Urgent.. Please Help!

[LolaLouie]

Hi,

We have to leave in 2 hours to go to the airport. We're going away for a week.

I have just given my fish a feed and changed their water but when I just tested it Ammonia readings are 1.2 (for the past 2 weeks they have been 0-0.3) and Nitrites are 0.3 (which isn't too bad)... but why the sudden ammonia rise?!?

Do I do another water change??

Or what do I do??

Think I'm going to come home to a few less fishies

Please help!

Thanks

Gemma

 

[jennybugs]

Do another water change straight away. Don't feed the fish again. They shoud be ok for a week without food.

I hope you don't lose any while you're gone

 

[LolaLouie]

Have done another water change... This time ammonia readings are 2.4... This can't be right!

Have also added toxivec.. a substance to lock in ammonia and nitrites, can this affect the readings?

Am really worried but do't see how ammonia content can have doubled AFTER a water change?

Thanks for the advice

Gemma

 

[Cazangel]

Have done another water change... This time ammonia readings are 2.4... This can't be right!

Have also added toxivec.. a substance to lock in ammonia and nitrites, can this affect the readings?

Am really worried but do't see how ammonia content can have doubled AFTER a water change?

Thanks for the advice

Gemma

As much as I don;t like to advise using chemicals maybe add some ammo lock to keep the fish well until you return from your holiday then you can start to do daily water changes to get that ammonia level dropped. Water changes are the best way

 

[ICEEGRL]

If this happens again you should test your water before you put it in the tank. This way you will know if it actually coming from your water or if it is something happening in the tank.
I get spikes sometimes when the city adds extra chemicals to the water. I have to watch my water carefully to see when I need to use extra declor to kill the additives. There have been times that I have just refused to do water changes for a few weeks due to the amount of stuff in the tap water. (you could smell the chlorine from the water very strongly) I just couldn't make myself trust it.
Hope they all make it.

 

[CrashingWaves]

Water changes are probably the best way to get the amonia levels down. I can assume that the carbon in your filters is fresh?

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[Luketendo]

Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0 at ALL times.

Just so you know.

 

[CrashingWaves]

Aren't nitrites supposed to be as low as possible without actually being non-existent?

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[SJ2K]

Aren't nitrites supposed to be as low as possible without actually being non-existent?

God Bless,
Joshua

Nope, NitrIte should always be 0, nitrAte can be anywhere from 0-100 with no problems ive read reports of fish being tested in water up to 440ppm of nitrate with no ill effects.

 

[CrashingWaves]

That's what I get for following the advise of those nitrite test kits

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[Inchworm]

Have also added toxivec.. a substance to lock in ammonia and nitrites, can this affect the readings?

This kind of produce will prevent your tank from cycling properly. Since the beneficial bacteria you are cultivating need the ammonia and nitrites as food, they will starve and die off if these are absorbed by chemical substances.

When you return, it would be best to remove them from your tank and complete the normal cycle.

 

[ICEEGRL]

What kind of test kit do you have that says you should have nitrites showing?
I would seriously have to swap brands!
The good bacteria takes the amonia to nitrites then nitrates. If you have nitrites showing... sounds like you maybe don't have enough good bacteria to handle the load properly. That is basically what both my kits say. The liquid one even says if nitrites are present to do several small water changes until they are gone. (and check for amonia which may very well be present also...)
Do you usually have nitrites show up when you test?

 

[CrashingWaves]

Excuse my ignorance, or actually just missing the differance between a single letter. I've been under a lot of stress lately . I meant nitrates not nitrites. Sorry about that guys.

God Bless,
Joshua