i am haviung almost the same problem as you, not that size tank but the ammonia levels are OFF THE CHART. i am also using ammo lock but on the bottle it says use 5ml for every 10 gal...so one capful for every 20 gallons then add every 2 days for seven days and if the ammonia doesnt go away after that then contact someone. ALSO i read on the back of the ammo lock bottle ....that the testing for the ammonia will still test positvie. it turns it into a non toxic form and and doesnt make it go away...but should be tested gone after the 7 days.... the pet store didnt tell me that it would still test positive no matter what you do....until the ongoing treatment is done.
ammonia way too high
- Thread starter luluespy
- Start date
My #1 Advice to people that have Ammonia problems in there tank is to let some algae grow in the back of the tank wall.
One thing that people tend to do is over clean there tanks and that can cause you to remove all the bactera that is needed to cycle your Ammonia's and Nitrite and Nitrates.
I recommend that you maybe get some live plants and let some algae grow on the back wall of the tank, Change 25% of the water once a week and clean the gravel once a month, I would suggest using some type of Ammonia remover every week that you do your water change and add some kind of Bactera Replenisher once a month.
If you have anymore questions please let me know.
One thing that people tend to do is over clean there tanks and that can cause you to remove all the bactera that is needed to cycle your Ammonia's and Nitrite and Nitrates.
I recommend that you maybe get some live plants and let some algae grow on the back wall of the tank, Change 25% of the water once a week and clean the gravel once a month, I would suggest using some type of Ammonia remover every week that you do your water change and add some kind of Bactera Replenisher once a month.
If you have anymore questions please let me know.
Ok you change your water and do a gravel cleaning every 2 days?
Thats why your having Ammonia problems you should not clean your gravel more than once or twice a month your gravel bed is your source for the bactera that your tank needs to convert your Ammonia and Nitrite and nitrate's your over cleaning the tank and thats why your ammonia spikes are coming back because you have no bactera to keep your new water at 0ppm so your new water will just keep the tank cycling.
Slow down on the cleaning and I promise that your Ammonia will be down to 0ppm at all times!
Thats good to hear that you got ome used filters from your local fish store, I agree 100% with what your local pet store is saying by doing not doing water changes. Thats what your tank needed was that bactera to help keep your new water at 0ppm, I would just do a 25% water change once a week and do a gravel cleaning once a month to keep that bactera that the tank needs to keep that Ammonia at 0ppm.
Unless you have plants, there's no way your Ammonia went from 4ppm to 2ppm with 0ppm Nitrite and 0ppm Nitrate.
Could you tell us how you are using your test kits?
hi everyone - good to know
ammonia 0 (for 4 days running)
nitrites 0 (went up slightly one day)
nitrates 10
my tank finally seems to be cycling. After receiving used filters from my LFS, I have only changed 25% of water once and did not vacuum gravel (per their suggestion).
Fish seem great with no effects from the prolonged ammonia levels, feeding once daily. Thanks everyone, finally enjoying my tank.
I will continue daily water checks for ammonia and nitrites for couple more weeks to be sure.
ammonia 0 (for 4 days running)
nitrites 0 (went up slightly one day)
nitrates 10
my tank finally seems to be cycling. After receiving used filters from my LFS, I have only changed 25% of water once and did not vacuum gravel (per their suggestion).
Fish seem great with no effects from the prolonged ammonia levels, feeding once daily. Thanks everyone, finally enjoying my tank.
I will continue daily water checks for ammonia and nitrites for couple more weeks to be sure.
It sounds like you are there. Once you see those numbers for a week go ahead and only check weekly.
