I Need Help Removing Ammonia!

[spazzinout]

Ok well this weekend has been pretty bad for my fish and I. My 20 gallon tank i set up in august has done well. I cycled it and everything. I got it tested before I began to add my fish and the time finally came yesterday to buy my school of rummynose tetra.

Before i got home, 2 out of the 5 have died. I still took the 3 good ones out and they are doing great. So today i went back to the store, told them everything and they said because the bag was opened, they have to check my aquarium water, even though the fishs died in the bag.
Everything was good, except they found .5 ammonia. So ofcourse, i didnt get any fish back. Yeah, it sucks.

Well now im trying to get rid of the ammonia. I currently use Seachem Prime to de cloranize the water before I add it to the aquarium. One of my mothers friends gave me a bunch of aquarium chemicals and other things a while back. These include , Amquel, Ammo Lock 2 and then this weird filter pack thing called Aqua Clear Amrid Ammonia Remover.

I think they are all sorta old and im wondering if any of them still actually work. SO what can I do to get rid of my ammonia? Can I use any of the chemicals I acurrently have? Or what should I do!

Thanks!!

 

[WILDER]

Good old fashioned water changes for ammonia.
Best to increase aeration aswell.
Rummynoses are very delicate to water quality and ph.

Check your tap reading in ammonia aswell just to make sure its 0.

 

[spazzinout]

Ok thanks, now Im noticing my molly has sorta clamped fins. I want to add salt, but Ive read that rummy noses cant handle it. Hes somewhat shimmy-ing, but the droopy-ness of his lyretail fin look worse...

 

[WILDER]

Clamped fins are a sign of stress to desease.
The ammonia reading probably causing the clamped fins.
I would do a water change and increase aeration in the tank.
How many fish do you have in the 20 gallons tank as need to find out why you have ammonia reading.
Have you been over feeding.
Bad water quality can cause finrot.

 

[spazzinout]

I have the fish in my profile "2 sword tails, 1 silver molly, 2 pygmy corries" plus the 3 rummy nose. Im over filtering the tank, the filter im using is ment for an 80 gallon tank. I also have 2 airstones in the tank currently. All the fish's fins look fine, no fin rot. I bet Im just over feeding the fish...Besides feeding less, is there anything i can do for a quick fix? will the ammo lock or amquel help?

Thanks a bunchh

I dont know if this will change anything, but before I added the rummy-nose, i put some stress coat in. I also did a water change this morning, about 4 gallons.

 

[WILDER]

I would rather just do the water changes than use chemicals.
All you can do is increase aeration.
Its up to use if you use the ammo lock.
Cut down on feeding.

Check your tap water to see if it has an ammonia reading.

 

[spazzinout]

Ok thanks. Should I be concered about the molly? Or will he just get better as the ammonia gets better?

 

[WILDER]

When did you last do a water change.
If a while ago I would do another one.
I would increase aeration and add the ammo lock, got mixed up with another product so it should be fine.
Also check that your tap water has no ammonia in it.

 

[spazzinout]

Ok well now I have 3 airstones running in the tank. I tested the house water, the water stayed clear, and i tested my aquarium water, it also stayed clear. I think my test kit has finally expired. Ill try to go the fish store tonight and get both samples tested, or ill go tomarrow.

Thanks for your help Wilder!!!

 

[WILDER]

To many airstones. You can have to much aeration in a tank which can cause gas bubble desease which is bubbles bemeath the skin.
http/www.flippersandfins.net/pop-eye.htm

 

[spazzinout]

Ok im confused. I thought I was suposed to add airation. I have always had 2 running off of a single pump, and now i added another pump. Ill turn the new one off though. The water change at around 2 oclock, and I justed added the ammo lock 2 now at 5:30. I dont think I should do another water change so quickly, but correct me if im wrong.

 

[WILDER]

I would leave the water change then.
Sorry didn't know you had two airstones already on the go.
To much aeration is bad.
When water stats are bad you usually just increase aeration to help the fish.

 

[spazzinout]

hahaha, thats fine. Ok so ill slow down the feeding, follow the ammo-lock instructions, get the water samples tested and hope for the best. How long should I wait for the next water change then?

 

[WILDER]

Tomorrow I would do a water change.

 

[spazzinout]

thanks sooo much