Ammonia and Nitrate levels switched

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phoenixx

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 16, 2006
240
0
46
USA
I hope I didn't crash my system. I recently began using the Python hose for water changes. I removed about 15% of aquarium water, added my Aquamel and then filled her back up. I saw cloudy water appear after the water change and I had a feeling something was wrong. Two days later my Ammonia level went from zero to 4.0, Nitrite/Nitrate levels are both at zero. The tank has been established for over two years and I have always had high nitrates. Now, I have zero nitrates and high ammonia. Sounds like crash...

I did a 25% wc using my trusty bucket and also threw in enough Aquamel to treat the entire tank. Anything else I can do?

Thanks all!
 
nitrites should always be at zero in an established tank. nitrates should be kept as low as possible. since you have ammonia, it seems like you may have done something to kill off some of your beneficial bacteria.

you should do 50%+ water changes every other day to keep the ammonia levels low until the bacteria is replenished. just keep testing and doing WC until its back to normal.
 
I agree.
 
I'd seed the bacteria in the tank with established bioballs or filter goop from another established tank or one of the bottled bacteria products. Water changes are helpful, but don't go overboard with them as this can prolong the mini-cycling that your tank is going to go through. Use Prime every day to mitigate the effects of the ammonia and nitrites, and do water changes 2x weekly. Your fish should be fine, and you should be back to normal a lot quicker this way.
 
phoenixx;2298436; said:
I hope I didn't crash my system. I recently began using the Python hose for water changes. I removed about 15% of aquarium water, added my Aquamel and then filled her back up. I saw cloudy water appear after the water change and I had a feeling something was wrong. Two days later my Ammonia level went from zero to 4.0, Nitrite/Nitrate levels are both at zero. The tank has been established for over two years and I have always had high nitrates. Now, I have zero nitrates and high ammonia. Sounds like crash...

I did a 25% wc using my trusty bucket and also threw in enough Aquamel to treat the entire tank. Anything else I can do?

Thanks all!
Click to expand...

CHOMPERS said:
When a filter goes from cycled to uncycled, it is frequently due to the water change method. You should treat your tap water outside of the tank in a separate container. Doing so in the tank relies on dumb luck, and dumb luck isn't going to go far when you are doing large water changes. Contrary to popular belief, dechlor does not work instantaneously. It works fast but it is not instant. The physics of mixing is not instantaneous, so it is not possible for the dechlor to be instantaneous either. Chlorine flowing through the bacteria colony will do only one thing. If your water has chloramines, this effect is compounded.

Btw, adding dechlor after refilling a tank is good way if you want to nuke the bacteria.
Click to expand...

I feel like I'm wasting my time when I try to show python users the errors in their ways. Am I wasting my time?
 
I sense your not a fan of using a Python for WC. Pardon me for trying to get with the times.

My Python now makes for an excellet jump rope. Back to buckets. Thanks to all with helpful comments
 
lol jump rope! I use the pyhton, and i would never do a wc change w/o one. while you do run the risk of killing off your bb by not treating the water first, i havent had this happen. i do 50% weekly wc's with a python...
 
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