Magic Ammonia?

[Rorie]

In my QT tank, i have issues....

My filter was made from mature filter media taken out my old tank, and put in my new filter. I kept the two filters in the same tank until my fish arrived. I then moved the filter to the QT. A while on i got ammonia building up. At first i thought it was because it was really difficult to clean the sand properly in such a small tank, and theought there was a build up there, but also it could be that there was a mini cycle in my main tank, so the 'mature filter' died.

Anyway, once those fish were moved, i emptied the tank, cleaned the sand properly, and filled it back up and set it to run. Last night i did a quick check of water so i know if i can get more fish today or not....and there is ammonia again! With no fish! With new water! With cleaned everythign!

Where is my ammonia coming from?!!

 

[KittyKat]

Did you shake the reagent bottles properly before testing? Do a test on de-chlorinated tap water and see if that has any ammonia.

How long were the two filters together?

 

[Rorie]

Did you shake the reagent bottles properly before testing? Do a test on de-chlorinated tap water and see if that has any ammonia.

How long were the two filters together?

Yup, bottles properly shaken each time. The filters were together for a few weeks. But they have been apart for about a month now, and the qt tank has just been emptied of fish, so it should be well developed by now! I've done tap water tests before and they turned up normal. Its all a little strange. Could my sand still be storing the ammonia despite washing? I hear sand can trap ammonia in your tank if not moved properly

 

[KittyKat]

Not likely the sand. Any plants? Other decor?

I think part of your problem might be that the filters need to be together for about 4-6 week.

 

[Rorie]

Not likely the sand. Any plants? Other decor?

I think part of your problem might be that the filters need to be together for about 4-6 week.

Really? I used already mature filter media, and put it in the developed yank purley to keep the bacteria
Alive. Itwas then moved to a fully stocked Qt which it ran well for several weeks. Then it ran with just one I'll fish. After that, I did a 100% water change and I had ammonia after running for 24 hours...

 

[KittyKat]

Ok, not the problem then..

 

[GrayScale]

Did you recently start using anynew dechlorinators? I know some remove ammonia and it may have starved your good bacteria maybe? Did you have any snails in there? Dead snails can be a rotten thing and sometimes hard to find if you don't know it's there.

 

[Rorie]

Did you recently start using anynew dechlorinators? I know some remove ammonia and it may have starved your good bacteria maybe? Did you have any snails in there? Dead snails can be a rotten thing and sometimes hard to find if you don't know it's there.

Hmm, there were tiny wee snails that sneaked in a while back when I put in some java moss for a short time. But they are tiny, and I cleaned out the tank to make sure there were non left. It's very strange! Hmm

 

[GrayScale]

Hmm, there were tiny wee snails that sneaked in a while back when I put in some java moss for a short time. But they are tiny, and I cleaned out the tank to make sure there were non left. It's very strange! Hmm

very strange indeed. Leftover food could do it too but that doesn't explain the ammonia after cleaning it.

 

[anon02]

Could there be any organics on the filter media or housing that could be rotting