ammonia won't go down!

Still haven't heard what your pH is. If it's below 7, all these cycle-stalling water changes may not be necessary.

Also, since you're using an ammonia detox product, your tests will still read positive for ammonia since it can't distinguish between toxic and non-toxic forms.
 
ok, here is the info I gathered. There sure are alot of posts on this! Thanks for that guys and Gals.

#1 - I tested the Tap water and its all NIL for ammonia, and Nitrite, and PH 7.5-8.0
#2 - I tested the tank and its 1.5 ammonia, <.03 Nitrite, PH - 7.5-8.0.
#3 - substrate is Gravel, 75 Gal tank, Eheim G160 filter
#4 - 1 Baby Oscar, Green Terror, golden algae easter, 1 anglefish, a few feeder goldfish
#5 - I USE a Python water change system.

I will start doing the following tomorrow:
#1 - change to PRIME (from Big Al's stuff)
#2 - Treat the whole 75 gallons when changing water
#3 - Change 50% of the water daily for the next few weeks
#4- Should I switch to easy balance from the Big Al's Bio Support ?

Thanks for the great help!!!
 
...Also, since you're using an ammonia detox product, your tests will still read positive for ammonia since it can't distinguish between toxic and non-toxic forms.

Wow this is very interesting, did not know this. Does this also apply to Prime? It says it detoxes ammonia.
 
i believe Prime will convert ammonia into ammonium and although ammonium is not toxic to fish it still reads on a test.

if i'm incorrect, would somebody please correct me! thanks.

(fishkeeping - chemistry in disguise! lol)
 
Still haven't heard what your pH is. If it's below 7, all these cycle-stalling water changes may not be necessary.

Water changes, unless they remove virtually all the ammonia, do not stall or slow cycles. This is an old myth.
 
ok, here is the info I gathered. There sure are alot of posts on this! Thanks for that guys and Gals.

#1 - I tested the Tap water and its all NIL for ammonia, and Nitrite, and PH 7.5-8.0
#2 - I tested the tank and its 1.5 ammonia, <.03 Nitrite, PH - 7.5-8.0.
#3 - substrate is Gravel, 75 Gal tank, Eheim G160 filter
#4 - 1 Baby Oscar, Green Terror, golden algae easter, 1 anglefish, a few feeder goldfish
#5 - I USE a Python water change system.

I will start doing the following tomorrow:
#1 - change to PRIME (from Big Al's stuff)
#2 - Treat the whole 75 gallons when changing water
#3 - Change 50% of the water daily for the next few weeks
#4- Should I switch to easy balance from the Big Al's Bio Support ?

Thanks for the great help!!!
I do not believe that bio support things work. But if you have something you can feel free to keep using it.

Wow this is very interesting, did not know this. Does this also apply to Prime? It says it detoxes ammonia.
yes this applies to prime. Even though the ammonia is neutralized it will still show up on a test.

i believe Prime will convert ammonia into ammonium and although ammonium is not toxic to fish it still reads on a test.

if i'm incorrect, would somebody please correct me! thanks.

(fishkeeping - chemistry in disguise! lol)
you are correct!

Water changes, unless they remove virtually all the ammonia, do not stall or slow cycles. This is an old myth.
i agree with karl on this one. There will always be ammonia in the tank, even though it might be in such a small concentration it is still there. It will be enough to form the bb that is needed.
 
That makes no sense! How can we:
a) test for Ammonia, with a test kit
b) do a water change up to 50%
c) add a CHLORINE DETOX like Prime or similar
d) then the tank tests for ammonia anyways as the
AMMONIA THERE IS NOW AMMONIUM ?!?

How do you ever know if you have an ammonia problem or not ?

I thought i was on track, and now I think im thrown of the rails again.
 
Last edited:
AquariaCentral.com