Ammonia Emergency in Non-Cycling Tank?
- Thread starter Madding
- Start date
Glad to see you got your tank back in order, not sure how I missed this whole thread until now.
Something you may want to look at is the kH (carbonate hardness) of your water. This is the water's ability to buffer pH. With a very low level of kH and a moderate to heavy stock you will see pH levels drop. The BB does not thrive in the high acid(low pH) levels and this increases ammonia levels. Though as someone stated ammonia is much less toxic in low pH.
Good luck and your tank still looks fabulous.
Something you may want to look at is the kH (carbonate hardness) of your water. This is the water's ability to buffer pH. With a very low level of kH and a moderate to heavy stock you will see pH levels drop. The BB does not thrive in the high acid(low pH) levels and this increases ammonia levels. Though as someone stated ammonia is much less toxic in low pH.
Good luck and your tank still looks fabulous.
Thanks for the concern @ the last couple posts.
The ammonia has been steady at 0 for well over a week now with my pH remaining back at tap level (a little high, but matches my other tanks and good for the Cuban gar) --
We've been steady with the water changes, slowing them down but still doing multiple a week, and I've resumed feeding but cut the portion way down and currently only feeding every other day.
Took one of the two big pieces of driftwood out to help water circulate and keep food and waste from getting caught, and I think that has helped as well.
I appreciate all the help, sometimes even an experienced keeper can forget all they've learned in the face of panic!
The ammonia has been steady at 0 for well over a week now with my pH remaining back at tap level (a little high, but matches my other tanks and good for the Cuban gar) --
We've been steady with the water changes, slowing them down but still doing multiple a week, and I've resumed feeding but cut the portion way down and currently only feeding every other day.
Took one of the two big pieces of driftwood out to help water circulate and keep food and waste from getting caught, and I think that has helped as well.
I appreciate all the help, sometimes even an experienced keeper can forget all they've learned in the face of panic!
Hey - I know im a little late in tossing in my two cents... but you know what, I'm glad to see that things are much better! 
I admit - I am new to Gars, I only brought my first little guy home yesterday. He was a gift for my hubby who happen to fall in love with an adult gator gar.... so I am unsure of how it would feel in what I explain bellow... Also, I've never used a sump, and although interested, am unsure of its inner workings and overall effect in the tanks filtration so I look forward to some insight from others on this...
anyways;
I had ammonia problems a while back. I panicked as I totaly could not figure out the problem. I tried everything too! Even local shops with their so called "experts" were stumped... (don't get me wrong, Im sure in some or different circumstances the advice they gave me would have worked.) I tried too much and probably completely messed up the biological filter. I'm not sure, but honestly it took a lot of trial and error (and a few unfortunate deaths...
) I Eventually I figured out, and found what worked for me, and has been going strong ever since:
my savior, was black water extract and dry almond leaves.
Black water or amazon river supplement by whomever your preferred brand may be, is an excellent way to drop ph, and fill the water with a health boost, not to mention it does take a bite out of the potency of the ammonia. I like to use Kent Marine, or even the Tetra one is suitable.
This is not an amazing quick fix, its not meant to be an easy band-aid solution. It will still take a little time, patience, and a bit of heart to get it just right.
The Almond leaves (must be dry/dehydrated not fresh!!) are a potent all natural way to assist in the neutralization of your waters toxicity. One full leaf will drastically effect a tank of 100 g - a few will cover a 500g no problem. It was taught to me by feel, so knowing that you should be able to gauge how many pieces you want to toss in.
NOTE -**It will change the colour of the water (as expected with any of the blackwater supplements) and will drop the ph at a healthy rate to not shock the fish...
** It does not seem to break down, so decaying plant matter isn't going to be a villain in the story line later on- I generally fish floaters out after a couple days but I have left it a few weeks.
** They are a good source of vitamines and minerals in general so now I like to throw in a small pinch periodically
I also found, following the directions on the supplement bottles were a good starting point -but I got my best results in really high ammonia spike to just free pour it and go with my gut. I have a fair size tank and I would stain the water a good amber colour almost, and leave it sit overnight with the lights off... in the morning I would do a 15 - 25% water change depending on how yellow the water still was.
