Nothing Working For Amonia.. Help Please

[Guppy Gal]

I know adding fish with create an amonia peak, but it's been a day since I added the treatment for that which the LFS suggested for amonia spikes.

Today, the amonia test is still dark green and I know how bad that is.

What sort of water changes should I be doing? I have cut down on the feedings so that they are feed very small twice a day.

Please, any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
I have 2 very pregnant females that aren't looking too good and I don't want any fish loss.

I have a 20 gallon, which is about a month old now. I don't think it's done cycling, and adding new fish was not a good idea.
The fish are all guppies.

 

[Guppy Gal]

sorry.. I don't know the water perameters due to not having all the tests. We were told just start with the amonia tests.. which is what we have and found the very very high levels.

I am a novice.. only in the hobby seriously for about 2 months.

 

[beki_jane]

hi,

new to this myself but my fish supplier told me to do a 20 percent change and check the nitrate every week and all my fish seem to be doing ok, hope this helps you
beki

 

[beki_jane]

forgot to say put aquasafe or similar in the new water that you add

beki

 

[semper fi]

do water changes every day of atleast 10-20% daily. after you notice the ammonia going down the nitrates will start to spike.

ammonia is created in the aquarium form fish waste and excess food laying on the bottom and decomposing (or whatever it does in water). this debris creates ammonia. ammonia is then broken down to nitrates. that is why you will more than likely notice a spike in your nitrates. the nitrates are broken down to nitrites. when your ammonia goes down and the nitrates spike try adding one or tow of the sword plants and keep doing the water changes. plants feed off of the nitrates in the tank. sword plants and any other fast growing plant need lots of nitrates. also make sure that you have sufficient lighting if adding the plants. plants do need the light. if not they will die and add to your problems.

sounds like your tank was not cycled. once the nitrates are zeroed out you may notice the water getting cloudy. don't panic this is normal. not sure about guppies but if they are not a scaleless fish i would add two tablespoons of salt to the water. will help with their breathing which will aid in them getting the harmful toxins out of their systems.

cut your feedings down to once a day. you will not starve your fish. a fish that is holding can go up to three weeks without eating. only feed small amounts at a time. a pinch or so. stay right there if they eat all of the food and want more give them addintional pinches one at a time til they have no interest in eating.

get a test kit that checks for ph, ammonia and nitrates. that is abut all you will need. i would not add any chemicals to your tank at this point. you do not want to creat additional problems.

hth

maggie

 

[Guppy Gal]

Thank you . Always great advice from you all.

I'm going to go do a water change now.

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi GG,

If you've added a 'treatment' for ammonia, was it ammolock? This is the only one I'm familiar with.

I'm not 100% sure on this but pretty sure if you do add this it converts the ammonia to a less harmfull form but does not remove it from the water - consequently(sp) you still get very high readings on the test but it is not harming the fish. Maybe someone else can confirm/or not.

If your fish are breathing abnormally/fast then this would be the best indication that they are suffering from ammonia poisening.

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