tank water

[clueless30]

can anyone please tell me how to get rid of ammonia and nitrite
i have done 2 water changes in a week and have been adding a good bacteria bio starter to keep the levels of nitrate up
but still cant lower the bad levels
ammonia is at 1.2 and nitrite is at 0.1
is this bad or normal
also i have a clown loach that will not eat, he is listless and likes to rest on the bottom of the tank for most of the day, a few time i have thought he wouldnt be alive in the morning but after a week he is still with us, he can swim with no worries and has no sign of any sickness
any ideas on either problem please

 

[canarsie11]

What bio starter are you using?

 

[new fish lover]

Has your tank cycled, or is this a new tank. When the cycle starts the ammonia, nitrites will be high. It takes a while for the good bacteria to get started. Some fish cannot survive the cycle.

 

[clueless30]

i have used 2 different sorts
first one was nitrivet from sera
second one was bio booster from aqua master

 

[clueless30]

i have had the tank for about 6wks now and all was well when we put the first lot of fish in, i dont have a test for the nitrates so i dont know what that level is but i would assume it should be high as in a 4 foot tank holding about 300 letres i have added 250m of the bio starters

 

[canarsie11]

I would say, stop adding that stuff, and let nature take its course. You have fish in your tank that is all you need!

 

[clueless30]

the levels of ammonia and nitrite havent changes in a week so should i keep doing water changes or wait and see what happens
all fish look fine apart from the loach i mentioned

 

[canarsie11]

Continue with water changes, this will help the existing fish.


Is this your first tank, next time you shouldtri fishless cycle, you could have been done cycling and fully stocked by now.

However, hang in the a cycle takes time with fish or otherwise. Number one thing is helping you fisnin the tank now

 

[clueless30]

ok thank for your help, i shall do another water change, but not vacume the gravel, i have just read that that may not be the best thing at this point.
fingers crossed i dont lose any fish