Weird water parameters.. Im stumped.

T

tigerbarb88

AC Members
Mar 23, 2009
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Phoenix, AZ
Good evening everyone..

Its 9:10pm here and I just performed a water test using my API Freshwater Master test kit.

I tested for the following and have listed the corresponding results:

  • Ammonia: 4.0
  • Nitrite: 0.25
  • Nitrate: 5.0

I have a 55gallon tank with a school of 9 juvenile tiger barbs.

My water parameters tested fine just the other day, now the ammonia is spiking pretty high and I have no clue as to why.

Any ideas? do these results seem off? Im scared because I dont want to lose any fish. :(

Thanks for any advice and guidance.
 
something is causing the ammonia to spike. this is under the assumption you did the API test as per the instructions.

you've checked really well and accounted for all the fish and other creatures in your tank, and all are alive? a fish dying (stuck in a cave, behind a plant, somewhere you can't see him) will most likely cause a spike in the tank and an ensuing mini cycle.

i would do a 60% water change, and be prepared to do a few of these in the course of one day, if necessary, to bring the ammonia and nitrites down to zero, and keep them there.

how long has your tank been set up? what is your water change schedule and routine?
 
BettaFishMommy said:
something is causing the ammonia to spike. this is under the assumption you did the API test as per the instructions.

you've checked really well and accounted for all the fish and other creatures in your tank, and all are alive? a fish dying (stuck in a cave, behind a plant, somewhere you can't see him) will most likely cause a spike in the tank and an ensuing mini cycle.

i would do a 60% water change, and be prepared to do a few of these in the course of one day, if necessary, to bring the ammonia and nitrites down to zero, and keep them there.

how long has your tank been set up? what is your water change schedule and routine?
Click to expand...

Yes, I followed the instructions for the API liquid test kit, its pretty straight forward and Iv done plenty of them.

And yes, I only bought 9 juvenile tiger barbs and they are all accounted for. They all seem to be fine and are schooling together as usual.

My tank has been set up for almost a month now. I have been using bacteria supplements from Nutrafin as well as water conditioner whenever I do water changes.

I do about 25% water changes every other day since the tank is fairly new.

I have no clue why the ammonia is spiking this high, it was at 0ppm just the other day. Hmmmmm :help:
 
the suspicion alert is blinking. the tank is fairly new. and with api liquid kits, make sure not only to shake your vile of solution, but to shake the reagent bottles as well.
 
what type of filter and how often do you clean it? also, do you rinse your filter media in tap water?
 
looney417 said:
the suspicion alert is blinking. the tank is fairly new. and with api liquid kits, make sure not only to shake your vile of solution, but to shake the reagent bottles as well.
Click to expand...

Lol.. yes its fairly new :) and yes I shake everything before I perform the tests to make sure I get accurate readings.

BettaFishMommy said:
what type of filter and how often do you clean it? also, do you rinse your filter media in tap water?
Click to expand...

Since the tank was given to me by a friend at school, it came with dual Whisper 30-60 Power filters with adjustable water flow. I change the bio bags every 2 or 3 weeks. I do not rinse the bio filter though, because according to the instructions that came with the filter, thats where my necessary bacteria hang out and colonize.


Im soo confused, I have done a 50% water change tonight to get the ammonia down.

Any suggestions from here on out?
 
A month isn't enough time to finish cycling a tank with fish in, give it a few more weeks and keep doing water changes to keep the ammoina and nitrites under .25ppm.
 
ye... your tank is not cycled all the way

keep doing 25-40% water changes to keep your fish healthy

dont let that ammonia and nitrate get over .25

you will start seeing nitrate soon

keep in mind that when a tank is fully cycled and in good maintenence... you will see 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia, and less than 20 nitrate (with proper water changes)
that is how mine read at all times.. but it took a while to get them there


keep in mind that you can also add a few live plants.. that will make a huge difference in keeping your levels under control-- even if they are just floating in there temporarily
 
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