Insufficient filtration cause ammonia?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Latonya, thanks for checking the tap water ammonia!!

Can you also post the results for nitrite and nitrate for the aquarium?

Which brand and type test kit are you using?

Last test results were:
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10

Api freshwater test kit
 
Thanks again!!!

Are both snails still moving around the tank? Just grabbing at straws here.
 
No, the snails are pretty much staying stationery in the tank. One partially comes out and then goes back in - assuming that means he's alive.

I tested the water again this morning - Ammonia 0.5, Nitrites 0, Nitrates less than 5ppm. Barely even registered on the test. Not sure what is going on.
 
Update - I just pulled both snails out of the tank and one of them smells really bad....I'm assuming it's dead.
 
Bingo! A live snail should not smell bad, they smell disgusting when dead.
 
Bingo! A live snail should not smell bad, they smell disgusting when dead.
I've pulled both of them out and placed them in separate containers (in case the one isn't dead); although I put on some gloves and pushed on his trapdoor and got no reaction.

My question now if - will I reduce my Nitrates down too far if I do a water change to dilute the Ammonia?
 
It is more important to reduce the ammonia so a large water change is just fine. No need to worry about a lower nitrate level unless your tank is heavily planted.

Even though you have well water, do you still use a water conditioner? Just curious.
 
Yes, we still use Prime. I'll do a water change in the morning if ammonia is still there. Hoping the snails were the issue. Everybody is acting unstressed.
 
I bet the two fish that disappeared are still in the tank somewhere. The only times we have ever had ammonia in our cycled tank was after a long power outage and we had die off of some beneficial bacteria and once when we fed our fish unlimited watermelon--what a mess.

In the light of no power outage and die off of beneficial bacteria, decaying matter generating ammonia would be the next thing to rule out.
 
I bet the two fish that disappeared are still in the tank somewhere. The only times we have ever had ammonia in our cycled tank was after a long power outage and we had die off of some beneficial bacteria and once when we fed our fish unlimited watermelon--what a mess.

In the light of no power outage and die off of beneficial bacteria, decaying matter generating ammonia would be the next thing to rule out.
Pacus binging on watermelon, now that would be an epic video!
 
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