Water Changes, To Keep Ammonia Low

[The chilly dipper]

previously i thought my tank was cycled but now i have just had another ammonia increase of 0.8ppm im doing a 70% water change today. but i read on google last night that adding a bit of hot water to your fresh water before it goes in the tank,that this will bring it down close to tank temp.

what do you think of this notion ?

also any ideas why my ammonia is being stubborn i had double zeroes before but now the ammonias back but with no nitrites??

im using inter pet for my ammonia and nitrites and api for nitrates.

i havent got a ph test though if this helps guys.

please help!!!!

 

[Tizer]

It simply sounds like your tank isnt cycled or you havnt dechlorinated your new water and killed any bacteria in your filter.

Whatever it is, you just have to keep up the water changes, daily and keep the readings lover than 0.25ppm

 

[roadmaster]

previously i thought my tank was cycled but now i have just had another ammonia increase of 0.8ppm im doing a 70% water change today. but i read on google last night that adding a bit of hot water to your fresh water before it goes in the tank,that this will bring it down close to tank temp.

what do you think of this notion ?

also any ideas why my ammonia is being stubborn i had double zeroes before but now the ammonias back but with no nitrites??

im using inter pet for my ammonia and nitrites and api for nitrates.

i havent got a ph test though if this helps guys.

please help!!!!

Are we talking about the bowl in the photo? If so, it looks to be an undergravel filter where the gravel is the biological filter.
I do not see much gravel and would add more so that depth of gravel was at least an inch or two.
Would agree with above post, water changes and dechlorinator for new water before you place the new water in the tank to keep ammonia as close to zero as I could.
Would also stick my hand under new water and see that it is not too cold compared to that in the tank.
would suggest Prime for dechlorinator were it my tank/bowl.

 

[The chilly dipper]

i use a dechlorinator tap safe by inter pet but i admit i guestimate the dose.
the gravel hardly covers the filter to be honest

is this my problem?

 

[roadmaster]

i use a dechlorinator tap safe by inter pet but i admit i guestimate the dose.
the gravel hardly covers the filter to be honest

is this my problem?

Yes the lack of gravel will inhibit the amount of bacteria that can gather there.
I would add enough gravel for an inch or two in depth. In the meantime,,water changes are your Fishes only hope unless you have another tank to move fish to.

 

[The chilly dipper]

right i will get some more gravel for the bio orb then as it did not come with the lava rock that is normally supplied with these tanks.

thanks for your help matey

i use a dechlorinator tap safe by inter pet but i admit i guestimate the dose.
the gravel hardly covers the filter to be honest

is this my problem?

Yes the lack of gravel will inhibit the amount of bacteria that can gather there.
I would add enough gravel for an inch or two in depth. In the meantime,,water changes are your Fishes only hope unless you have another tank to move fish to.

is it known if the bacteria grow under the gravel also ?

 

[Tizer]

lols, good job you took a picture of it.

The biorb rock i think can be quite expensive, probably better off saving your cash and using on a decent tank I have much biorb hate within ;D

 

[The chilly dipper]

lols, good job you took a picture of it.

The biorb rock i think can be quite expensive, probably better off saving your cash and using on a decent tank I have much biorb hate within ;D

yeah im starting to get like that. i got it for 50 but its cost me loads in sorting it out lol.

so if i get the gravel i would be right in saying the levels will start to drop after a few weeks ?

 

[matt_storey]

just to add if u are anywhere near banbury i have a load of gravel you can have.

 

[roadmaster]

lols, good job you took a picture of it.

The biorb rock i think can be quite expensive, probably better off saving your cash and using on a decent tank I have much biorb hate within ;D

yeah im starting to get like that. i got it for 50 but its cost me loads in sorting it out lol.

so if i get the gravel i would be right in saying the levels will start to drop after a few weeks ?

Yes ammonia will decrease as bacteria develops assuming you don't add any more fish and are careful not to overfeed the fish.
Any type of fine gravel would work on top of plate.
I too would opt for larger tank if possible.Larger volume of water is more forgiving than smaller volume of water with respect to accumulated waste which heavily influences water quality or lack thereof.

 

[The chilly dipper]

i will get some more asap and keep up the water changes.
getting a larger tank is not an option i have 4 fish in there doing ok but will i kill the remaining bacteria putting the new gravel in ?

 

[fluttermoth]

No, you won't kill the bacteria you have by adding more gravel.

And to answer your question in the OP; yes, you can add water from the hot tap to get your new water up to temp

 

[The chilly dipper]

No, you won't kill the bacteria you have by adding more gravel.

And to answer your question in the OP; yes, you can add water from the hot tap to get your new water up to temp

thank you

 

[Tizer]

although isnt that a fancy goldfish you have in there? cold water?

 

[The chilly dipper]

although isnt that a fancy goldfish you have in there? cold water?

nooo dont worry im just getting it to ambient temp so i dont shock the fancies
suprises at how warm it is in there too. its cold but a hint of warmth ..i think the lights may be warming the water a little but nothing dangerous for the fish cos it doesnt get past room temp.