High Ammonia Levels In My Tank?

[gibson343]

Hi everyone. I recently went to a local fish store that had over 300 species of tropical fish. it was a mom and pop type business and the man really seems to know what he was talking about. In my 10 gallon tank right now i have 2 giant danios, 2 gold barbs, a black knife fish and a tiger oscar (yes i know the oscar isn't good with the smaller fish) anyway i was thinking this would be over crowded but the man at the store said it would be fine for a few months until i got my 55 gallon tank. i tested my ammonia levels and the total was 3.0. i am really worried about the fish. i haven't seen any bad signs and it's been like this for 2 days now. what can i do?

 

[pippoodle]

YOU need to return all the fish to the LFS and do a fishless cycle your filter cannot cope with the bio load of the fish you have in it
please read this http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

Do 75% water change immidietly with dechlorinted water to the same temp as the tank
Ammonia is a poison and you have a very very high level that will burn your fish
you are severly overstocked and so will the 55 gallon be

Black knife fish need a minimum of 400 litre tank (87 imp gallons/105 us gallons)) as these grow huge so return him to your lfs
tiger oscars can grow very large aswell and would need a 55 gallon tank minimum as they can grow to 18 inches
giant danios - minimum tank 30 gallons
gold barbs -minimum tank 20 gallons

DONT listen to your LFS do your own research in fiture before buying

 

[gibson343]

YOU need to return all the fish to the LFS and do a fishless cycle your filter cannot cope with the bio load of the fish you have in it
please read this [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861[/URL]

Do 75% water change immidietly with dechlorinted water to the same temp as the tank
Ammonia is a poison and you have a very very high level that will burn your fish
you are severly overstocked and so will the 55 gallon be

Black knife fish need a minimum of 400 litre tank (87 imp gallons/105 us gallons)) as these grow huge so return him to your lfs
tiger oscars can grow very large aswell and would need a 55 gallon tank minimum as they can grow to 18 inches
giant danios - minimum tank 30 gallons
gold barbs -minimum tank 20 gallons

DONT listen to your LFS do your own research in fiture before buying

Well as of now the black knife is only about 3 inches and the oscar is about an inch and a 1/2, they are no where near full grown. i want to upgrade to a 55 gallon and keep the oscar permenantly and as for the black knife, once he gets too big i would figure it out then.

 

[pippoodle]

you are already over stocked though
DONT GET ANYMORE FISH AT ALL

and do a 75% water change else your fish will die

you will need to be doing a lot of water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites down in such a little tank with such messy fish

 

[gibson343]

you are already over stocked though
DONT GET ANYMORE FISH AT ALL

and do a 75% water change else your fish will die

you will need to be doing a lot of water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites down in such a little tank with such messy fish

I didn't mention getting anymore fish?

 

[minxfishy]

Please please listen to the advice you are getting, the only fish you have that are suitable for that tank are the barbs. The knife fish and the Oscar will be dreadfully stunted if they are not moved immediately to a larger tank, much larger at that, they may only be small but they grow, the oscar especially at a rapid rate and without the space their internal organs will continue to grow whilst they body will stop, as you can imagine this will be extremely painful for the fish and it is not something they will recover from once moved to a larger tank, the ghost knife will even be permanently deformed as it will learn to keep itself bent over to fit.

A 10g tank is only suitable for small fish, neons, guppies, small barbs etc, not a fish that in the knife fishes case can reach 24" and the Oscar 18".

In the meantime and this should be days not weeks, do water changes daily and test daily anything over 0.25 (preferably 0) for ammonia or nitrIte is damaging to the fish and water changes until the levels are low will be required.

But please, rehome or return these fish.

 

[pippoodle]

you are already over stocked though
DONT GET ANYMORE FISH AT ALL

and do a 75% water change else your fish will die

you will need to be doing a lot of water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites down in such a little tank with such messy fish

I didn't mention getting anymore fish?

i know you didnt but you might think you would be ok to do so if you follow the advice from you LFS again
i'm sorry they have given you such bad advice

Have you done the water changes for the fishes health and well being ?
Have you arranged another home for the unsuitable fish ?
it's totally your choice wether you take advice or not

advice is not meant to be a personal attack on you , you were duped by the lfs and they should really be ashamed of themselves for selling you these fish

take care and let us know how you get on

Sarah x

 

[gibson343]

you are already over stocked though
DONT GET ANYMORE FISH AT ALL

and do a 75% water change else your fish will die

you will need to be doing a lot of water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites down in such a little tank with such messy fish

I didn't mention getting anymore fish?

i know you didnt but you might think you would be ok to do so if you follow the advice from you LFS again
i'm sorry they have given you such bad advice

Have you done the water changes for the fishes health and well being ?
Have you arranged another home for the unsuitable fish ?
it's totally your choice wether you take advice or not

advice is not meant to be a personal attack on you , you were duped by the lfs and they should really be ashamed of themselves for selling you these fish

take care and let us know how you get on

Sarah x

Yes i understand, thank you for all your help. I'm doing what i can and i'm trying to work out a new home for the fish. i just can't believe that the lfs would have lied because it is a place that came highly reccomended and has been around for 30 years. i can't see how a business would last that long if it wasn't doing honest business.

 

[Keithoms]

The thing is, their definition of "honest business" is being nice to customers, having a good range of fish, having prices low and making money. Its not advice.