High Ammonia Levels

[macssafc]

high there i have a high level of ammonia 2ppl

what cause of action should i take?

25% water changes

ive just noticed this but all other test are safe just a very high ammonia

2 fish are dying at present

good job ive just realised the problem

 

[WILDER]

Need more info.
How long has the tank been set up.
How many gallons or litres is the tank.
How many fish and which type.
What are your other stats in nitrite,nitrate.
For now an immediate water change, and increase aeration in the tank.

 

[The-Wolf]

lots of small water changes over the next 5 days or so will certainly help.
I had a problem recently (5ppm) and I added a couple of doses of bactinetts (US equiv is bio-spira). my ammonia was halved over night and zero by the following day.

 

[macssafc]

Need more info.
How long has the tank been set up.
How many gallons or litres is the tank.
How many fish and which type.
What are your other stats in nitrite,nitrate.
For now an immediate water change, and increase aeration in the tank.

18 months old the tank is Wilder

tests are as follows as od 9.30pm

No3 25
No2 0
GH >6d
KH 0d
Ph 7.2
NH3/4 2.00 ppm

5 zebra danio's
1 angel fish
2 clown loach's
1 sucking loach
4 gold barbs (i think)?
2 danio's

1 neon tetra is dying
1 zebra danio is dying

 

[WILDER]

Right, how many gallons is the tank.
What your maintance on the tank.
What filter do you use as it sounds like the filter not coping with the fish load.
When did you last maintain the filter and sueeze one of the sponges in old tank water.

What nh3 getting mixed up with nitrate.
What your tap nitrate reading.

Nitrite (NO2)
Nitrate (NO3)

 

[macssafc]

Right, how many gallons is the tank.
What your maintance on the tank.
What filter do you use as it sounds like the filter not coping with the fish load.
When did you last maintain the filter and sueeze one of the sponges in old tank water.

What nh3 getting mixed up with nitrate.
What your tap nitrate reading.

Nitrite (NO2)
Nitrate (NO3)

sorry thought i put that its a 150ltrs tank

nope my test for NO2 and NO3 are as i stated based on my readings

the filters are cleaned every week in water taken from tank but replaced every 3 weeks in rotation as to not disturb bacteria growth

tap nitrate reading is 0

 

[WILDER]

Don't clean the sponges to often only time i touch them is if my nitrate goes up and if they look really messed up, then only one at a time.
How big are the clown loaches as they get big they need 90gal tanks.
I would go to tropical chit chat and ask over there as something not right and i can't account for the high ammonia reading.
Over feeding, rotting debris can account for an ammonia reading.

 

[wendywc]

I've used ammochips for a tanks before and they do work; they zero'd out ammonia for me over the course of a couple of days.

 

[WILDER]

To be honest it wouldnt harm to add another filter, as i run two in all my tanks.

 

[macssafc]

Don't clean the sponges to often only time i touch them is if my nitrate goes up and if they look really messed up, then only one at a time.
How big are the clown loaches as they get big they need 90gal tanks.
I would go to tropical chit chat and ask over there as something not right and i can't account for the high ammonia reading.
Over feeding, rotting debris can account for an ammonia reading.

i think ive found the probable cause my big error i have to say

i had a spot of white spot 2 weeks ago so i treated accordingly removing the black filter and forgot to replace them when the treattment ended and after a water change

have to say if i dont give the sponge a clean i get a very low pump supply as the top of the foams become blocked
btw i use a Fluval 3

To be honest it wouldnt harm to add another filter, as i run two in all my tanks.

i was just going to ask if that is something i could do to aid the tank

 

[WILDER]

Buy another fluval three to run along with the other one, keep water crystal clear.

 

[macssafc]

Don't clean the sponges to often only time i touch them is if my nitrate goes up and if they look really messed up, then only one at a time.
How big are the clown loaches as they get big they need 90gal tanks.
I would go to tropical chit chat and ask over there as something not right and i can't account for the high ammonia reading.
Over feeding, rotting debris can account for an ammonia reading.

the clowns are about 3 inches long and have been for 1 year

because i have been warned about that before. so ive checked regulary

 

[WILDER]

Ok, if you do buy another filter and you need one with the clown loaches, soak the new sponges in tank water, and take a old mature sponge and add it the new filter, then in the old filter just add the new sponge.
And squeeze some bacteria onto the new sponges to get them going.
Good luck.

 

[macssafc]

just done a quick ammonia test and its dropped to say 0.75 which is encouraging.

i will deffo buy another filter in the morning as you have stated

and hope for the best

thanks for the help im deeply indebted to you all

 

[WILDER]

Glad its going down the ammonia reading, i forget once to add black carbon to remove the med.
Good luck.