Ammonia spike! 2-3 PPM!

[yashinfan]

I have 3 fish in a 10 gallon, I guess I now know that it wasn't fully cycled.

I tested the ammonia: 2-3 PPM.

What do I do to bring it down? The fish are swimming crazily and one of them is breathing a bit heavily and sometimes sits on the bottom and then starts swimming again! PLZ HELP NOW!

 

[allwet]

hi yash.see my post on your strange behavior post.you do need to get the test kits.check your tap water for ammonia.when adding water be sure to add amquel for the ammonmia,chlorine and chloramines.their are other products to use also.any three of the above mentioned can damage and or kill your fish.allwet.........

 

[NJ Devils Fan]

Other than about a 40% water change, there really is nothing. That is why so many people fishless cycle, because it doesn't put stress on any fish.

 

[anonapersona]

Change water! match temps, dechlorinate.

 

[LMOUTHBASS]

i know everyone here

will be against this but you coul try an amonia neutralizer just to save your fish until you have changed the water enough to get your amonia out of the tank, i used one before and noticed the fish were breathing a lot easier once i put the chemicals in, again i only used the stuff because it was an extreme situation

 

[famman]

I might have to agree with the last post, a bag of ammo-lock in your filter might get you past this difficulty. Frequent water changes are also important.
good luck

 

[somefinnfishy]

nothing wrong with adding some white dimmond or similar product its not adding chems as its an absorber.

 

[yashinfan]

Since it is a sponge filter in that tank I couldn't use ammo-lock. I did a 20% water change the first day and the ammonia was down to 1PPM yesterday. I've been doing 15% water changes daily and will continue until the quarantine period is over and I can put them in the community tank. I also only fed them every 24 hours to cut down on wastes produced. They are looking better than before and have calmed down a great deal.

What do you recommend as a good quarantine period?

 

[allwet]

you can put the ammo lock in a small box filter if you have one.(sandwich it between floss).i q/t two weeks.many q/t even longer.does your tap water have ammonia in it? allwet..

 

[yashinfan]

I don't have a box filter so that doesn't help me. There is no ammonia in my tap water. I think I will quarantine them for a week.