Really Need Some Help

[dande2013]

Hi everyone
 
I know your probably thinking i am a little thick but i have just started out and need some help i have tested my water today and some of my levels seem a little high my ph levels are 7.2 kh 270 gh 500 nitrate 10 nitrite is 0.5 amonnia 3.0 can any help

 

[fluttermoth]

Do you have fish in the tank?
 
If you do, you need to do an immediate, large water change, and by large, I mean 80 or 90%; leave just enough water for the fish to swim upright (don't forget to switch your heater/filter off first!) before refiling with warmed, dechlorinated water.

 

[helterskelter]

Do you have fish in the tank?
 
If you do, you need to do an immediate, large water change, and by large, I mean 80 or 90%; leave just enough water for the fish to swim upright (don't forget to switch your heater/filter off first!) before refiling with warmed, dechlorinated water.

80-90% is a little crazy all in one go.
 
daily water changes of 40 for 10 days. Do you have any fish in there?

 

[the_lock_man]

Do you have fish in the tank?
 
If you do, you need to do an immediate, large water change, and by large, I mean 80 or 90%; leave just enough water for the fish to swim upright (don't forget to switch your heater/filter off first!) before refiling with warmed, dechlorinated water.

80-90% is a little crazy all in one go.
 
daily water changes of 40 for 10 days. Do you have any fish in there?

 
Have to disagree there.
 
WIth ammonia at 3.0ppm, a 40% change will take that down to 1.8ppm. If there were no fish in the tank, it would take 5 days to even reach the nominal safe level of 0.25ppm. But I would assume there are fish in there, for ammonia to be at 3.0ppm in the first place. So, once the ammonia is down to 1.8ppm, there will be more of it adding itself into the water at an unknown rate. It could be that the rate it increases is greater than the 40% that you are recommending you take out. Even if it's not, your suggestion will put at least a day or 2 more onto the time it takes to reach a "safe" level.

It looks to me like this situation is a standard fish-in cycle, so one big change may be all it takes to regain control of the ammonia, and 40% may be all it takes to keep control thereafter.

 

[techen]

Since when was doing a 80-90% waterchange due to high ammonia crazy?
 
I agree with everyone above, Big change. Uncycled tank.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Agreed ... a huge water change is the only way to get the ammonia levels down. And if you're not already using Seachem Prime as your dechlorinator, I'd advise you to go get some. It has other detoxifying properties that make it the best.
 
I'd also advise doing 50% daily water changes until your filter cycles. It may sound extreme, but if there are fish to be reckoned with it's the only way. Good luck.

 

[b3cca]

Well i read his post from 2 days ago and he didn't have any fish and was reading how to cycle this tank, but then if he doesn't have fish in there he wouldn't be worried about 3.0 ppm ammonia
 
I guess nobody can answer until you tell them What is in there to cause the ammonia ?? Fish, bottled ammonia, flakes etc

 

[helterskelter]

No fish well this is good then. it's all working as it should be.

 

[dande2013]

sorry guys no fish at present in cycle not sure why ammonia high

 

[Lunar Jetman]

sorry guys no fish at present in cycle not sure why ammonia high

Your tank is cycling so this isn't uncommon. I suggest you have a read here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/ particularly the cycling section. That should explain what is going on. Stick with it and you'll be ok.