high ammonia levels

Sploke

Sploke

resident boozehound
Staff member
Oct 20, 2005
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South Windsor, CT
Real Name
Matt
My setup:

55 gal running 2 xp2s
2 gold severums
1 jack dempsey

My ammonia levels have gone off the chart. This may have been a problem for a while, as the tank is at my parents house and I don't get to check on it as often as I'd like. My severums have these weird pale looking blister things on their sides. I finally checked the levels and this is what I found:

Ammonia - 7+ ppm, thats as high as my chart goes
Nitrite - 0ppm
pH - 6 or below, thats as low as my chart goes.
1 degree GH
1 degree KH
(all measurements taken using Aq. Pharm. Freshwater Master Test Kit)

I'm trying to get this cleard up so I can get these fish healthy again. They seem to be acting otherwise normal. I've been conditioning the water with Tetra AquaSafe, and recently started using AmQuel+ as well. I tried treating the tank with Maracyn without too much noticeable result, but I think if I can get the water cleaned up the fish might be able to get themselves healthy (hopefully). This tank has been established for almost a year.
 
Wow. Your tank is by far established. Somthing has happened to your bacteria. Your test readings should be 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and some nitrates. You need to immediately do at least a 75 percent water change. The fish are being "burned" by the ammonia. It is pointless to try and treat with antibiotics with the ammonia as high as it is. You have to get these levels down or your fish will die. Read the stickies thread on cycling, this applies to you because your tank is not cycled even though it has been set up for a year. Something has most likely killed your bacteria. Seeing how you have no nitrites, that means that you are at the very begining of the cycle. Good luck, you are going to need it!!
 
just curious, but has this tank every been cleaned in a year? meaning have you done partial water changes at least once a month?
 
It has been neglected more than I'd like. I usually check the filters and do about a 20% water change every one-two months. I recently had my pictus cat and a blue gourami die, but they were both about 5 years old so I had just attributed it to old age. However, i see now that I may have been in error, but hopefully I can get this straightened out and keep the rest healthy.
 
You had a pH crash which either has killed the bacteria or made it dorment. This happened because you didn't do the necessary amount of partial water changes. I don't believe the beneficial bacteria can work in pH much below 6.5.

I would not do a huge water change because the sudden pH change will shock or kill the fish. I would do maybe 10-15% daily, with gravel vacs, until you can get the pH back on the chart.

Also, the high ammonia levels are not toxic at the extreme low pH levels you have. This will change though once you get it back up. You need to be monitoring the ammonia level as the pH gets back on the scale. Also, I would get an ammonia absorbing resin to lower levels while you are raising the pH with the water changes.

EDIT:
Have you measured the GH and KH of your tap water? A GH and KH of 1 deg is extremely soft. Hopefully, your tap water has a KH higher than 1. An extremely low KH means the water is very prone to pH crash if not watched carefully. The KH of my tap water is 2 deg so I keep a close eye on the pH and do weekly 20% water changes.
 
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Once I get the pH up to a better level, should I add some sort of buffer solution to help stabilize it? I guess that would be better answered once i test the tap water, which I can do tomorrow or the day after.
 
i believe that adding salt can to an extent reduce the negative effect that the ammonia has on fish, but i'm not sure what amount is necessary. anyone?
 
Well I checked the tap water...1 degree KH, 2 degrees GH. Guess its pretty soft here. Would one of those little conditioner blocks help to harden the water at all? Also, I have some ammonia chips that I had used a while ago, I think I remember reading someplace that these can be recharged by soakingthem in salt water? Any help with that? Just did another 20% change, hopefully things will start looking up soon.
 
Well good news so far, after water changes yesterday and today the pH is up to 6.4. Heading in the right direction. Ammonia is still off the chart but hopefully the bacteria will move back in soon.
 
Thats great that your off to a good start. Your ph should stabilize on its on. Remeber that fish can pretty much adapt to whatever your ph is in your water unless yu have a specific type of fish that requires specific ph. I would not use anything to alter your ph if you are getting a reading on it. I myself have to use seachems neutral regulator because my ph is below 6, I have enver had a prob with this as far as yo-yo-ing levels,it has buffers in it to keep your ph stable. Be prepared for your tank to cycle, you are basically starting from scratch. You may want to read the stickies on cycling in the freshwater newbie forum to refresh your memory. Good Luck!!
 
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