High Ammoinia but fish seem fine!?!

[tash2620]

Hi guys,

Im having a bit of a problem with my new tank. I recently started up a 30L freshwater tank. Its got an under gravel filter and about 3 weeks ago I put in one red tail black shark and a bristle nose catfish. Everything was going fine and then I put in a blue Ram. The blue ram died within a day this was my first fish death so I was terribly upset I raced to the pet store and brought ammonia tests so I could find out what the problem was. Turns out that it was ammonia that killed my blue Ram but the other fish were fine. The pet store sold me Ammo Lock and said to clean the tank do a 50% water change and add the Ammo lock. I have been doing this regularly. I clean the tank and do water changes regularly I only feed 2 pellets once a day and they get a 2 day break from feeding each week but my ammonia levels are still high! They are so high now that 8.0ppm maybe even higher! But it seems that my two fish are doing fine. The bristle nose catfish is breathing a little heavy but the shark seems fine and is still eating and swimming around! I don’t know is Ammo lock results in an inaccurate reading when testing for ammonia or if my fish are slowly dieing and are not showing any signs, I was told that they should be dead with readings like that! I don’t know what to do please help!

[webcricket]

Ammo Lock is the culprit - it converts the ammonia (NH3) into ammonium (NH4) which will still show up on most ammonia tests even though it's not ammonia.

Did you cycle the tank completely before adding the fish? If not, the Ammo Lock is probably going to prevent your tank from properly cycling and prolong your problems. I'd suggest daily 50-75% water changes to try and get rid of it. Water changes are the best way to reduce ammonia. Eventually your biological filter will become established enough to take care of the ammonia on its own.

What are your other water parameters? Nitrite levels? Nitrate levels?

[Gunnie]

If your ammonia test is a strip test or 1 part test (color card goes from yellow to orange), you will get a false positive when you test for ammonia. You must use a 2 part test that goes from yellow to green to get the correct ammonia reading when using ammo lock or amquel plus. What type of test are you using?

[Roan Art]

You also need a nitrite and nitrate test in order to see if your tank has fully cycled. liquid test kits, for the most part, are better and more accurate.

Roan

[tash2620]

I am using a liquid ammonia test, with has 2 parts. I havent got a Nitrates test, the pet shop people told me that i didnt need one! but i will go out and buy one tonight! Those are the same people that sold me ammo-lock GRR haha. thanks guys you have all been really really helpful, will doing 50% water changes hurt my fish?

[Gunnie]

If you normally have a good maintenance routine when you weren't having problems, the 50% water change shouldn't be a problem. That's what I normally change out of all my tanks weekly. Let us know how your tank is doing! :cool: