8.0 Ammonia level. What to do?

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JESTERX626

JESTERX626

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jul 24, 2005
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I have a 50gal tank stocked with a 6 inch channa gachua snakehead, 3 inch texas cichlid, 3 in jaguar cichlid, and 3 inch green terror. The gachua is the longterm fish, the others will be given away at a later time, for now just as my viewing pleasure.

I just tested my water and ammonia is off the roof at 8.0, the darkest green bar on the color chart. What do I do now? waterchange? Also my tank was cycled prior to introduction of fish but I had 4-5 power outtages recently and each time my filters have been off for who knows how long, a few hours or so. So what do I do now?

My filtration is an eheim pro 2 2128 thermofilter good for up to 158gals and runs 277gph on my 50gal tank.
 
I would do a 50% water change right away. What ever you decide to do to get your bacteria level back up, you still need to get those levels down before they harm your fish.

If you have another tank, you should also offload some fish so the bio load is reduced.
 
As stated Large water change at least 50 % I myself woudl probably go 60-80 but thats me.. And a double dose of PRIME :) Read the bottle should help ya :)
 
JESTERX626;659889; said:
My filtration is an eheim pro 2 2128 thermofilter good for up to 158gals and runs 277gph on my 50gal tank.
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Get another :) LOL.. And how often and how much are your water changers..?
 
First a big water change 50% or so, then add a little salt, ~1tbsp/5 gallons. Tomorrow I'd grab a packet of bio-spira, and add that as early as you can.
 
Well I guess for that tank the bio spira wouldn't be too spendy .

How large are your Water Changes?
 
First of all, make shure your test kit is working properly. (after you did the big waterchange) go to you lfs and let them test the water. If it is the same you know it's not the testers and improve your filtration and cut down on your feedings.
 
Loubard;660011; said:
First of all, make shure your test kit is working properly. (after you did the big waterchange) go to you lfs and let them test the water. If it is the same you know it's not the testers and improve your filtration and cut down on your feedings.
Click to expand...

I agree, it could be out of date. I know this is not always the case but does the water look clear of cloudy? The only time I had an ammonia problem was when a tank once went into a mini cycle, the ammonia reached 4.0 and the water was very cloudy, almost milky white.
 
GOOD Point .. :) Very common actually ...
 
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