ammonia way too high
- Thread starter luluespy
- Start date
Personally, I am not a fan of using fish to cycle a tank -- most just aren't equipped to deal with the stress of the high levels of ammonia when it spikes, and then the nitrite when it spikes. If you have ammonia level of 4ppm ammonia, you have plenty of bioload to cycle your tank.
It seems strange to me that you have practically no nitrite or nitrate, if you have significant ammonia - I would expect some bacterial activity to have developed by now to take advantage of the ammonia. When I have had an ammonia spike, it has been followed by a nitrite spike, maybe a week later.
Any chance your test kit is giving an incorrect reading?
The size of your bacterial colony would be in proportion to you bioload; but low stocking shouldn't prevent your tank cycling. In fact, as I understand it, cycling with fish usually is done with only a few small fish.
Any chance your test kit is giving an incorrect reading?
The size of your bacterial colony would be in proportion to you bioload; but low stocking shouldn't prevent your tank cycling. In fact, as I understand it, cycling with fish usually is done with only a few small fish.
seems that your tank has not even started cycling.... DO NOT RINSE YOUR FILTER AGAIN!!! there is no need at this point and it kills the little bacteria you have.
also.. adding mature media from an established tank will greatly reduce your cycle time
also.. adding mature media from an established tank will greatly reduce your cycle time
If you are reading 4 and doing a 50% water change and still getting 4 then my guess is 4 is the highest reading your test kit will give. You really need to give the fish a break and do more water changes. I too wonder if you test is working correctly. I think so but test your tap water to make sure. It might read a little positive but not 4.
I see this as one of three posibilities.
A. The tank has an ammonia level > than 8 and when you do a 50% dilution you are still outside the range of your kit.
B. Your kit is not giving you the reading correctly.
C. Your tap water is > than 4. Yuck...
If you measure your tap water and it is between 0 and .5 then do a 90% water change. Then check your tank again. If you can get to to below .5 your fish will thank you. You are really trying to get it below .25.
If your tap water measures > 4 then you need to find a better water source or you need to do a fishless cycle. I can't imagine your water being over 4 unless you get your water from a creek below a pasture. So re-read your kit's directions and check a bottle of store bought water. Store bought water will be 0.
Wow, 4 is really high. I think I'll go change some water so I feel better.
I see this as one of three posibilities.
A. The tank has an ammonia level > than 8 and when you do a 50% dilution you are still outside the range of your kit.
B. Your kit is not giving you the reading correctly.
C. Your tap water is > than 4. Yuck...
If you measure your tap water and it is between 0 and .5 then do a 90% water change. Then check your tank again. If you can get to to below .5 your fish will thank you. You are really trying to get it below .25.
If your tap water measures > 4 then you need to find a better water source or you need to do a fishless cycle. I can't imagine your water being over 4 unless you get your water from a creek below a pasture. So re-read your kit's directions and check a bottle of store bought water. Store bought water will be 0.
Wow, 4 is really high. I think I'll go change some water so I feel better.
Thanks everyone for all your help, here are the newest water conditions
50% water change last night. Here are my readings from just a minute ago:
pH 8.0 (seems to be rising - why?)
ammonia 4.0 to 8.0 (OMG) - does it spike this high during cycling (kit reads up to 8.0, green color on liquid kit is darker today)
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
Fish all still alive, have not fed today, but they do seem hungry. Tested tap water again for ammonia with reading of 0.
Will continue with water changes - planning 75% tonight
Going to local tropical fish store tomorrow for some cycling bacteria conditioner and was going to ask if they had any bacteria infested media I could have to help my tank.
Anymore suggestions are greatly wanted!!
50% water change last night. Here are my readings from just a minute ago:
pH 8.0 (seems to be rising - why?)
ammonia 4.0 to 8.0 (OMG) - does it spike this high during cycling (kit reads up to 8.0, green color on liquid kit is darker today)
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
Fish all still alive, have not fed today, but they do seem hungry. Tested tap water again for ammonia with reading of 0.
Will continue with water changes - planning 75% tonight
Going to local tropical fish store tomorrow for some cycling bacteria conditioner and was going to ask if they had any bacteria infested media I could have to help my tank.
Anymore suggestions are greatly wanted!!
That is what I would do.
If it makes you feel better then it is worth the price. It was for me. It made no difference for my fish however.
I have had very good luck with this. Even a filter squeezing helps. If you are thinking of planting now would be a good time. Plants will take up ammonia and require less bacteria. But, it takes a lot of plants to make a difference.
PM me, if you will pay for priority shipping I'll send you a nice big dirty filter sponge. There, fixed. Better yet, go to the classified section and post a want add with your state in the title, I bet somebody close to you will send it priority and you'll get it next day.
Don't get media from your LFS - it could have all kinds a junk in it that you don't want. We all know you should quarantine new fish, same goes for filter media.
Don't get media from your LFS - it could have all kinds a junk in it that you don't want. We all know you should quarantine new fish, same goes for filter media.
