high ammonia

ldytmropr

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ok.. Here's the deal. It seems that everyone that I've talked to has a different answer for me. I'm trying to get my tank cycled. My ammonia is high. pH is hovering around 7.0-7.2. Temp 78 degrees and some nitrites and nitrates. My ammonia level is about 2.0. I know that's too high. I was changing my water about every other day (10 gallons) in a 30 gallon tank. I'm also adding cycle to help the cylcing of the tank. The fish store where I got my fish told me to stop changing the water that I was getting rid of the bacteria that needed to get rid of ammonia. OK.. I started with 5 Zebra Danio's. Left them in there for almost 4 weeks. Ammonia was good, so I added more fish. 4 Gourami's and 2 pictus catfish. Thought that was a bit much, but they said I'd be ok.... HELLO!!! AMMONIA Spike@!! Even after water changes, I'd still have ammonia in the tank. I'm only feeding once a day and a very small amount. All of the fish are still alive and seem to be doing well. Wouldn't know there was a problem if I didn't test it. WHAT DO I DO? Change or not to change? I'd like to get more fish, but need to get this straightened out. It's been about 8-9 weeks since the start of the tank. Do I need to keep adding cycle? :dunno:
 
Maybe it was the addition of 6 fish? Just keep doing water changes I guess...Good luck!
 
Try to do sufficient water changes to keep ammonia under 1ppm. This will prolong the cycle a little, but it's worth it if it keepsyour fish alive.

When you change the water you are removing ammonia, NOT bacteria. the bacteria don't live in the water, tehy live on solid surfaces in teh tank eg walls, gravel. When you remove ammonia by water changes it means there is less "food" for the bacteria but the bacterial colony will still increase on the <1ppm that remains.

In future, only add a couple of small fish/1 larger fish at a time! better safe than sorry and all t hat.

hope that helps, good luck.
 

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