How high is to high for ammonia and preg guppies in new tank

daj24601

daj24601

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Apr 1, 2005
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How high is to high for ammonia? Q on preg guppies in new tank

2 Questions:

1- How high is too high for ammonia levels? My levels are hovering around .50ppm - .75ppm. I assume that my indication that the cycle is complete is when my levels drop to zero.

2 - I may have a pregnant guppie in my new tank. The tank has been up for two weeks, cycling with fish for a little over a week. Her gravid mark on her left size is noticeably larger than it was before (I wasn't even looking for it and I noticed it was large). I am concerned that the new fry are going to spike my ammonia levels. I don't want to use Ammo-lock if I don't have to (would hate to reverse any of the cycling I have done). Will the fry raise my ammonia levels? What can I do with the fry if they do so?

Thanks. This community is a LIFE SAVER.
 
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The ammonia level is way too high. You should perform daily water change. When it drops to zero, you're half way there - nitrite comes next. When that drops to zero you're done.

How big is the tank? What else is in it?
 
.50-.75ppm is way to high for a new 10 gallon tank. I thought it was expected to be in this range while you are cycling until the bacteria builds up enough to deal with the waste in the tank? I also have two live plants.
 
I'd be more concerned about measureable ammonia in any tank with pregnant fish or fry. Their chances of survival are greatly decreased by ammonia/nitrite. Usually it is recommended to keep ammonia and/or nitrite below .5 ppm in a fishy cycle, but with in your case I'd be trying to never let those exceed .25 ppm.

Also, your cycle is NOT over when ammonia drops to zero. Nitrite, which accumulates during the second stage of the cycle, is also toxic and must also decrease to zero after becoming measureable.

I don't know about AmmoLock2, but other ammonia-complexing conditioners (e.g., Amquel, Prime) leave the detoxified ammonia free for the nitrifying bacteria. That doesn't help much when nitrite starts to rise, but it does keep the ammonia from burning the fishes' gills during the first stage of the cycle.

Lots of water changes are in order to keep things safe for the pregnant fish and fry, I would think.

Jim
 
I did a partial water change. Before the change the ammonia levels were at .50-.75. After the change the level was at a solid 1. I used some ammo-lock. You guys have me sufficiently freaked out now. That's good though. Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.
 
when you say do water changes, and your tank is cycling.....how does that help the cycle? or does it? I would guess that it would set it back?
 
It doesn't help. It doesn't set it back. The main purpose is to lower the toxins so that your fish doesn't suffer as much in a fishy cycle.
 
Keep doing water changes (daily or twice daily if you can swing it) to keep ammonia levels down, and use the ammo lock if you like. Once the ammonia stops registering you'll see nitrites start to rise. Keep the nitrites to a minimum by doing water changes, and if you have trouble keeping on it, the chloride ions from 1/2tsp of table salt will greatly reduce the toxic effects of nitrite if you can keep it below 2-3ppm in a 10 gallon tank.

Kasakato said:
Also stop useing the ammo lock. It is messing up your cycle.
Click to expand...

This is false. Don't listen to it. The ammonia toxicity is reduced, but it is still available for your bacteria.
 
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