My fish all seem to love it when I up the blackwater (especially my discus who loves to show me when somethings wrong by going jet black and then dramatically turns back to its electric vibrant self as soon as I do this kind of thing - i'm told that this is odd, not sure tho as I havent seen or heard of anyone else with this kind of chameleon like colour flashing happening in their discus. Everyone I every spoke to said my discus was going to die the moment it went black, with mention of the "discus plaque OoooOO *insert dramatic chord*...but its still going healthy and strong!!)
Another thing to help out
someone probably did already mention this, as I may have missed it, but AMMO-LOCK is an excellent little thing to add to the tank if fish are demonstrating high levels stress from ammonia poisoning....It changes the toxic into a non toxic form and you will still be able to see ammonia in your water tests, until your filtration can work it out.
and dont forget - I know here atleast we can read a high level of ammonia right out of the tap, and there's alot that could read as a false positive... dont over chemical your tank, always give it some breathing room in between treatments and trials to see if it took effect... if not you could wipe out your biological filter
Anywho...
sorry this was a bit long winded and a little scattered... I think I should have slept more than half an hour last night LOL
I admit - I am new to Gars, I only brought my first little guy home yesterday. He was a gift for my hubby who happen to fall in love with an adult gator gar.... so I am unsure of how it would feel in what I explain bellow... Also, I've never used a sump, and although interested, am unsure of its inner workings and overall effect in the tanks filtration so I look forward to some insight from others on this...
anyways;
I had ammonia problems a while back. I panicked as I totaly could not figure out the problem. I tried everything too! Even local shops with their so called "experts" were stumped... (don't get me wrong, Im sure in some or different circumstances the advice they gave me would have worked.) I tried too much and probably completely messed up the biological filter. I'm not sure, but honestly it took a lot of trial and error (and a few unfortunate deaths...
) I Eventually I figured out, and found what worked for me, and has been going strong ever since:my savior, was black water extract and dry almond leaves.
Black water or amazon river supplement by whomever your preferred brand may be, is an excellent way to drop ph, and fill the water with a health boost, not to mention it does take a bite out of the potency of the ammonia. I like to use Kent Marine, or even the Tetra one is suitable.
This is not an amazing quick fix, its not meant to be an easy band-aid solution. It will still take a little time, patience, and a bit of heart to get it just right.
The Almond leaves (must be dry/dehydrated not fresh!!) are a potent all natural way to assist in the neutralization of your waters toxicity. One full leaf will drastically effect a tank of 100 g - a few will cover a 500g no problem. It was taught to me by feel, so knowing that you should be able to gauge how many pieces you want to toss in.
NOTE -**It will change the colour of the water (as expected with any of the blackwater supplements) and will drop the ph at a healthy rate to not shock the fish...
** It does not seem to break down, so decaying plant matter isn't going to be a villain in the story line later on- I generally fish floaters out after a couple days but I have left it a few weeks.
** They are a good source of vitamines and minerals in general so now I like to throw in a small pinch periodically
I also found, following the directions on the supplement bottles were a good starting point -but I got my best results in really high ammonia spike to just free pour it and go with my gut. I have a fair size tank and I would stain the water a good amber colour almost, and leave it sit overnight with the lights off... in the morning I would do a 15 - 25% water change depending on how yellow the water still was.
My fish all seem to love it when I up the blackwater (especially my discus who loves to show me when somethings wrong by going jet black and then dramatically turns back to its electric vibrant self as soon as I do this kind of thing - i'm told that this is odd, not sure tho as I havent seen or heard of anyone else with this kind of chameleon like colour flashing happening in their discus. Everyone I every spoke to said my discus was going to die the moment it went black, with mention of the "discus plaque OoooOO *insert dramatic chord*...but its still going healthy and strong!!)
Another thing to help out
someone probably did already mention this, as I may have missed it, but AMMO-LOCK is an excellent little thing to add to the tank if fish are demonstrating high levels stress from ammonia poisoning....It changes the toxic into a non toxic form and you will still be able to see ammonia in your water tests, until your filtration can work it out.
and dont forget - I know here atleast we can read a high level of ammonia right out of the tap, and there's alot that could read as a false positive... dont over chemical your tank, always give it some breathing room in between treatments and trials to see if it took effect... if not you could wipe out your biological filter
Anywho...
sorry this was a bit long winded and a little scattered... I think I should have slept more than half an hour last night LOL
