Ammonia level won’t go down. Please help

[Tenaj]

Do you have an ace hardware near you?

I am sure I do. It’s purchased at a hardware store? This Just keeps getting better ha ha

 

[Rocky998]

I am sure I do. It’s purchased at a hardware store? This Just keeps getting better ha ha

Yup. It should look like this:

 

[Tenaj]

Yup. It should look like this:

Omg. Is that cleaning ammonia???

 

[Essjay]

Ammonia can be used for cleaning. My grandmother used it for cleaning brass.
Many ammonia manufacturers also put detergent (also called surfactant) and perfume in their products and these can't be used. You need one that is just ammonia. If Rocky knows that the one in his photo is just ammonia, it's good to use.

 

[Tenaj]

Ammonia can be used for cleaning. My grandmother used it for cleaning brass.
Many ammonia manufacturers also put detergent (also called surfactant) and perfume in their products and these can't be used. You need one that is just ammonia. If Rocky knows that the one in his photo is just ammonia, it's good to use.

I am down to 1 fish. Only thing I did different was use a different water conditioner as in picture. Top fin to API

 

[Tenaj]

If you dont have an ace near you then get the Dr. Tims ammonium. Ive heard good things about that stuff. But ace's 10% ammonia is way cheaper and you can use the aquarium calculator to see how much you should use...

I am down to 1 fish. Only thing I did different was use a different water conditioner as in picture. Top fin to API
If this last one doesn’t pull
Through, I’ll go pick up the ammonia

 

[Tenaj]

You don't need to do a water change unless ammonia is more than 3ppm.
If the last fish die, test for ammonia before doing anything else. For cycling without fish, you need to start at 3 ppm ammonia. If the level is that high, you don't need to add any more for a while, but if it's lower than that you need to add enough to get it up to 3 ppm. And if it's more then 3, do a water change to get it down to 3.
Then follow this method

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

Since you will have grown some ammonia eaters, just not enough, it should go quicker than usual.

Ammonia can be used for cleaning. My grandmother used it for cleaning brass.
Many ammonia manufacturers also put detergent (also called surfactant) and perfume in their products and these can't be used. You need one that is just ammonia. If Rocky knows that the one in his photo is just ammonia, it's good to use.

I read over the link. I have to now get my ammonia level back up to 3 then what?? This is so confusing.

 

[Myraan]

Then you wait..... but is this another tank or did they all die.... If you have have fish and add ammonia to 3ppm the fish will be really sick

 

[Tenaj]

Then you wait..... but is this another tank or did they all die.... If you have have fish and add ammonia to 3ppm the fish will be really sick

they all died
Trying to understand how to start over With what I already have. The water was changed today, 75-80%. All fish are out and buried . The link is so overwhelming. Trying to simply the process in my brain. Please walk me through it. Do I keep the water I have? Should I test the ammonia?

 

[Myraan]

Test everything

Follow the instructions in the linked article.... but try to imagine you are likely several days or weeks into the process already.

It might be an idea to empty and clean the tank (but keep the filter media in a bucket of tank water) just to check for a dead fish or whatever..... hell maybe a cat or something did a poo or pee in the water causing the initial jump to 8ppm.

 

[Tenaj]

Test everything

Follow the instructions in the linked article.... but try to imagine you are likely several days or weeks into the process already.

It might be an idea to empty and clean the tank (but keep the filter media in a bucket of tank water) just to check for a dead fish or whatever..... hell maybe a cat or something did a poo or pee in the water causing the initial jump to 8ppm.

I have no kids or pets
I once had six tetras four barbs and four Danios.
Today I killed them all
I will test all levels and post pics.

 

[Rocky998]

I am down to 1 fish. Only thing I did different was use a different water conditioner as in picture. Top fin to API
If this last one doesn’t pull
Through, I’ll go pick up the ammonia

Man, I'm so sorry. Just know that you did everything you could at the time.

 

[Tenaj]

Then you wait..... but is this another tank or did they all die.... If you have have fish and add ammonia to 3ppm the fish will be really sick

Ok I have tested water after 75% water change and all fish gone. I have posted pictures.
ammonia, nitrite, ph, nitrate

 

[Tenaj]

Man, I'm so sorry. Just know that you did everything you could at the time.

Thank you.
Ok I have tested water after 75% water change and all fish gone. I have posted pictures.
ammonia, nitrite, ph, nitrate

 

[Myraan]

I think do nothing - theoretically the ammonia should go to zero

Do not add chemical ammonia until ammonia is zero.

You know you have enough ammonia eating bacteria when it takes only a day for it to from 3ppm to zero

you can calculate how much chemical that is on a calculator somewhere on this site, i assume its linked on the fishless cycle page

because you have plants, you may not require many BB but I would say its safer if you have some just because you pH is above 7