High Ammonia Levels

[sarah_b13]

Ok, so I'm fairly new to this whole thing and I really could do with some help!

I bought my fish tank in June of this year, set everything up but did little research into when to add my first fish. I waited about a week to add them, as the pet shop said this would be okay (they didn't mention anything about cycling or making sure water is at correct levels - perhaps just wanted my money). At first I added about 5 guppies and 5 cardinal tetras. I now know this was too much, and as you probably guessed the guppies died quite soon.
I then went back to a different shop and they suggested the home testing kits and making sure the tank was cycled. I soon discovered that my tank had far too much ammonia in it and as the levels of nitrate and nitrite are at 0, I assume that it hasn't cycled. I've tried a lot of things to get rid of it, and added a lot of ammonia remover but as I now know this isn't a permanent solution. However I got impatient again and bought 3 harlequin rasbosas, another one of my mistakes (although they are still alive...).
I have also read that lots of water changes are a solution, so I have been doing 20l changes 1/2 times a week for the past 3 weeks and this doesn't seem to be reducing the ammonia. And I haven't been feeding the fish much as this again was another suggestion, but this failed also. I have tried a couple of bacteria supplements also, but this doesn't seem to help cycle my tank.
Currently the levels are as follows:
Ammonia : 4 (it was on about 6 a couple of months ago)
PH : 7.0
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0

& My tank is a 60l.

I'm not sure whether my filter just isn't working... It's a tetra tec one I got as an all-in one system with a heater (I'm not sure of the exact model) but I'm all out of ideas. I'm still going to be doing regular large water changes to see if this helps but it doesn't seem to be doing atm. I don't want to get rid of the fish as they seem okay really and have survived for months with these levels (I have 4 of the cardinals and all 3 of the harlequins but I have heard these are fairly hardy fish. I really want to add more though but this time only when the levels are right!

Can someone pleeeease help me!!

Sarah

 

[divegirl]

Hi welcome to TFF.

It sounds like you are in a fish in cycle and the only way to get through this without killing your fish are water changes everday [50-70%]....once/twice a week just won't do it....sometimes twice a day in needed! Have a look in the beginners section stickies....this will tell you how to complete your cycle

Lisa x

edit: Here you go...... http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

 

[Curiosity101]

The problem could easily be that very high levels of ammonia mean the wrong population of bacteria has been growing for the first few weeks you've had the tank.

Divegirl is right to point you to our fish in cycling threads. They will tell you how to safely get your fish through this process.

But before you read that, you need to get your ammonia down to a safer level (0.25ppm is considered 'safe enough')
So with an ammonia level of 4ppm you need to do 4 x 50% water changes.
Each 50% water change will lower the ammonia by half. As you are removing 50% of the ammonia, and replacing it with fresh water.
These need to be done over the course of today.

And then read the fish-in cycling guide and follow that for the rest of the process.
Most importantly...DO NOT BUY ANYMORE FISH. You know you shouldn't. So don't.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with CC and DG above, a Fish-In Cycling Situation is something we think of as sort of a fish "lifesaving" process and once one fully realizes what's going on and what needs to be done it becomes obvious that you don't want to make things worse by adding more fish to the situation. Good luck! The members here are great, they'll get you sorted.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[sarah_b13]

Ok, so I've followed all of your advice and started doing major water changes, and after two 50-60% changes, my ammonia has gone down to zero. The nitrite is now at 2 so I pressume that's a good sign. Just wanted to know whether I should carry out any more major water changes, or just stick to the weekly 20% ones? Also, how long roughly will it take for the nitrite to go down and turn in to nitrate? Just so I have a rough guide. I've been so occupied trying to reduce all the ammonia I forgot about the rest of the cycle!

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Sarah.
I am afraid that you are in for plenty more of those 50% water changes in the next few weeks. Any time that you measure nitrite or ammonia above 0.25 ppm, a large water change is in order. At first it will be ammonia driving the water changes but then it will become the nitrites that are causing problems. If you stay the course, the nitrates can eventually become the controlling factor, but that is a long way off in the future. The nitrite at 2 ppm is better than a higher number but I didn't see any nitrites in your original post. Are you sure it is nitrites and not nitrates?