At My Wits End

[glolite]

Thanks again - I think we're going to go with the Seachem.


When I use the Seachem, will ammonia readings still show up on my testing kit?

Also - will I need to keep using it forever once I start (at the moment I don't care if I do - but thought I should check).

Ammonia readings shouldn't show up but if they do you'll need to water change again and add more Seachem Prime. I've found it magic stuff though.

Once the tank has settled you can swap back to another conditioner if you want tho Seachem works out cheaper. I use 0.25ml per 10 litres.

 

[-germ-]

You can get some crazy readings across the board using Prime but be confident that in others experience it works.
Your best off continuing using it until you feel like doing a fishless cycle in another tank, swapping fish around or other jiggery-pokery etc. It's a water conditioner anyway so just use it as such.
Ammo-lock'd be fine for very temporary use but it has been known to result in sudden spikes and general ammonia related hazardry.

 

[petal040]

Excellent thanks, we're going to get some tomorrow

 

[arobinson1984]

Earlier in this topic you said "you washed half the filter media a month"

Was this in tank water or tap water??

Also as star4 asked, do you do regular gravel vacs? You should do a good gravel vac weekly otherwise bits of food will get beneath the gravel, rot and cause a big spike in your ammonia / nitrite readings

Andy

 

[pauly]

Also, cut right down on feeding until you've found the cause of the Ammonia.

Pauly.

 

[petal040]

Sorry for the delayed reply - when we washed the media it was in tank water. We do regular gravel vacs and are quite thorough with them (we get underneath things etc).

We tried cutting down the feeding, but as we have been unable to figure it out for around six weeks now (I think) we had to resume normal feeding cos didn't want the fish to not be getting enough...

At the moment we put in one click of small granules that float (that's about six or seven 1.5mmish granules) and two to three sinking discs (that are about 6mm diameter?) per day. All food seems to be eaten with the fish not stopping until it is gone.

We occasionally defrost half a cube of frozen live food (like bloodworm) and add a couple of spoonfulls to the tank. We add it bit by bit making sure all is eaten before adding any more (and only ever put a small amount in anyway). When we do this, it is immediately before a water change and gravel vac - and have only done it once in the last six weeks I think.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

I didn't read it all because I'm eating dinner, but have you tested the tap water as it may be comming out with Amonia in it. (Some places do)

 

[petal040]

Yup - tapwater has 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate.