Hi There! New! Name Is Chad

[CJH0825]

I have a 20 gallon high tank, working on high ammonia levels. Doing 90% water changes 2 times a day right now. Ammonia levels are 4.0. Ph is 7.6. I have a gravel and rock substrate, 2 live plants, 16 fish: 1 black shark, 1 pleco, 3 fancy rosberas, 2 red wag platys, 3 pineapple swordtails, 2 sunset fire swordtails, 1 kuhli loach, 2 fancy guppies. I'm going to stop feeding them for 2 or 3 days, i may be over feeding and that could be causing the high ammonia levels. My filtering system turns 300 gph. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[Mamashack]

 to TFF Chad.
Did you cycle the tank before adding the fish? If not follow the link at the end of my signature and read fish-in cycling. Not feeding would certainly help, but it would help if the bio-load was reduced if not gone altogether. Can you foster out the fish until you can get the tank cycled properly?
Maybe fish-keeping friends or your LFS might be able to help you out.
I'm no expert, but I think plecos and sharks need to be in much bigger tanks as they can grow quite big and need lots of swimming room.
Good luck - hope you manage to get the tank sorted as soon as possible for the sake of the fish.

 

[CJH0825]

I just did another water test  Results not good. ph is 8.2, Ammonia is 2.0, Nitrite is 0.25, Nitrate is 0. i can't foster them out. I cycled the tank for 2 days as i was told to do. The tank is 3 weeks old. I do know that the pleco and shark can get large. i am looking to upgrade the tank to a 55 us gallon when the funds allow. For now, i believe they are fine as the pleco is only 3 inches and the shark is 4 inches. I believe if i add more live plants to the tank it will help with the levels but i'm not absolutely sure on that.

 

[Mamashack]

A proper cycle takes at least 4 weeks using ammonia to encourage the bacteria to develop. I'm afraid you were misled if you were given the impression that cycling only took a couple of days. LIve plants will certainly help directly with the ammonia tho not the nitrIte so keep up with the water changes any time ammonia or nitrItes hit 0.25pmm or more. Could mean a couple of water changes a day for several weeks.
The fact that you have nitrItes shows that the process has started as ammonia is being converted. However ammonia and nitrItes need to be processed to 0ppm in 24 hrs and preferably in 12 hrs. The nitrIte conversion to nitrAtes takes a bit longer to start - usually around a week after the ammonia conversion starts in a fishless cycle situation, but can take much longer with fish-in because of the number of water changes needed to keep the fish from the toxic effects of ammonia and nitrItes.
What brand and type of water tests are you using?

 

[CJH0825]

i have the API master test kit that has the ph, high ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests.

 

[Mamashack]

Good! The liquid tests are much more accurate that the test-strips which can give totally different results to the liquid ones. I have the API master test kit too - it seems to be the one used by a lot of members on here.
Keep up the good work - you've come to the right place for support and advice. The members are only too willing to help if they can.

 

[CJH0825]

I had another tank but my ex wife got it in the divorce. When we got that tank we just got the tank setup and threw fish in it the same day. Never had a fish die, never tested the water, never did any type of water changes and her tank is thriving! Kinda upset that i lost that tank so i decided to do a new one now. Kinda disturbing that I'm having issues with mine and hers has been fine since day one.

 

[Mamashack]

They may have been hardier fish in the first tank and just because they survived doesn't mean they are well or will live as long as they should.
Just keep going with your water changes and give some serious consideration to taking the larger fish back to where you got them. You'll not regret it. Once you've got a much bigger fully cycled tank then consider getting them back.

 

[CJH0825]

I'm not adding any new fish to the tank. I think what i have is plenty right now until I get a bigger tank. Once i get a bigger tank, I'll let it cycle for a week before transferring these fish over to it, then I'll probably use this 20 gallon tank as a saltwater tank.

 

[Mamashack]

I wasn't suggesting getting any more fish I was referring to taking the pleco and the shark back until you can accomodate them in an appropriate size tank.
I think you have missed the point I made about cycling the tanks before adding fish - it is virtually impossible to cycle a tank in a week unless you transfer the filter in which case you could transfer the fish with filter immediately as long as the filter has the capacity for the bigger tank and you don't add any more fish.
Reading the article in the beginners resource centre on cycling as I suggested before would give you some insight as to what is needed.

 

[CJH0825]

The black shark has been friended out. I can't find anyone to take the pleco so I will just let the tank do it's thing with what is there. I'm awaiting a call back from a LFS to see if he will donate some media to me to kind of speed up the process. Someone told me my tank is stalled right now and i need to boost it but i won't use any chemicals. 

 

[the_lock_man]

It would be a good idea if you could take a photo of the plec, and post it into a new thread, maybe in the Tropical Discussion section. Saying you have a "plec" is like saying you have a "dog" - it could be a chichuahua, it could be an irish wolfhound. There are plenty of plecs that are suitable for a 20gal, and plenty that just aren't.
 
In the meantime, please listen to Mama - she's giving you some good advice.

 

[Mamashack]

Glad you've managed to foster out at least one of the fish! The only thing you can do now is test the tank water frequently (daily or more often if levels stay above 0.25ppm) and do water changes according to those results too.
Thanks TLM! Your post appeared as I was typing.
Good luck CJH!  You've chosen the longest and hardest route thro previous bad advice, but it will be worth all the effort in the end if you can keep up with the water changes.

 

[CJH0825]

It's a common pleco. otherwise known as a " suckermouth ". Checked my levels again this morning, Ph is 7.4, Ammonia is 2.0, Nitrite is 0 and Nitrate is 0

 

[Mamashack]

Just keep doing the tests and resulting water changes - or the current high ammonia level might burn the fishes gills or cause fin rot a way down the line.