Nothing Will Drop!

[hcgirl80]

i've Been Cycling For Almost 2 Weeks, And About 4 Days Ago, The Ammonia(4.0) & Nitrite(2.0) Levels Came To A Position Where They Have Been For Three Days Straight. Can I Do Something About It? Will It Kill The Fish?

Any Suggestions Will Be Appreciated, Thanks.

-Paige(My Middle Name)

 

[Cearbhaill]

I'm sure the fish would appreciate daily 50% water changes, as elevated levels like that can burn their gills.

 

[JSchmidt]

Water changes sufficient to reduce ammonia and nitrite levels below 1 ppm are in order.

Jim

 

[hcgirl80]

DAILY? 50%? NO WAY! I CAN'T EVEN CHANGE 20% WITHOUT THE FILTER TAKING IN AIR! And Besides, I'd Have To Do It At Night, When My Dad's Home, And In The Summer, At Night, We Swim.

 

[JSchmidt]

You asked for suggestions.... the levels of ammonia and nitrites you cite may kill your fish, or they may only burn their gills and leave them permanently injured.

Other options would inlcude reducing feedings to 25% of what you're feeding now, and/or returning some of the fish to the place of purchase, thus reducing the bioload to one you can responsibly manage thru water changes.

HTH,
Jim

 

[TPIRman]

You should be turning off the filter when you do water changes. What kind of filter you have? You may have to "prime" it -- e.g., refilling the filter box on certain HOBs -- in order to get it going again.

The level of toxins you have in the water right now will almost certainly kill or severely harm the fish. I bet your Dad would understand if you wanted to take a little time out each night to keep your fishes healthy/alive.

 

[QCppg]

If you load up your filter with ammocarb (and I mean a s**tload of it) that should help with the ammonia, at least for the short term. Do you have access to filter squeezings from a reliable source? If so add them immediately.

 

[jacblades]

i think the lives of your fish are more important than going swimming. but thats just me...

 

[hcgirl80]

I Hear Ya, Jacblades.

Filter: Whisper 5-15
Actually, Now That I Have Some Positive Information On Changing Water, I Will Probably Be Allowed To Do It On My Own. I Thought I Was Supposed To Fill The Filter Box Up After Changing The Water(Because It Would All Siphon Out When I Turned It Off), But I Was Told To Wait For Dad Whenever I Changed The Water.

 

[hcgirl80]

Hi! My Ammonia Is Back To 0 ppm's!