Losing Fish Fast, Ammonia Has Spiked.

[Gvilleguy]

Well it's good that your nitrites are being processed still! Just have to deal with the ammonia.

 

[geordieelvis]

I will do another good water change and use some of the Seachem stuff this time and re-test. It's a pity about my high Ph but nothing I can do about that?

 

[Gvilleguy]

Correct - I would not try to modify pH. That is a slippery slope.

 

[geordieelvis]

Today's reading after another water change and testing was 0.20ppm so it certainly looks like it is on the way down. I would like to thank you all for your help with all of this. Oh and if anybody is interested, the only fish that survived 100% and didn't change their ways were my little Panda Cories, they didn't seem bothered by anything!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Just wanted to add, when you clean your gravel, are you sure to go right down the the very bottom? It seems quite common for new people to not realize you need to clean to the bottom and just skim over the top. I do my gravel twice a week to keep debris low.

Sounds like you are nearly there, another large water change may get that reading to 0 finally and hopefully you will be able to maintain it.

 

[Gvilleguy]

I agree with sunflower. On weekly cleanings I dig the siphon all the way to the bottom of the gravel and really stir it up to get out the debris.

 

[geordieelvis]

Yeah I have a proper gravel cleaner/siphon and I make sure it goes right in and sucks each small area clean before moving to the next. This is usually done once a week as part of my water change.