a tablespoon of salt, get some tank water in a jug or container add salt and stir till it disloves, and add it to the tank, house hold salt fine if you have no aquarium salt.

 

[Richie Hell]

So, any idea on why water changes don't affect the Ammonia level?

Just curious on the theory behind it.

 

[BiffMalawi]

There are a couple of pinned threads on cycling that will anser your questions in more detail but basically this is how it goes.

Fish waste, uneaten food, dead plant matter all produce ammonia.
Gradually bacteria grows that feed on the ammonia and produce nitrite. Ammonia levels go down, nitrite levels go up.
Then more bacteria grows that consume nitrite and produce nitrate. Nitrite levels go down and nitrate levels go up.
Nitrate is then removed by water changes.

Water changes will temporarily lower ammonia levels but ammonia is constantly being produced and only bacteria will drop the levels permanently.

All this being said the use of live plants does influence this in the long run but not in a new tank, unless they are added from an established tank.

 

[mr.dark-saint]

Doing water changes in middle of a cycle only retards the cycle and prolong the whole thing or just crash the whole thing. I don't see the Glass cats faring well while this is happening.

Salt isn't going to do much for the fish other than making them slime more. I'd double the rate of air (triple if you can) in the tank just to break the surface tention (instead of adding salt).

 

[WILDER]

Salt is very benefical to fish.
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=335

 

[Richie Hell]

All very confusing.

We thought the filter should be fine, but it seems like loads the bacteria died when we were moving it. Didn't think that would happen. From what we read we thought the tank would already be cycled. Then we read that water changes should bring Ammonia down, but evidently that was wrong. Tried some King British Safe Water, but that's done absolutely nothing to the Ammonia or Nitrite levels.

Just when you think you've done enough research, turns out it's all wrong and you've got a dead fish

Luckily the rest of them seem alright. Might try increasing aeration now, and leave the tank to cycle. Ammonia levels and Nitrite levels haven't increased either in quite a few days, so I guess that's a good sign?

Thanks for all the help and advice, keep it coming!

 

[kuettle]

If you can find bio-spira it really works for kick starting you cycle. It's a bit pricey and must be kept refridgerated. Here's a link. marineland

 

[WILDER]

Cam't buy bio spira in the country all we can get is nutrafin benefical bacteria called cycle and it not that great.

 

[Richie Hell]

So, another question just for the sake of improving my knowledge behind the theory of it all...

Increasing aeration. Why? Is this to improve the health of the fish, or will it help speed up the cycling process?