I have a problem with a tank...

buddah101

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 8, 2005
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Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania
Hello, I seem to be having an ammonia problem with a 30 gallon planted tank that I threw together from an existing 20 gallon fully cycled planted tank and a few old filters and peices I had laying around.
full shot of tank


First of all I'll tell you my readings as of 5:18 pm
Ammonia~1.0
Nitrite~0
Nitrate~5.0
GH~1degree~ 17.9ppm
KH~1degree~17.9ppm
pH~7.4
CO2~1.194ppm ?
test results pic


OK, I added fully cycled filter floss from one of my Aqua clear filters on my 180 Gallon to an old REGANT filter on the 30 gallon in question. I also added a unit of CHEMIPURE to each side and some white diamond ammonia remover in the center.
old filter open hatch



I also have an Aqua Clear 402 powerhead powering an old Marineland single biowheel

pic of (new) powerhead that runs biowheel

biowheel pic


Also, I have a DIY CO2 system hooked into a Minijet 606 powerhead.

I just cant get the ammonia down! I relize that the 30 gallon tank has been sitting empty for a month or so but with all the surface area and live bacteria I added you'd think I would see a difference. What do you think is causing the ammonia to be so high?
My tanks residents are a firebelly newt, Farlowella cat (vitatta), a B. ram, 2 bettas, a 5" pecock eel and a RES (sometimes)
Is it overstocked do you think? Please help.
 

M|L

the asian
MFK Member
Mar 29, 2005
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How long have this tank been setup? the tank might be going through a mini-cycle even with old filter medias from another tank.

I'd suggest that you take the fire-belly newt out. They are cool water amphibians and may not fair well in a heated aquarium. Might also climb out of your open top tank too.
 

redtailfool

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Feb 17, 2005
8,397
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New Jersey
looks like a newly setup tank from what you wrote. Ming is right, it could be undergoing a cycle. In that case, all you can do is more water changes and use a product like amquel that converts ammonia to ammonium. Just maintain a religous water change and your tank will have zero ammonia in no time.
 

piranha45

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Mar 30, 2005
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eventually (2-3 weeks), if you don't add chemicals to the water, the ammonia will go down and the tank will be cycled.
 

rayman45

Team Rayman
MFK Member
Mar 30, 2005
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good
i never use chem.
 
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