AMMONIA - HELP! & CHINESE ALGAE EATER

K

KarenRye

AC Members
Dec 10, 2007
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0
British Columbia, Canada!
Hi;

I've had my tank for about 5 weeks now. The Ammonia level has stayed high since day one.

We dropped the feeding to pretty much once a day, we have about 10 fish now. They seem to be okay - just lost a new Chinese Algea Eater last night; he was fine one hour the next lying dead on tank, seemed to be eating fine, there's algae patches on the sides, not sure if food is why he died or the ammonia or what.

I really liked the algae eater - more than plecos & reg ottos - pretty, active, & neat to watch!!

Are they sensitive to water parameters??

:confused: Can anyone help with this??

Ammonia & Algae eater -

Karen
 
5 weeks and you still have high ammonia? Can you give me your tank specs: size, stock, filter ...

For now do a 50% waterchange to lower the ammonia.

Also give me your test kit readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
 
All fish are sensitive to water conditions just like all people need water to drink. Some fish are a little more sensitive than others but there is no such thing as a fish where you can ignore your water. Having said that, if you need help, we need help understanding the problem. That is why people ask what your water parameters are, what kind and how many fish, what you are using for filtration, how often you change water, what size tank you have, etc. It helps us figure out what the real problem might be and make suggestions.
 
Wow thats pretty crazy. Whats your pH? If its over 7.2 you know what that means, ammonium is now ammonia. How often are you doing your water changes? And are you over feeding? I hope you do know that algae isn't bad for you tank, it just looks bad in the begining. Most algae eaters are sensitve, so most likely if their gasping, you've damaged their gills. :[ but yeah, change water more often and that should take down the ammonia levels!
 
Hi;

Thanks for all the replys - I'll work on getting the #'s to you over the next 24 hrs.

But it is a 32 gal, with a 30-60 Aqua Tech & a 200 Aqua clear (sucking in at 2 different levels) - we've added the ammonia/carbon packed to the Aqua Clear.

I have 4 neon rosy barbs, 2 green tiger barbs, 3 lyretail & 1 sailfin mollie, 3 dwarf gourami, & 2 peppered corys. They all seem fine!

We've done a lot of water changes - most of them close to 50% - tap water has been checked & is almost 0 ammonia; but that doesn't seem to make a difference.

We also have a full length & 2 single air wall & tabs. Hoping to get some real plants this week as I heard they are good for ammonia.

Feeding - like I said is mostly 1/day - And they are eating all the food - except when I use flake - don't seem to like that. Rosy barbs are ravenous eaters!!!

Our ammonia continually reads around 4 parts; NO3, almost none existant, and ph is 7 if I remember - haven't gotten the other tests yet NO2 that is.

Karen
 
I lost both of my chinese algae eaters due to Ammonia problems, as much as Ilike them I won't have them again, they seems to be too sensative, all my other fish have survived my ammonia spike except them.
 
keep up with water changes, either increase to 50% twice a day or 75% every day until the ammonia and nitrite start to stay down on their own. don't bother replacing the algae eater - they get too big and mean for your tank. as juveniles they eat algae, but as they age they start to prefer going after other fish and eating their slime coats.
 
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