New Tank And Slighly Raised Ammonia

[welshviking]

Bit of advice needed please, i have owned a 220L tank for 12 months and have just got my new 470L tank up and running and all was well until i just did a stats test (api liquid master kit) Ph 6.8, Amm .40 ish (between .25 & .50) nitrite 0 and nitrate 5. I filled my tank with about 150L of water from my old tank and squeezed the old media into my new filter and filled the rest of the tank with fresh water treated with interpet tapsafe. I did a test before adding the fish 3 days ago and everything was perfect (6.8 ,0 ,0 ,5). Because of the raised ammonia reading i have just done a 180L ish water change and added 4 capfuls of seachems prime along with interpet tapsafe to try to get the ammonia levels down. Is there anything else i can do apart from daily water changes to help with the ammonia (if so how much water would i need to change daily), just to add done a test on my tap water and the ammonia reading is 0....Thanks

 

[Flute]

Hey fellow Welshy!

It sounds like you're having an ammonia spike whilst the bacteria colony from the old filter tries to establish and multiply enough to process the larger water volume . Keep checking your stats at least daily and do water changes as needed, and hopefully the spike wont last long

Unless you have any more mature media from a different filter that you can donate, then there's not much more that you can do other than daily water changes. Good luck!

 

[welshviking]

Hey fellow Welshy!

It sounds like you're having an ammonia spike whilst the bacteria colony from the old filter tries to establish and multiply enough to process the larger water volume . Keep checking your stats at least daily and do water changes as needed, and hopefully the spike wont last long

Unless you have any more mature media from a different filter that you can donate, then there's not much more that you can do other than daily water changes. Good luck!

Thanks fellow welshy, I will ask around the local fishkeepers in my area for some donated media, but i wont hold my breath, looks like its as you said, checking the stats and water changes , how much water would you change in a 470L tank....Regards Welshviking

 

[Flute]

If you're about in Llandudno at all tomorrow (long shot!) I could bring you some media from one of my tanks? There's a fantastic sounding Christmas Market on so I'll be there for a good few hours.
If not, I would just go by the ammonia reading. I personally would do at least 75% or more for anything over 0.25 ppm. It's a pain on such a big tank, but it'll be worth it in the long run if you can get the ammonia under control quicker

 

[welshviking]

If you're about in Llandudno at all tomorrow (long shot!) I could bring you some media from one of my tanks? There's a fantastic sounding Christmas Market on so I'll be there for a good few hours.
If not, I would just go by the ammonia reading. I personally would do at least 75% or more for anything over 0.25 ppm. It's a pain on such a big tank, but it'll be worth it in the long run if you can get the ammonia under control quicker

Many thanks for the generous offer, if need be i will travel to Llandudno if it helps with this problem. The problem i have with daily water changes as i have just been reminded by my wife is i am back in work on Tuesday till Sat morning for 12 hours a shift so doing a 75% water change is really a no no. I can do another 200L change tomorrow and again on Monday and add seachems prime as well to try to help with the ammonia....Regards Colin

 

[Flute]

No worries at all, more than happy to help if I can Unfortunately I'm only in Llandudno for tomorrow (I live on the Llyn Penynsula), but I will be back up Bangor way at some point in the week if that is any good to you?

 

[welshviking]

No worries at all, more than happy to help if I can

Unfortunately I'm only in Llandudno for tomorrow (I live on the Llyn Penynsula), but I will be back up Bangor way at some point in the week if that is any good to you?

Thanks i have just asked around the local fishsites on facebook to see if anyone in my area has any spare media from there filter but so far no replies, i will give it another hour or so and if no one replies i will get back in touch with you.....Thanks Colin

p.s just sent you a friends request on facebook as may be easier to get in touch with you