My ammonia is all messed up, still (has been forever). I decided today to change a LOT of water, (about 60%, in two 30% changes). The ammonia level is down significantly, but it could stand to be a little lower, would you suggest swapping out another 30% or so, or would that be too much of a water change for one day?
is it possible to do too much of a water change?
- Thread starter loserkid
- Start date
If it's not in dangerous level I would wait a day before doing another water change IMO. I don't think 60% is too much if your levels are dangerous as long as you are using your conditioners for the water as needed IF you need them.
As long as you are using de-chlor you can do as many changes as you want. B et make sure you find out why the ammoina is there.
Quick change in water parameters may send them into shock, so las YoFishboy said, if they seem stressed, wait a little more between each change. If the fish seem fine, by all means, water changes are a good thing so long as you keep a relatively stable temperature, and are religious with the dechlorinator.
The key to stress free water changes is temperature, matching parramiters, and proper treatment.
So; YOu already said you are dechlorinating, and have the temp correct. assuming you have done reasonable amounts of water changes in the past, your tap water should match your tank water reasonably close in Gh and Kh therefore there is no danger in changes frequent large volumes. The only time large volume or frequent water changes cause trouble is when trying to clean up a tank that hasn't been properly maintained. Or if you are using a water source other than your standard source.
On the other hand, ammonia is a dangerous thing, and the fastest way to reduce it ( As you seem to already know) is via water changes. IMO, Keep changing water until you get below 0.25 ppm and then figure out why you are having the ammonia problem in the first place.
Stress coat is a dechlorinator I have used extensively. overuse can and will create problems. the whole "aloe" thing really has no basis, and other than simple dechlorination it just adds junk that you don't need and won't benifit your fish. It is a very effective low cost dechlorinator, but IME nothing more.
BTW anything with sodium thisulfate that is cheap will do the same thing.
Next issue: have you verified that you are indeed dealing with chlorine and not Chloramines? You water company website should tell you.
If you have Chloramines, you will need prime or a similar product that truly can deal with chloramines. Chloramines are chlorine bonded with ammonia (or some form of ammonia) when you use a simple dechlorinator (sodium thisulfate) such as stress cot, it breaks the bond and neutralizes the chlorine but leaves the ammonia behind in measurable quantities. The easy test at home is get a gallon of tap water, check ammonia level. Apply Stress caot in recomended dasoage (for dechlorination) and then re-test for ammonia. if the level increased you have chloramines. Buy some Prime and use it instead.
HTH
Dave