Ammonia Levels High

[rewlyn]

40 gallons
fish range from 1inche up to 3 inches
no white spots
they started to flicker when i stopped using ammolock
and stopped when i put ammolock in
so i think it was ammonia related
and ill give the garlic juice a go

thanks

 

[rewlyn]

this morning ammonia level was through the roof 8ppm
i could not see through the test vile
so i did 40% water change and now its about 8pmm
but my nitrites are now at .50ppm
should i do another water change now or what a few hours
ive also been adding ammolock to protect my fish

 

[fatheadminnow]

this morning ammonia level was through the roof 8ppm
i could not see through the test vile
so i did 40% water change and now its about 8pmm
but my nitrites are now at .50ppm
should i do another water change now or what a few hours
ive also been adding ammolock to protect my fish

I would wait a half an hour in between water changes.

Remember, try to keep ammonia and Nitrite at or below .25 ppm.

You are already starting to colonize bacteria since you are already getting a nitrite reading.

-FHM

 

[rewlyn]

40 gallon tank


http/www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shopexd....rnal+Filter+800

i think it will work

 

[WILDER]

If the filter only for a 40 gallon is not enough. I would buy another one to run with the one you have.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Agreed^^

Especially with Cichlids, they need a little extra filtration.

Anyways, how is it going with the water changes?!

-FHM

 

[TigerIssey]

For an African cichlid tank you are aiming for a high turnover through filtration. At the moment for a tank of 181 litres (40 imp gallons) you only have a turnover rate of 4.4. For a normal tank you are looking at around 5 turnover rate. For a very heavily stocked cichlid tank you need to be aiming for 7 plus. Your filter is at the moment a power sponge filter which has no room for lots of biological filter media such as bio chips, which are the best thing for cichlid filtration.

I would recommend that you obtain an external canister filter with a turnover rate of around 800 lph which will give you plenty of room for biological filtration in the form of bio chips in addition to the filter you are running presently. If you do not get another filter, you may find yourself ina similar situation in a few months time whereby your filter will not handle the bioload of the adult fish.

There is no need to buy new, you can get decent canisters second hand, look out for one. Once you get another filter, sqeeze or split your present sponges and seed the new filter this way.

Good luck

 

[rewlyn]

Agreed^^

Especially with Cichlids, they need a little extra filtration.

Anyways, how is it going with the water changes?!

-FHM

thanks i will look into it and as for my water changes

my ammonia is stil orbiting the earth but the ammolock

is keeping them safe and my nitrites have gone

back to 0pmm

 

[rewlyn]

For an African cichlid tank you are aiming for a high turnover through filtration. At the moment for a tank of 181 litres (40 imp gallons) you only have a turnover rate of 4.4. For a normal tank you are looking at around 5 turnover rate. For a very heavily stocked cichlid tank you need to be aiming for 7 plus. Your filter is at the moment a power sponge filter which has no room for lots of biological filter media such as bio chips, which are the best thing for cichlid filtration.

I would recommend that you obtain an external canister filter with a turnover rate of around 800 lph which will give you plenty of room for biological filtration in the form of bio chips in addition to the filter you are running presently. If you do not get another filter, you may find yourself ina similar situation in a few months time whereby your filter will not handle the bioload of the adult fish.

There is no need to buy new, you can get decent canisters second hand, look out for one. Once you get another filter, sqeeze or split your present sponges and seed the new filter this way.

Good luck

my tank is only 151ltr must be 40 metric gallons not sure cause we measure in litres in oz(down under)

 

[TigerIssey]

For an African cichlid tank you are aiming for a high turnover through filtration. At the moment for a tank of 181 litres (40 imp gallons) you only have a turnover rate of 4.4. For a normal tank you are looking at around 5 turnover rate. For a very heavily stocked cichlid tank you need to be aiming for 7 plus. Your filter is at the moment a power sponge filter which has no room for lots of biological filter media such as bio chips, which are the best thing for cichlid filtration.

I would recommend that you obtain an external canister filter with a turnover rate of around 800 lph which will give you plenty of room for biological filtration in the form of bio chips in addition to the filter you are running presently. If you do not get another filter, you may find yourself ina similar situation in a few months time whereby your filter will not handle the bioload of the adult fish.

There is no need to buy new, you can get decent canisters second hand, look out for one. Once you get another filter, sqeeze or split your present sponges and seed the new filter this way.

Good luck

my tank is only 151ltr must be 40 metric gallons not sure cause we measure in litres in oz(down under)

Maths a little different then. However, a sponge filter alone will not give you anywhere near enough filtration for an african cichlid tank.

You need at least 1057lph for 7x turnover in a 151 litre tank. That means you need at least another 257lph. The problem is is that you really need the benefits of the extra biological filtration a canister filter will give you. I would suggest looking for a canister that has a turnover of 400 - 600 lph. This will ensure that filter will handle the adult bioload of the african cichlids. It is much better to add this now while you are cycling as once cycled you will have the potential to add your full stocking in one go, which although frowned upon in normal fishkeeping does actually need doing with african cichlids due the aggression issues. Otherwise your filter will not be able to handle this load.

Not actually sure if you are up to your full stocking or not, I cannot remember the rough estimate for african cichlids / gallon. Fatheadminnow will be able to clarify tthis for you he has kept these fish and is knowledgable on the subject.

