lowering ammonia.

Zeromason577

Zeromason577

AC Members
Apr 10, 2006
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Portland,Oregon
This is fairly urgent, i need some good tips on lowering ammonia,hopefully by means of NO chemicals.

my readings are
pH-7.2
Ammonia- 1-3 :(
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate-0-5


anything i can do to help this? partial water changes? these fish are allready pretty stressed, they are convicts in a 35 gallon about 8 of them, and one common pleco. pics if needed.
 
I had this same problem.
I got myself a bottle of Ammo-Lock and did 50% water changes every other day. Good luck
 
Do you have a round-about estiment on how much it is, and how big of a bottle i will need for a 35 gallon tank?
 
Small bottle, you will only need a teaspoon or so every day...
THe problem with this stuff is that it locks up the ammonia and therefor you don't get a good biological filter developing. Since you are cycling your tank this will be a problem. Massive water changes are the only way to reduce your ammonia and cycle your tank.
Fishless cycling is the better way to go...
Cathy
 
I assume you are cycling? how long has your tank been running?

I would stay away from the ammo-lock myself and go with some water changes. I also use "cycle" to aid the bio-creation -- but I ignore the instructions and use the full dose daily for about a week. I find I can cycle a tank in about 2 weeks from start to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite. I always cycle with fish, but I try and keep it to the hardy ones that can take it.
 
Another vote for large, 50% or more, water changes and NO ammolock. Convicts are tough fish they should make it.
 
Ok ill take the advice and let it finish its cycle, i really wish i didnt have to do a fishie cycle with these guys, but used tank+fish+lots of shaking on way home+REALLY dirty water=100% water change and no place for fish to live but in the tank :dive:.

well i did another ammonia test today, same as yesterday at 2-3ppm, removed 9 gallons and added 10.

no fish losses except for the old green terror on tuesday, hope for no more either.
 
One other option... just thought of this. Seachem makes a product called Purigen. You put it in your filter box and it removes ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. You might buy a pouch and place it in your filter until your ammonia is down - I think I'd shoot for .5 - .25. If it gets down to zero, take the purigen out and monitor your ammonia. Put it back in the filter box as levels climb past .5. This might slow down your cycle, but on the other hand keep your ammonia levels down so as not to damage your fish's gills.
When the purigen is 'filled' remove it, you can recharge it. Oh, DON'T use it at all if you have any stress coat type product in your water... better check their site for precautions and compatibility with other company's products.
Cathy
 
Would that be safe to use while the tank is cycling? or should i just wait out the ammonia spike, here are my water readings as of today

ammonia 1-2
nitrite 0
nitrate 5
pH 7.2
 
what kind and how many and what size of fish do you have in there, you could just have a lot of fish and the bacteria cant keep up.
 
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