Very Concerned About Ammonia Levels

[LukeFishwalker]

Yeah I know how it feels - same thing happened to me.

There is a product called Bio-spira that some people have used with success.

http/www.marineland.com/science/nspira.asp

 

[GRJ]

OK.. it starts....

Luckily I bought a BIG bucket at the weekend (you have to look on the bright side!!)


Just two questions at this stage and forgive me if I'm being thick.....


- I've been told not to feed for a week - this seems a little exessive - is this right. GRJ you mentioned every other day?

- Mature Filter media - this sounds like a plan. Should I go to my local aquarist for this?

You can use the donated media thread on here to see if there is anyone near you, ideally within 30 minutes travelling. You can ask you lfs, mine were more than happy to give me some gravel(Put it into a stocking and into my filter basket!), but others wont. There are things you have to be careful of getting media from lfs, you dont know wether their fish have any infections ect, so be aware of that. Like crux said, feed a little every other day. I was told fish could go a week without food but i also feel thats a litttle excessive. Every other day is fine and only enough for them to be eating for a few minutes. Any remaining food remove with a net. Also, you can lighly vac the gravel, if you have gravel, with a gravel vac. They only cost a couple of pounds and are one of the best tools for doing water changes and gravel vaccing at the same time. You may need to invest in a few more buckets too to make life easier. I have 10, 10Ltr buckets as my tank is 108Ltrs. I use two to empty and fill the rest ready fill filling back up. Dont forget the dechlorinater and to get the water temperature to match that in the tank. The easiest way of doing that i have found is to use half a kettle of boiling water per 10ltr bucket. Test with the back of your hand and you will instinctivley know wether the temp is ok. Dont clean your filter out for 4-6 weeks. When you do, do it the same time as a water change and put all your filter media in water taken from your tank, not tap water as the chlorine will kill any bacteria you have built up. Just dont 'overclean' your filter. Swish the media about in the bucket of tank water and reassemble. I know it seems a lot to take in but beleive me, this is best for your fish and it really isnt too much trouble and you will soon get into the swing of it. You mentioned that the tank is for your daughters, well get them to help you out if they can andthey will learn how to do maintanence, and when your tank is cycled and you only have to do weekly water changes, you may be able to sit back and relax while your children do the work!LOL I hope that has helped andi havent babbled on too much, i am just trying to think of everything i am doing to help you out. Good luck. GRJ

 

[Chris #]

Well thanks or all the great advice!!!GRJ - no you didn't babble that was a really useful post - thanks . Well some good news - Dexter the Red Tail Shark seems to have perked up this morning. My kids are all under 5 but are really helpful and supportive with tank maintainance..........I've sat them down and explained what's going on and told them I'm going to do my best to make sure they are all ok.I'll post something tonight when I've done my tests etc........I've also sent a PM about some mature media......fingers crossed!!!

 

[gowing238]

there is a list of fish forum members in one of the setup articles who are willing to help begginers and give them some old filter media.

 

[GRJ]

Well thanks or all the great advice!!!GRJ - no you didn't babble that was a really useful post - thanks . Well some good news - Dexter the Red Tail Shark seems to have perked up this morning. My kids are all under 5 but are really helpful and supportive with tank maintainance..........I've sat them down and explained what's going on and told them I'm going to do my best to make sure they are all ok.I'll post something tonight when I've done my tests etc........I've also sent a PM about some mature media......fingers crossed!!!

I wil keep my fingers crossed for you. There really is alight at the end of the tunnel, just remember that in the times ahead when it gets you down, as there will be times when it will get you down. I dont want to sugar coat it for you, its damn hard work but the pay off is tremendous! If only the lfs's out there told us all the truth in the first place we wouldnt have this problem! Some one mentioned something called Bio-spira on this thread too, well i dont think you can get that in this country, only the US, but if you have some good aquatic centres near you, you may be able to get something called 'soll bactinettes' which is supposedto be a great filter booster. I hear its kept in the coolers. I have never tried it, my nearest stockist is Telford, near Shrewsbury and i live 7 miles from Wolverhampton. Luckily my tank seems to be just settling down now, ammonia 0.1, nitrite 0.1 and nitrate 20-25. I would have tried to get some of this 'bactinettes' stuff if i didnt get my donated media as i heard its great stuff. I have tried to 'google' it without much success but if you log on to Maidenhead Aquatics, they have branches all over and i do believe they sell it. Good Luck. Kepp us posted. GRJ

 

[Chris #]

there is a list of fish forum members in one of the setup articles who are willing to help begginers and give them some old filter media.

