Good news, I found a store in Lawton,Ok (about 90 minutes away). I'm going to pick it up on Saturday morning. I also ordered more online but it won't be here until Wednesday (that way I will have backups in case of emergency). I'm going to do a 50% water change tonight, adding the salt and Prime to the water. I'll post my new readings after the water change. Thanks again for your help.
Ammonia ? Need Immediate HELP!
- Thread starter rockbellab
- Start date
You're welcome. That site I listed was the only one I could find. Did you buy from them or find somewhere else? Whichever, would you let us know how your online purchase goes? Lots of people have problems getting Bio Spira and I'd like to be able to recommend some place with confidence.
Roan
Roan
I will let you know.
Do you think I can use Kosher salt? I ran out of Aquarium salt last night and forgot to buy more today.
Do you think I can use Kosher salt? I ran out of Aquarium salt last night and forgot to buy more today.
Well, my readings are not any better after the 50% water change. I really hope the bio-spira will make a difference.
My readings are:
pH - 8.2
Ammonia - 2.0ppm
Nitrite - 0.50ppm
Nitrate - 10ppm
I'll do another water change tomorrow before adding the bio-spira on Saturday afternoon. Say a little prayer for us.
Thanks, Bridget
My readings are:
pH - 8.2
Ammonia - 2.0ppm
Nitrite - 0.50ppm
Nitrate - 10ppm
I'll do another water change tomorrow before adding the bio-spira on Saturday afternoon. Say a little prayer for us.
Thanks, Bridget
Roan Art said:
Ditto- in addition to that is what kind of fish it is, as some fish will and can utilize air from the surface of the aquarium. Additionaly, it can depend on your pH, as it is mainly ammonium at pH under 7.0, and that is far less (some argue completely) harmless to fish. In addtion to that, fish that live on the bottom will experience more ammonia than those at the top, in most aquariums.
Considering what the norms are for most fishkeepers, that information is not all that helpful, as most of us are over 7.0 and don't have tanks full of Labyrinth fish... but you should be hypersensitive to Ammonia during cycling if you have bottom fish in there.
Perhaps a better question is not what level is lethal (as that is different for a lot of fish), but what level should my ammonia be kept under for safety during cycling. Keeping it low can be hard during cycling, but for the most part, that is one of the only times you will have to worry much about Ammonia, unless a huge Apple Snail dies hidden somewhere in your tank.
I would keep it under .25ppm if possible, but I would not be changing more than about 25% of the water daily to maintain that- unless you continue to creep up toward or above .50ppm. If your levels are higher than that with that schedule, you are doing something else wrong, IMO- overfeeding, have too many or too large of fish (for the cycling purpose/process), or fish which produce too much waste, etc...
I just want to sympathize with you I've gone through alot of water changes my self, but mine was because of being overstocked. I've gone through high NitrAtes, and high NitrItes and believe me LOTS of water changes is the only thing that has helped my levels stay level. Well water changes and declorinater stuff don't forget that. I just went through a ordeal where I was doing water changes some 50% EVERY day and felt like I was getting nowhere, my levels were not changing and my water was staying cloudy after 2 day's of doing 2-30% water changes a day my tank is finally clear and safe again. So keep up water changes it may feel like you are getting nowhere and you may have some tell you "thats to stressfull on your fish" but keep it up and I'm sure you will get it taken care of!!
Good luck,
Gin
Good luck,
Gin
gstoffer said:
It is nearly impossible to forget the struggle of the first "cycle"... the outbreaks of cloudiness; the wondering "Am I doing this right? Am I testing enough? Do I have enough fish? Do I have too many? Am I feeding too much? Am I chaning the water enough?"
To those who have gone through that, and have gone on to become well read and broadly experienced, we all remember that pain and worry, but at the same time, I can tell you that it does get better, and you learn, and I guarantee by the time you cycle your 3rd or 4th tank, you will be much calmer, much less worried, perhaps more patient and working slower, AND smarter (such as, seeding your tank with another tanks biomedia that you prepared for the new tank weeks in advance).
It gets easier... much easier. Always something to learn, but always less that you need to learn.
Kosher salt should be fine. Just keep up the water changes. Don't do one for 24 hours after adding the bio spira and use the entire package. The bacteria need 24 hours to colonize. If you do a change before then you'll remove a lot that haven't found a home yet.
After 24 hours, test and start doing water changes again. Should see an improvement in a couple of days.
Roan
After 24 hours, test and start doing water changes again. Should see an improvement in a couple of days.
Roan
Kosher salt, table salt, ice melt salt, all are fine. Aquarium salt is just more expensive, and this is one case where you don't get what you pay for. There's no advantage to adding aquarium salt instead of table salt. Use whatever's cheapest.
happychem said:
And for fish floating at the top, a good smelling salt is required... sometimes it helps to do your best Burgess Meredith/"Mick" voice and grumble "gggggeeeeeET UP, ya BUM!"
:joke:
