Ammonia High

[Lewiscouse]

Oh just worried about the fish, can I try something like zeolite media as well?

 

[fluttermoth]

I, personally, never use any chemical media. If you use zeolite, it'll strip all the ammonia out of the water and won't leave any for the bacteria to feed on and your cycle will never make any progress.

 

[Lewiscouse]

I'm hoping for that to happen and then once it's 0ppm I can just feed the fish and keep a close eye on it? What do you think?

 

[fluttermoth]

Once you get zero readings for both ammonia and nitrite for a few days, without having to change any of the water, you'll know your filter is cycled.

At the moment you'll probably being having to test and water change every day. Feed the fish very sparingly; once every other day is plenty (fish can go a long time without food, unlike mammals) until you're getting constant zero results for the ammonia and nitrite.

 

[Lewiscouse]

Ok should I do another large water change now?

 

[fluttermoth]

If the ammonia isn't zero yet, yes. Sorry to be giving you all this hard work

 

[Lewiscouse]

No it's gotta be done to save the fish

 

[Lewiscouse]

I've done another 90% change and the ammonia has gone down to 0.5PPM which is a massive massive improvement, what can be done without water change to get this down to 0ppm?

My nitrites read 0ppm
My PH is 6.8
My ammonia is 0.50ppm
My nitrates read 20ppm
Good?
Bad?

 

[4seasons]

I too am in a fish in cycle and was fighting to keep ammonia levels down (now fighting nitrite levels.) If my levels get to .25 ppm of either ammonia or nitrite I do a 70% water change. I have done 2 back to back to get it down as well. But the levels you are talking about are 16-30 times as high as what I have seen. While everyone is right in telling you that you need large water changes quickly I would do a full 100% water change instead. I did this when my ammonia reached .5 ppm one time. All you need is 2 clean buckets, fish net, and dechlorinator. By clean buckets I mean something that has never been used for harsh chemicals (like paint) or soap. Those chemicals can leach into the plastic of the bucket and then release back into the water when it is filled. Then take one bucket filled with tap water the same temperature as the tank and dechlorinate it. Net your fish from the tank and put them in the bucket. Then shut off your filter and make sure it stays wet while you drain your tank. Siphon all the water from your tank (I use my gravel vac and the other bucket dumping it when it gets full.) Then use the same method in reverse to fill the tank back math the water temp into the bucket, declorinate, then siphon back into the tank (that way you don't disturb your plants, gravel, decorations too badly like you would with a high pressure hose or just dumping a bucket in.) Once your tank is filled turn your filter back on and net the fish back into the tank. With small tanks like yours and mine your fish will only be out of the tank for a few minutes and this will be less stress than the bags you brought them home in. If you are really worried about the fish in a bucket you could drop an air stone or depending on your filter, run the filter in the bucket while you work on the tank.
This should drop your ammonia to 0 ppm assuming that you have no ammonia in your tap water. The fish will start producing ammonia as soon as you put them back in the tank so you filter bacteria wont stare from lack of ammonia and they won't be exposed to any chlorine from the tap if you declorinate in the bucket before you put it in the tank. Also be prepared to do 20-60% water changes daily until your cycle is complete.

 

[Lewiscouse]

I've just done about a 95% water change using t.he exact same method you just said and I added some filter media from my other tank

I've just done about a 95% water change using t.he exact same method you just said and I added some filter media from my other tank

I've just done about a 95% water change using t.he exact same method you just said and I added some filter media from my other tank

 

[4seasons]

I've just done about a 95% water change using t.he exact same method you just said and I added some filter media from my other tank

I've just done about a 95% water change using t.he exact same method you just said and I added some filter media from my other tank

I've just done about a 95% water change using t.he exact same method you just said and I added some filter media from my other tank

Does that mean you just did 3-95% water changes in a row?
If so I would say you have it under control for the day.

 

[Lewiscouse]

I can't do it again it must be nearly 100% changed now, can I add anything to drop this down anymore?

Lol Nope I've done an 80% and a 90% in the space of a few hours?

 

[4seasons]

Sounds like you should have it under control now. Basically anytime a test shows ammonia or nitrite, large water changes are the solution.
As far as anything you can add to help control it, mature media from a cycled tank which you said you already have done, is good step, but it my take some time for those bacteria to grow to the right size for the new tank. Keep checking ammonia and nitrite everyday till they stay at 0.
For some short term help some dechlorinators like Seachem Prime will bind the ammonia and nitrites for a short time without starving bacteria or giving false readings on your test kit. Others like Kordon Amquel may detoxify ammonia for your fish and also starve the bacteria that you want growing in your filter although I am a little unsure if they will throw off your test kit readings.

 

[eggo]

may a good idea to add Seachem Stability after each water change

dont forget to add a water conditioner on each water change

 

[Lewiscouse]

I have just bought seachem prime is that any good?