Serious Advise Needed Asap

[spike1]

Help...My tank is showing an extreme level of ammonia. I did a 90% water change on Friday and added AmmoLock and my ammonia reading was about 2.0 and did a 25% change yesterday and added AmmoLock and the reading was 3.0. I did my test today and it is off the chart...back up to 8.0.

I originally was using my tap water but per the advise from the LFS I did the 90% water change with DI water they sold. My current readings for my 28 gallon tank are:
PH = 6.0
Nitrite and Nitrate = 0
Ammonia = 8.0

I want to do another water change but my LFS says they think I am doing to much and I should leave it alone to go through its process. I said...my fish will die and they agreed that was a strong possibility. I can't accept that!

I need advise NOW!

Should I do a water change?
If yes, how much?
Do I use my tap water...which I just tested and the reading are:

PH = 7.4
Ammonia = almost 0ppm
I didn't test Nitrites and Nitrates...should I?

I am thinking my tap water is better than what I purchased as there is PH present. Is this correct? I am thinking that lfs is looking to make a profit off me.

All I know is I have 4 fish that I need to save and I WILL do what it takes!

 

[kj23502]

You should keep doing huge water changes!! Your fish may die anyway b/c of the high ammonia...at 8ppm I'm surprised they are still alive. Just keep doing changes until you can get it close to .50 ppm....preferably .25ppm or less...let me guess? it wasn't cycled yet and you added fish?

Your tap water should be fine. Make sure to declorinate it, though. Make sure the water your adding and the water in the aquarium are close to the same temperature.

The ro water probably caused a ph swing, which is bad for fish.

 

[spike1]

You should keep doing huge water changes!! Your fish may die anyway b/c of the high ammonia...at 8ppm I'm surprised they are still alive. Just keep doing changes until you can get it close to .50 ppm....preferably .25ppm or less...let me guess? it wasn't cycled yet and you added fish?

Your tap water should be fine. Make sure to declorinate it, though. Make sure the water your adding and the water in the aquarium are close to the same temperature.

The ro water probably caused a ph swing, which is bad for fish.

Yes I added fish too soon....Had I known about the fishless cycle...I wouldn't have added fish. But the fish store gave me 6 to start and a couple did die a couple weeks ago.

I will do a 50% water change now. Should I add any AmmoLock again? I used some yesterday. Should I do a 50% water change every morning and evening?

 

[kj23502]

I never used ammo lock....I had a 125 usg tank go through a mini-cycle and changed water a few times a day. Change the water whenever stats are too high and when you're able to do it. I did get some bio-spira(a bag of good bacteria) and I'm not sure if it really helped. My ammonia was lowering and it was going through nitrite spikes. I think it may have shortened the cycle, but I can't say for sure. If you want to try it, just make sure it's refridgerated.

I think it's safe to change water every couple of hours, as long as the temp and ph of the water going into the tank are the same....go ahead and do 90% changes if you need to do so to get the levels down. Good luck!

 

[spike1]

I never used ammo lock....I had a 125 usg tank go through a mini-cycle and changed water a few times a day. Change the water whenever stats are too high and when you're able to do it. I did get some bio-spira(a bag of good bacteria) and I'm not sure if it really helped. My ammonia was lowering and it was going through nitrite spikes. I think it may have shortened the cycle, but I can't say for sure. If you want to try it, just make sure it's refridgerated.

I think it's safe to change water every couple of hours, as long as the temp and ph of the water going into the tank are the same....go ahead and do 90% changes if you need to do so to get the levels down. Good luck!

Thanks. I just did a 50% change tonight and will do another change tomorrow morning. Will probably do a bigger one tomorrow as the PH will be more the same as the recent change had PH of 6.0 in the tank and 7.4 from the tap water. I see you mention bacteria...is that something you get a the lfs? I was also wondering if doing so many large water changes would interfere with bacteria building up in the tank.

 

[kj23502]

Water changes are a good thing. Building up soo much ammonia and next it will be nitrite can actually crash your cycle...I read that on here somewhere. It gets to levels that are so high that just crashes itself

Here's a little info about bio-spira. You can check and see if you lfs has it It definitely wouldn't hurt to try it.

 

[spike1]

Water changes are a good thing. Building up soo much ammonia and next it will be nitrite can actually crash your cycle...I read that on here somewhere. It gets to levels that are so high that just crashes itself

Here's a little info about bio-spira. You can check and see if you lfs has it It definitely wouldn't hurt to try it.

Thanks...I am going to check that stuff out. My little babies appear to be swimming around happy for the moment. Ammonia still too high but will do a couple water changes every day until under control. Thanks for the advise and support. I really appreciate it.