Help! Water Problems

[3fsh]

A while ago I came home to find my 12G aquarium murky and smelly. The ammonia and nitrite levels had skyrocketed. I quickly added Amquel, did an emergency 50% water change, and changed the activated carbon filter. It cleared up okay... but no matter what I try I can't get the ammonia level to go back to zero. (It's at about .5 right now.) I've tried everything! I even got rid of the three (very messy) goldfish living in the tank. Nitrate level is at zero, pH is normal, and the tank is very clean. I don't know what else I can do. BTW- It's an eclipse system.

 

[tstenback]

What is currently in the tank? Have you added anything in the last 24- 48 hours that may have killed off the bacteria colony? also what is the nitrite level now?The best way to bring down the ammonia and nitrite levels is by doing water changes. 2 a day(or more) if required.

 

[3fsh]

There are no fish in the tank right now, just a plant. The nitrite level is 0. I've been adding pH up, would that affect the bacteria colony? What percentage of water per day should I change?

 

[tstenback]

with no fish do a 90% change next. It should kill the ammonia reading or nearly. also why are you using PH up?? It wont kill the bacteria colony but it can cause all kinds of problems with the tank if your not careful. Tampering with the PH is not a good thing or easy thing to do properly. keep us posted.

 

[3fsh]

I will do a 90% change when I get home... thnx for the advice! I've been adding pH up due to the fact that the reverse osmosis filtered water I've been using for water changes has a pH of about 6.3 or so. Do you know of any water I can buy at the store that would have a higher pH? Or are there any decently priced filters I can buy to filter our tap water?