 

[rewlyn]

cool ill ask FHM

 

[rewlyn]

For an African cichlid tank you are aiming for a high turnover through filtration. At the moment for a tank of 181 litres (40 imp gallons) you only have a turnover rate of 4.4. For a normal tank you are looking at around 5 turnover rate. For a very heavily stocked cichlid tank you need to be aiming for 7 plus. Your filter is at the moment a power sponge filter which has no room for lots of biological filter media such as bio chips, which are the best thing for cichlid filtration.

I would recommend that you obtain an external canister filter with a turnover rate of around 800 lph which will give you plenty of room for biological filtration in the form of bio chips in addition to the filter you are running presently. If you do not get another filter, you may find yourself ina similar situation in a few months time whereby your filter will not handle the bioload of the adult fish.

There is no need to buy new, you can get decent canisters second hand, look out for one. Once you get another filter, sqeeze or split your present sponges and seed the new filter this way.

Good luck

my tank is only 151ltr must be 40 metric gallons not sure cause we measure in litres in oz(down under)

Maths a little different then. However, a sponge filter alone will not give you anywhere near enough filtration for an african cichlid tank.

You need at least 1057lph for 7x turnover in a 151 litre tank. That means you need at least another 257lph. The problem is is that you really need the benefits of the extra biological filtration a canister filter will give you. I would suggest looking for a canister that has a turnover of 400 - 600 lph. This will ensure that filter will handle the adult bioload of the african cichlids. It is much better to add this now while you are cycling as once cycled you will have the potential to add your full stocking in one go, which although frowned upon in normal fishkeeping does actually need doing with african cichlids due the aggression issues. Otherwise your filter will not be able to handle this load.

Not actually sure if you are up to your full stocking or not, I cannot remember the rough estimate for african cichlids / gallon. Fatheadminnow will be able to clarify tthis for you he has kept these fish and is knowledgable on the subject.

all good but im doing a fish-in cycle

 

[fatheadminnow]

Hello, sorry have been out the last couple of days.

I agree, you want at least 7x turn over for filtration with Cichlids.

A canister/external filter will be your best bet. Cichlids are dirtier than most fish, and require a better filtration system, which the one you is not quite adequate.

So, getting another filter is probably something you want to take into consideration here soon, and try to get one.

Also, for a fish-in cycle, and the tank of your size, you want around 1/3 of your stocking when doing a fish-in cycle.

So, that means, 11 Cichlids is too many a fish-n cycle, and 4 would be more ideal.

The reason this is because your ammonia is going to go up very fast with a larger stocking vs. a smaller one for a fish-in cycle.

BUT, if you are up to do the water changes, as it seems you are, than you should be good.

Keep an eye on the nitrite, if you do not start to see nitrite in a week, you should stop using ammolock. As it might be turning ammonia into an unusable food source for your bacteria, in which case they will die off.

So, look into getting another filter, canister preferably, if not, Aquaclear makes really good HOB filters!

And keep an eye in your nitrite, checking everyday!

-FHM

 

[rewlyn]

Hello, sorry have been out the last couple of days.

I agree, you want at least 7x turn over for filtration with Cichlids.

A canister/external filter will be your best bet. Cichlids are dirtier than most fish, and require a better filtration system, which the one you is not quite adequate.

So, getting another filter is probably something you want to take into consideration here soon, and try to get one.

Also, for a fish-in cycle, and the tank of your size, you want around 1/3 of your stocking when doing a fish-in cycle.

So, that means, 11 Cichlids is too many a fish-n cycle, and 4 would be more ideal.

The reason this is because your ammonia is going to go up very fast with a larger stocking vs. a smaller one for a fish-in cycle.

BUT, if you are up to do the water changes, as it seems you are, than you should be good.

Keep an eye on the nitrite, if you do not start to see nitrite in a week, you should stop using ammolock. As it might be turning ammonia into an unusable food source for your bacteria, in which case they will die off.

So, look into getting another filter, canister preferably, if not, Aquaclear makes really good HOB filters!

And keep an eye in your nitrite, checking everyday!

-FHM

all good FHM we all have lives
i have checked in to the filters and have come across an

ELITE CRYSTALFLO 20 (CANISTER FILTER) have you heard of it
if you google "Hollywood Fish Farm - Product Detail - Crystal Flo 20" it will be the first topic, check it out if you want

 

[fatheadminnow]

With that filter it will put your 7x turn over, which is what you want, and that is good!

Personally I have not been in the hobby long enough to know about ALL the filter brands out there, so, I would Highly recommend you start a new post in the Tropical Discussion section asking other members about this filter, and if it is any good.

Tell them about your current setup, tank size, fish etc, and that you already have an 800 LPH filter.

Give them a link to the filter so they can check it out.

This way you will know for sure if it is worth your money.

If they say that it is not a good filter, they will probably tell you to get a different kind of canister filter, which could get really expensive ($200+). So unless you want to spend more, I wold suggest to get an Aquaclear 110 power filter, this is a really good filter that you will like a lot. It is not a canister filter, it is a HOB (Hang on back) filter, but it still a really good filter!

So, make a thread asking about that filter!

Personally I would say go for it, it would not be on the market if it was crap, well maybe ...

-FHM