Ammonia - Not enough Filtration

[dr exum]

It’s one fish, I had thought tank was adequately cycled, used old media from other tank.

Was ok until started feeding raw 31-40 shrimp 2-3 per day.

Obviously more bio led to spikes.

I had only one Marineland 350 and sponge filter for “125g” 75g tank

One fish, thought enough, I added another 350 and a Marineland canister filter for 100g tank... it gets knocked down with water changes but thinking need to recycle somehow vs...

Not really feeding fish btw until I can sort it....

Any tips are welcome...

 

[dr exum]

Pic

 

[Rocksor]

No feeding for 6 days. Feeding a small amount on day 7 (2 pieces). Dose with Seachem Prime everyday for total tank dosage, do enough of a water change so that ammonia is no higher than 0.25ppm everyday.

That's a big redtail for a 75g.

 

[dr exum]

No feeding for 6 days. Feeding a small amount on day 7 (2 pieces). Dose with Seachem Prime everyday for total tank dosage, do enough of a water change so that ammonia is no higher than 0.25ppm everyday.
That's a big redtail for a 75g.

Ya, I fed him two shrimp few days back, did water change, few pellets here and there,

I’ll do the no food for 6 days, feed on day 7.

I have prime, doing wc now.

LFS sold at 4” 3 months ago, growth is very rapid, he’s probably 10”...

Getting tank ordered gonna take 3 months to get here though it seems....

Thanks for assistance!

 

[Oughtsix]

You simple do not have enough nitifying bacteria to handle the amount of ammonia being produced. Your tank probably had enough bacteria to process a small amount of ammonia... which technically is cycled. When you add a LOT more ammonia it takes a while for the bacterial colonies to grow to the level to handle the new ammonia load. This will happen all on its own but it takes time. I doubt the extra filtration will make the bacteria grow any faster... but the extra filtration isn't hurting anything. I often hear this referred to as a mini cycle and it can happen when a lot of fish are added to a tank all at once, feeding it greatly increased, a fish dies and is not removed from the tank., etc.

You are correct, you need to keep doing water changes until your tank reaches a balance and the ammonia level goes down to an undetectable level. After your ammonia spike levels out I would expect to see a Nitrite spike for a few days before the bacteria that converts nitrites to nitrates have a chance to colonize to a level to handle the new nitrite load.

 

[dr exum]

Day 4 of no food..

All readings are zero, been adding prime every day,

Added some API quick start,

Fish seems hungry, I guess better hungry than dead...

 

[tlindsey]

Day 4 of no food..

All readings are zero, been adding prime every day,

Added some API quick start,

Fish seems hungry, I guess better hungry than dead...

Feed them but lightly.

 

[dr exum]

Feed them but lightly.

It’s only one fish,

I’ll throw him one Massivore pellet

 

[pops]

for my 2 cents shrimp are heavy protein, protein=ammonia. I only fed my fish shrimp or krill the night before water change knowing things where going to spike. with a good cycled tank that would be nitrate. protein=ammonia=nitrite=nitrate.

 

[dr exum]

for my 2 cents shrimp are heavy protein, protein=ammonia. I only fed my fish shrimp or krill the night before water change knowing things where going to spike. with a good cycled tank that would be nitrate. protein=ammonia=nitrite=nitrate.

Thanks,

Prolly under filtered... lack of bio filtration established,

All my P’s in the past I’ve fed mainly shrimp did not think too much of giving this fish 2-3 shrimps.