Vacation with ammonia present!

[JayLB]

Hey everyone,
I'm new here and am lookin forward to chatting with you all.

I got a 20 G set up about a month ago. Had it set up for about a week and added my bottled bacteria, and checked my parameters before adding fish. My parameters were all 0 with a pH of 6.6

I now have 3 mickey mouse platys, and 3 glo danios. I am hoping to add a centre piece fish and some more danios if space allows.

I’ve been checking parameters nearly daily and doing water changes when it seems the levels are off. My ammonia has seemed to increase despite several water changes. Ammonia is .25. There is only a slight increase in nitrite and nitrate. Just a touch above 0, but I wouldn’t even call it the next level. Ive been using seachem prime and stability With each change.

Here is my problem, I was hopping after a water change this morning the results would be greatly improved but the ammonia still hovers around .25 and i am leaving tomorrow morning for a week. What should I do in prep for leaving, so i dont come back to dead or ill fish. ANY HELP is appreciated because I am a noob!

 

[Byron]

Provided the pH remains below 7, the majority of any ammonia is ammonium, which is harmless. If the pH has been below 7 throughout, You are probably OK. I would want to know the GH and KH of the tap water though, as these do play into things.

Do they add chloramine to your tap water, or just chlorine? If chloramine, that is likely the ammonia source. Also, do you have live plants?

 

[JayLB]

Provided the pH remains below 7, the majority of any ammonia is ammonium, which is harmless. If the pH has been below 7 throughout, You are probably OK. I would want to know the GH and KH of the tap water though, as these do play into things.

Do they add chloramine to your tap water, or just chlorine? If chloramine, that is likely the ammonia source. Also, do you have live plants?

How do i find out the GH and KH.

My tap water alone pH is around 6.0 or 6.2. And the pH during a water test in my tank is usually 6.6

 

[Byron]

How do i find out the GH and KH.

My tap water alone pH is around 6.0 or 6.2. And the pH during a water test in my tank is usually 6.6

Look for the website of your water authority. From what you have posted concerning the pH, I would think it likely you have softer rather than harder water, but let's make sure. The pH range should cause no problems.

Another possible source for the ammonia is the Stability. But check the website to see if chloramine is being added. And do you have live plants?

 

[JayLB]

Look for the website of your water authority. From what you have posted concerning the pH, I would think it likely you have softer rather than harder water, but let's make sure. The pH range should cause no problems.

Another possible source for the ammonia is the Stability. But check the website to see if chloramine is being added. And do you have live plants?

No live plant. And no chloramine added.