An ammonia level of 1.5 ppm is not *that* bad if your pH is no higher than 7.1 or 7.2 - granted, ammonia present in any amount is not good, but it shouldn't kill any fish at a lower pH, except maybe the most sensitive. I assume your tank is either cycling or recovering from a bacteria die-off, or else you just added new fish and it's mini-cycling. Here's what I would recommend, IMHO, if your pH level is:
7.2 or lower - do nothing until ammonia reaches 4.0 or 5.0 ppm, then do partial water change (about 15 to 25%) and re-test in a couple of hours. Do another small partial change, if necessary, to bring it back down in the 2 to 3 ppm range. Try not to let the ammonia level exceed 5.0 ppm for very long.
7.3 to 7.8 - do a 15 to 25% partial water change, and retest in a couple of hours. Do another 15 to 25% change, if necessary, and repeat until you bring levels back down to 0.5 ppm or less. Try not to let the ammonia level get beyond 0.5 ppm. Consider finding a *gentle* way to lower your pH just a dink.
7.9 or higher - do two water changes of 25 to 33% about two or three hours apart from each other. Wait a couple of hours and re-test ammonia. If necessary, do partial water changes of 15 to 25% every couple of hours until ammonia gets below 0.5. You probably also need to find a *gentle* way to get your pH down, unless your particular fish need it that high (Danios certainly do not). High pH and ammonia are a deadly combination.
In any case, your tank should be cycling, in some form, if you have ammonia. You only need to manually reduce the ammonia level with water changes until your tank comes back to equilibrium; then the good bio-bugs should take care of it for you. Of course, then you worry about nitrite.
Again, just my humble opinion.
pendragon!
One of my zebra danios looks extremely frumpy. It's got a large belly and it looks like it has a small balloon in there. Is this some kind of a disease or is this a fish thats about to lay eggs? I'm really stumped and any help you can give me would be appreciated!
