Ammonia/Nitrite spike...why?

O

odiechef

one of the cheeky wee monkeys
Feb 7, 2005
11
0
1
Oregon
OK, time to get off the bench...first post

Quick facts...

40g tank up and running for 2+ years
Magnum 350 w/ bio-wheels running for 2+ months
One 7+ inch common goldfish(Murry), eats well...flakes, sinking pellets, peas
Basic florescent lighting
No plants
Tap water is soft/acidic so I added crushed coral to equal approx. 1/4 of total
to boost ph, alkalinity/hardness

Water parameters:
Ammonia -- 1-2 months ago was zero...today approx 2 ppm
Nitrite -- 2 wks ago, 0...1 week ago, approx 0.5...today, approx 2-5 ppm
Nitrate -- 2 wks ago, 80+...1 week, approx 80...today, approx 40-60 ppm
Total Hardness -- approx 120, stable
Alkalinity -- approx 80, stable
Ph -- 1 week ago and previous 7.4...today 7.0 or slightly higher

I know he can't take the ammonia/nitrite levels for long. I have already changed 25% of water today, 50% last week, etc. Have been trying to get nitrates under control. (I really need to get some duckweed for a nutrient sponge.) Murry has had some white, pimple like spots that after much research I figure must be true fungus. I assumed the high nitrates were stressing him causing the fungus. About 2 months ago I treated with Jungle Fungus Cure, seemed to help some. Last week I started a 5 day treatment with Mardel MarOxy per instructions. Could this treatment have screwed with the bio filter despite claims that it wouldn't? I just don't know what else could have caused this! Any thoughts/suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I will do another water change tommorow...maybe one more tonight...but I am concerned about doing to much and/or to often because of differences between tap and tank ph
 
Build up gradually with the water changes. Try this: 25% tomorrow, 40% the day after, 50% after that, two 50% after that. You'll get the water level back to 0ppm for all offending chemicals (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate). After that test daily and change the water as needed.

About your levels: since nitrate doesn't show up until nitrite eating bacteria appear which don't develop until ammonia eating bacteria grow.... how do you have all three chemicals in your water? I know goldfish are ammonia factories... but your biofilter will match his output, so at any given point you should have a maximum of two chemicals in your water (ammonia/nitrite, nitrite/nitrate, or just nitrate). So... barring any drastic changes to your tank you should only ever be reading nitrate after a period of a month or two, much less 2 years.

Have you done anything to your tank recently?

Anyway, just moniter your levels and do water changes. The biofilter will catch up and sort things out sooner or later.
 
Well my thought is, the nitrate is only going to go with water changes, thus the lower reading this week which was after the water change. And at the same time the ammonia and eventually nitrite could build with a compromised bio-filter.

The magnum w/ bio-wheels has only been running 2-3 mo. Before that filtration was w/ an aquaclear 200 (now called the 50). I ran both for nearly 2 months to make sure the bio-wheels were properly seeded. I assumed it would be. Ammonia/Nitrite were fine shorty after removing the aquaclear. The only change since has been the addition of the Mardel MarOxy as mentioned in my previous post.

I will continue with water changes.
 
I'd suspect that the meds killed the biofilter, or at least knocked out part of it. Antibiotics don't distinguish 'good' from 'bad', and I never would rely on the word of the company that it wouldn't impact the bacteria. Sorry.

How do the spots look?
 
Need more info on the white spots.
Male goldfish will get white dots on their gill plates when they are ready to breed.
Goldfish with wens (brains on the outside) can have white spots on their wens for several reasons. My lionhead has had three little white bumps on his wen right above his eye for some time. I, too, thought it was a fungus and treated with Maracyn. I had an ammonia spike also. I finished treating and it's still there, so... I guess my advice would be to not believe Mardel when they say their products won't affect your cycle. And don't treat something unless you know it's a problem. If you do decide to treat, most folks recommend Melafix.

Jim
 
OrionGirl, unfortunatly I think your right. I can't see any other reason for it. I just hope the good bacteria aren't all gone and they will come back soon. Good news, yes the white spots seem to be disappearing, all but gone on body, still a number of them on the tail edges though

Jim, I have thought about the white spots being male breeding tubercles but they weren't on the head or pectoral fins at all, just the main body and tail. As a matter of fact I just was looking at a site about sexing goldies(spring time would be the time) and I think Murry might be a she. The vent is slightly protruding

I did think about getting Melafix, was a toss-up between the two. I think now I will get some.
 
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