!urgent Ive Got Angels! // Ammonia Spike Of 1ppm

[kelseybelsey1013]

I think I overstocked my tank.
Just added 2 angels and 2 gouramis today.
2 days ago I added 3 platys and 1 guppy.
Then for the past mm..2 weekends I added 4 fish each weekend.
Pet Mania said it is fine to add that amount.
Obviously not.
I had problems with ammonia before buying any new fish recently (past 5 weeks). I fixed it; it was gradually climbing from 0.25 to 0.5, with my fish in the tank, and I added fizzies (complete B.S), Ammonia Remover (it's like a gravel and you have to add a whole LOT), increased aeration, put filter on full blast, added Hagen Cycle for the bacteria, and it all went to 0. I was so relieved, and I guess I just went fish-crazy.
Oops.
Now, my level is 1ppm! I have my bacteria colony established, I know for a fact! It had taken all my other Ammonia out! I added plants but to no effect. I thought they soaked all my ammonia out anyway?
I changed 50% of water and vaccummed my gravel. Pet Mania's idea.
Still 1ppm.
Did vaccuming the gravel eliminate any beneficial bacteria? I'm quite worried.
ANGELFISH AREN'T CHEAP, AND THEY'RE REALLY PARTICULAR!!
...So what now? I do NOT NOT NOT want to lose my Angels!!
HELP WANTED IMMEDIATELY.

 

[kribensis12]

Okay. How big is your tank? Angels are very easy to kill. How did you cycle it? What kinda filter do you have? I would suggest getting an ammonioa bag for aquaclear filters. They are cheap and they will fit in any filter, of just sit it in the tank. They work well. What is your complete stocking list of the tank? How long has it been set up? Also, the more water changes the better. Do you use dechlorinator?

 

[LauraFrog]

Are you sure the test reading is accurate? Ammonia removing products can stuff up the readings. They can send them through the roof or make the tests come up negative when there is still ammonia in the tank.

 

[kelseybelsey1013]

Okay. How big is your tank?
-55 gallons

Angels are very easy to kill. How did you cycle it?
-Hagen Cycle Shmikel.

What kinda filter do you have?
-Fluval 4plus

I would suggest getting an ammonioa bag for aquaclear filters. They are cheap and they will fit in any filter, of just sit it in the tank. They work well.
-Have one, and just now sat it in the tank. It'd only fit in the Fluval if I took out my carbon, so yeah. It'll still work?

What is your complete stocking list of the tank?
-Signature
How long has it been set up?
-God, 2 years?
Also, the more water changes the better.
-Eh..I changed it 50% and it reads the same.
Do you use dechlorinator?
-Yes, the best! (Prime)
Are you sure the test reading is accurate?
-Yes, I used both strip and kit.
Ammonia removing products can stuff up the readings. They can send them through the roof or make the tests come up negative when there is still ammonia in the tank.
-Yes, so, how would I know if they're doing that? The only products I use are Cycle, Prime, Am-Quel +, and Ammonia Remover in a green and black box, it's like gravel.

 

[kribensis12]

Okay, your tank should be fine. It appears that your tnak isnt over stocked. I think that you added to many fish too quickly, which caused the ammonia to spike. I would do another 50% water change and see what happens.

 

[Tolak]

Daily water changes of 25% to 50% until the ammonia drops. Feed about 1/3 normal, less food means less waste produced.

Vaccing the gravel should not affect the nitrifying filtration, that is mainly taken care of by your filter. The ammonia chips may remove some ammonia, but then there will be less ammonia available for your nitrifying bacteria. This will extend your cycle, or cycling problem.

 

[kelseybelsey1013]

Ok dudeeesss.
I just changed like 60% of the water and the ammonia's still 0.25. I tested tap and it's 0. So IDK what I'm doing wrong heree! I don't want my angels to die. Everything else is great.
***DO THEY PREFER LOW OR IDEAL OR HIGH ALKALINE?
&& what else should I watch out for?
I want them to last thro the night.
Everything else is normal, very soft water, pH 7-7.2

 

[Tolak]

Do the daily water changes, and obviously keep an eye on them. A better alternative to the ammo chips is Ammo-Lock. This converts ammonia to ammonium, which is harmless to fish at levels found in your aquarium, but still used the same as ammonia by your nitrifying bacteria.

If you are having a cycling problem, as indicated by your ammonia reading, keep any eye out for nitrite in the next few days to a week. This often follows ammonia in a tank with cycling problems.

I would not worry about hardness, pH, or alkalinity at this point, there really isn't much you can safely do about it anyway, unless you are starting with ro water.

 

[kelseybelsey1013]

I already have an ammonia-detoxifier. I bought it at the LFS and it's a LFS that's not a chain, and it knows what it's talking about! So, with the ammonium, I should be O.K, even at 0.25?

 

[kribensis12]

Any amount of Ammonia is toxic an dlethal. You will need to do another water change. Sorry, but its the only way. And make sure you keep doing tests. Do you have a liquid or a Test Strip kit? Test Strips arent always as reliable. I would do like a 50 % water change. Dont wprry abotu stress, as fish do better with more frequent water chagnes and ammonia will kill them off.

 

[Tolak]

.25 of ammonium is nothing to worry about. What is the brand & name of product you are using for the ammonia?

If your tap water is treated with chloramine you will get a slight ammonia reading after a water change, as chloramine is composed of chlorine & ammonia. In a mature tank this level will zero out in a couple of hours. It will stay elevated in a tank with cycling problems.

I'll bet when I do my usual 50% water changes I'm getting at least .25 ammonia, which is actually ammonium, for a few hours. The ammonium has no effect on fish, even fry.

 

[kelseybelsey1013]

I changed it again today and it's still .5. It's like when I change it the levels dont even change, even a little bit. I wish my tank would cycle itself but it's really being dumb because my Cycle isn't even working!
I'll change like 80% right now.
BBL!

 

[Tolak]

Take a bucket of tank temperature tank water, just as if you are about to do a water change, and check for ammonia. Add your dechlorinator, wait a minute or two, and test for ammonia again.

 

[kelseybelsey1013]

Thanks so much for the help, Tolak! I just tested it..
0.1 before..
0.1 after!

 

[Tolak]

Double dose with Prime, and test the water in 24 hours. If the tank is cycled the reading should stay the same, or hopefully decrease. Since you added some new fish decrease feeding to 1/3 normal for the next week.

The Prime will convert the ammonia to ammonium, feeding less will create less waste, and if the tank has been running for 2 years this should give the mature bacteria a chance to catch up to the increased bio load.

Some ammonia is found in some water supplies. If you detox it with a product that converts ammonia to ammonium it will not affect your fish, and will safely be converted to nitrites than nitrates in a mature tank.