So I added WAY too much ammonia yesterday and I can't seem to get it fixed!!! Since the test kit only goes to 8 I had no idea how high it was, just way too high. Last night I changed out 20% of the tank. Today- still reads 8. So I change out 50% of the tank AGAIN. Still.....8. ARGH! How many times do I have to do this?!?!?!?!?! :newbie:
Added too much ammonia, can't get it down!!!
- Thread starter mirasmom
- Start date
Do you have Prime? I'd dump in about 5 times the normal dose to help keep the ammonia from killing the beneficial bacteria you have going for you right now. You may have taken a big hit to the beneficial bacteria, but maybe not.
Keep doing water changes until you can get it down to 5. If you dump the emergency dose of Prime, which is 5 times normal, even then I would probably go ahead and do a huge water change. You could even do 90% if needed, that won't stop your cycle process. The bacteria is in the filter media and gravel, on the glass and plants, not the water.
You don't have livestock in the tank, right? That would be a major concern.
The main problem is that over 5ppm you will start to kill off the very bacteria that love ammonia, so you need to get the reading down. I may be wrong, but I think the emergency dose will offer some protection to the bb even if you are at 8ppm, but I would still do a huge WC within 24 hours and get the reading down.
I accidentally spilled to much ammonia while doing a fishless cycle, then I ran and dumped in an overdose of Prime. I put at least 5 caps of Prime in my 40 gallon, and then topped off the tank with 2 gallons of water, and then removed about 30% within 24 hours.
I managed to NOT kill off all my good bacteria, but I think it slowed down the process because it did hit the bb a little bit.
Don't worry too much about this. Just keep doing water changes, using Prime, and monitoring. You'll get there.
Keep doing water changes until you can get it down to 5. If you dump the emergency dose of Prime, which is 5 times normal, even then I would probably go ahead and do a huge water change. You could even do 90% if needed, that won't stop your cycle process. The bacteria is in the filter media and gravel, on the glass and plants, not the water.
You don't have livestock in the tank, right? That would be a major concern.
The main problem is that over 5ppm you will start to kill off the very bacteria that love ammonia, so you need to get the reading down. I may be wrong, but I think the emergency dose will offer some protection to the bb even if you are at 8ppm, but I would still do a huge WC within 24 hours and get the reading down.
I accidentally spilled to much ammonia while doing a fishless cycle, then I ran and dumped in an overdose of Prime. I put at least 5 caps of Prime in my 40 gallon, and then topped off the tank with 2 gallons of water, and then removed about 30% within 24 hours.
I managed to NOT kill off all my good bacteria, but I think it slowed down the process because it did hit the bb a little bit.
Don't worry too much about this. Just keep doing water changes, using Prime, and monitoring. You'll get there.
Yup, just empty the tank and start again.
For all we know you could have a level of 100ppm in there, it's just that 8 is as high as the test kit goes. Change 20%, it's still 80. Change 50% more, it's still 40 etc.
It's only water, dump it and start again.
Ian
For all we know you could have a level of 100ppm in there, it's just that 8 is as high as the test kit goes. Change 20%, it's still 80. Change 50% more, it's still 40 etc.
It's only water, dump it and start again.
Ian
Agreed with above, do a 100% water change. Its not really starting over, bacteria is anchored in the tanks biofilm.
Posted on mobile.aquariacentral.com
Posted on mobile.aquariacentral.com
True, but if the ammonia has been that high then it's probably nuked any bacteria anyway.
Doesn't change the plan though, fresh water, a LITTLE ammonia, and carry on.
That's one big advantage of fishless cycling, if you do make a mistake, no fish die, just fix the problem and carry on/start again.
Ian
I agree with the above... the simplest solution is the best. Do 100% water change and stop worrying about it. Since we don't know how much ammonia was in there it's best to just assume that the bacteria was nuked.
Don't remove the gravel or any decor, though. Just start with a new tankful of treated water and be careful with the ammonia. I bumped my elbow and spilled too much the day that happened to me. It can happen to any of us.
Don't remove the gravel or any decor, though. Just start with a new tankful of treated water and be careful with the ammonia. I bumped my elbow and spilled too much the day that happened to me. It can happen to any of us.