Thanks,

I've sent a PM to one of the members on the list so fingers crossed !!!!

 

[GRJ]

there is a list of fish forum members in one of the setup articles who are willing to help begginers and give them some old filter media.

Thanks,

I've sent a PM to one of the members on the list so fingers crossed !!!!

Great! I hope your lucky with that! Thats how i got mine, who has now donated me two lots of media! Keep us posted!GRJ

 

[Chris #]

Right,

Important things first - the fish look happy and relaxed....

Current water stats :

Ammonia between 0.25 and 1.5 Mg/l (0.75 estimated) - no change all day.
Nitrite <0.3 mg/l

 

[GRJ]

Right,

Important things first - the fish look happy and relaxed....

Current water stats :

Ammonia between 0.25 and 1.5 Mg/l (0.75 estimated) - no change all day.
Nitrite <0.3 mg/l

Ok, well ammonia and nitrite are a little high so you will need to do a 50 % water change to get that ammonia and nitrite down, then test regularly as it will begin to rise again. Your mission if you choose to accept it(Ha ha) is to keep up checking the water parameters and changing water accordingly. This may be once, twice, three times or even four times a day, depending on levels. Those fish wont show ammonia stress immediatly, it takes a while. What normally happens is the fish go to the surface and appear to gasp for air, then go a bit wobbly and floaty. After that, well, i dont need to tell you and it isnt a nice thing to watch. I lost a few innitially but since keeping levels down they seem to be coping very well. Make sure you dont forget to dechlorinate, you dont want to ruin any bacteria you have built up. What dechlorinater are you using? I use Stress Coat as it also helps the fish with their slime coat. You just add 1.3 ml to a 10ltr bucket to dechlorinate. Also, what test kit are you using? Your ammonia should be a little more definate to read that 0.25 - 1.5. Need anything else just give us a shout. Someone will always give you advice. Keep us updated. GRJ

 

[Chris #]

Hi,

My Test kit is a "Tetra Test" for "Total Ammonia"


And the Decholrinator is "Aqua One Water Conditioner"

 

[GRJ]

Hi,

My Test kit is a "Tetra Test" for "Total Ammonia"


And the Decholrinator is "Aqua One Water Conditioner"

I havent used those tests before, i you the API Master Test Kit and the Nutrafin Master Test Kit(which is a bit more snazzy cuz its like a briefcase!!!) Dont use any of those ridiculus test strips that the lfs sell, they are innaccurate and useless. Always use liquid drop test kits and also, i have just remembered, check you PH as if you have high PH it can make the ammonia more lethal. It may only show up at 0.25 but if you PH is 8 it makes the ammomia a lot higher. I am not sure about the science of it but that is what i was told. I am trying sooo hard to not put you off, but you do need the facts and i was helped out on this site and if i can help someone just a little bit i feel i have paid my dues!!! GRJ

 

[Chris #]

Thanks GRJ ..... you're not putting me off.....


The pH is 7.5 and has been since the tanks was started......

The test kits I use are all liquid but I'm ging down to the shop anyway for them to do a water test tomorrow (to make sure) and also to find an extension for my filter intake as it's not near the bottom of the tank where apparently it should be.....

I'll let you know what they say too.

 

[GRJ]

Thanks GRJ ..... you're not putting me off.....


The pH is 7.5 and has been since the tanks was started......

The test kits I use are all liquid but I'm ging down to the shop anyway for them to do a water test tomorrow (to make sure) and also to find an extension for my filter intake as it's not near the bottom of the tank where apparently it should be.....

I'll let you know what they say too.

Hi Chris, your ph seems ok. Let me know what the lfs say about your intake tube as mine is around 3inches from the bottom of my tank and i was wondering about that with mine!! They dont give you a lot of pipe do they and my tank is fairly tall. Keep me posted. GRJ

 

[Miss Wiggle]

replied to your message, i'll sort you out some media.

for now the only thing you can do is keep doing 20% water changes every day. good for you for explaining it properly to your kids, it's a hard lesson to learn but an important one. Just hope you don't loose too many fish.

 

[Chris #]

Hi There,

Some good news, Here are the lfs results (a new one which has been recommended to me) :

pH 7.2

Ammonia 0.55 (down!!)

Nitrite 0.10 (up!!)

and I've got some bacteria as well while I was there!!!


They've said if I keep the feeding down all should be well in about a week.


GRJ - They said that it doesn't really matter but it would probably help so I've got something to extend it.

Miss Wiggle - Thanks for getting in touch!!! Do you think I still nees the mature media after adding the bacteria?


Thankyou so much for all your help - I'm really grateful