Help! High Ammonia Not Going Down!

[dabaers]

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?

Look for something called Amquel+ (make sure it has the +) or Seachem's Prime.
They neutralize ammonia and nitrites in an emergency situation (they are also a water conditioner) and don't interfere with your biological filter.

To answer your question yes, increasing the surface movment/increases airation and will help your fish get through cycling, as ammonia and nitrite make it difficult for them to breath basically.

Kath

 

[Richie Hell]

Cool, cheers.

 

[Richie Hell]

Ok, next question.

Just did another water test. Ammonia levels and Nitrite levels haven't gone up in a few days. Not since something like friday. The last time they changed, they went up. As I said, this was towards the end of last week. However, they haven't decreased at all, ever.

Nitrate levels haven't really change. Started at 5.0ppm, went up to 10ppm at the end of last week, same sort of time Ammonia and Nitrite stopped increasing. Over the weekend they've gone back down to 5.0ppm.

Can I take this to assume that simply the amount of waste Ammonia produced is roughly equal to the amount of Ammonia and Nitritie being processed by our bacteria? Just want to make sure that the cycling process is well under way. Bearing in mind our filter media should already have contained a fair amount of bacteria, though it seems more died than I thought when we moved the tank.

Would reducing the amount of Ammonia produced, ie less feeding, help bring levels down?

 

[WILDER]

Your bacteria colony getting going now as it gone up your nitrate reading and stats are beginning to come down, yes don't over feed them during the cycle good luck.

 

[puppyduck]

We installed a bubble curtain today. I hope it helps. The fish seem to enjoy it anyway.

 

[hogan53]

I DONT HAVE A AMMONIA TEST KIT BUT THE INSTRUCTIONS COULD
SAVE YOUR STRESS / I DID HAVE 4 YEARS AGO I THINK IT CONVERTS
AMMONIA TO AMMONIUM WHICH IS NOT AS STRESSFULL.

 

[Richie Hell]

Good news! Our nitrite levels are going down. Ammonia seems to be the same but maybe when we test tomorrow it would've gone down. Hopefully its a good sign; means our cycle is coming along ok.


Also saw all three ghost catfish today and they were all eating!

 

[WILDER]

That's good news, good luck.

 

[Richie Hell]

Hurrah, Ammonia is at zero now! Still got Nitrite, but that's to be expected and should go down soon. Added some Bactinettes recently, seemed to have helped.