Ammonia Problem After Treating Tank

[FishLover66]

Hi all. I treated my tank with Tetra meds that treat everything about three weeks ago and because it kills good bacteria along with the bad, my tank did a mini cycle. While everything else went back to normal (zero nitrites, 5.0 nitrates) the ammonia just doesn't seem to want to get back to zero. It's been at or just below 0.25 for two weeks. I did a water change on Friday and it did seem to help a little, but the test kit (AP liquid) is still picking up ammonia. Should I just leave it be and wait for it to completely cycle and go back to normal, or use a product to lower the ammonia. I guess I'm afraid to add any chemicals or other products that obsorb ammonia because the benificial bacteria need that to build up, correct? Will I just be postponing the cycling process if I add something that neutralizes or absorbes ammonia? Advise please...

 

[mattlee]

you really should be testing 2 times a day minimum and doing water changes to suit the ammonia levels. if its at 0.25ppm then i would suggest a minimum of 50% changes a day until its back to its old self.

 

[FishLover66]

Ok, thanks! I guess I just didn't expect to STILL have issues with ammonia when everything else was back to normal. That's what I'll do.

 

[mhancock]

Maybe (just guessing) the bacteria that breaks down ammonia was more sensitive and effected more, and the bacteria that breaks down nitrite more resilient?

 

[FishLover66]

I think you may be right about the type of bacteria affected. I thought it was strange that I was still having issues with ammonia, yet everything else was back to normal. I've done another water change and will check again later to see if it's better, but the last time I tested there was an improvement, so keeping my fingers crossed that everything is back to normal.