Ammonia Problems

[j5bove]

I had my water tested and the ammonia levels were extremely high (8) they suggested a large water change so i changed out like 80% then had it tested 2 days later at another store and it was just as high. the store sold me some stuff to kill the ammonia and i followed the bottles and stores directions to the t. I just tested it again tonight (2-3 days after second test) and it was just as high. Dont know what to try next.

Aside from 1 piranha dying (which prompted the first test), everything in the tank seems healthy. Today i dropped in a couple rosies that i have had in quarantine to check on the activity of the RB's and they went right for them so i assume they are pretty healthy.

Also, anyone know of a very knowledgeable place to get fish and fish info in the detroit area?

 

[Lupin]

A little more information will not hurt. I suggest that you please provide as much details as you can so we may be able to help you much better. (See quote below.)

On the other hand, ammonia at 8 ppm is unusually high and much more toxic with high pH and temperature. What test kit are you using? (Question can be answered in quote provided below.) If you are using test strips, I'd switch to API liquid drops to be much more certain of the possible issues that may be related to water quality problems. Also, what ammonia solution did your LFS recommend to you?

1. What is the size of your tank?

2. What are your water parameters? State the brand of test kit used.

3. Is your aquarium set up freshwater or brackish water?

4. How long the aquarium has been set up?

5. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them?

6. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)?

7. What temperature is the tank water currently?

8. Are there live plants in the aquarium?

9. What filter are you using? State brand, maintenance routine and power capacity.

10. Any other equipment used (aside from heater and filter which are two very important components of the tank)?

11. Does your aquarium receive natural sunlight at any given part of the day? What is your lighting schedule (assuming you do not rely on sunlight for our viewing pleasure)?

12. When did you perform your last water change and how much water was changed? How often do you change your water? Do you vacuum the substrate?

13. What foods do you provide your fish? What is the feeding schedule?

14. What unusual signs have you observed in your fish?

15. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis? If so, what treatments did you use? State your reasons for planning ahead of proper diagnosis.

 

[j5bove]

I will run the 4 ain't tests and answer the questions when I get home from work. Thanks for the help.

 

[j5bove]

. What is the size of your tank?
- 55 gallons.

2. What are your water parameters? State the brand of test kit used.
-API freshwater master kit

3. Is your aquarium set up freshwater or brackish water?
- fresh

4. How long the aquarium has been set up?
- close to 1 month

5. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them?
- was 4, not 3 RBP's 2-3 inches, 1 crayfish 2-3 inches, 2 snails, about 4 weeks.

6. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)?
- nothing went into quarantine. all p's went in at about 1 inch.

7. What temperature is the tank water currently?
-78 degrees

8. Are there live plants in the aquarium?
- no

9. What filter are you using? State brand, maintenance routine and power capacity.
- (2) fluval 3 filter, total of 68 gallons of filtration 370 gph, once a week i clean out the filter with a bucket of tank water. I have a fluval 4 filter on the way which means that i will have 70 gallons of extra filtration.

10. Any other equipment used (aside from heater and filter which are two very important components of the tank)?
-no

11. Does your aquarium receive natural sunlight at any given part of the day? What is your lighting schedule (assuming you do not rely on sunlight for our viewing pleasure)?
- no sunlight, i usually keep the light on during the day and off at night around 12

12. When did you perform your last water change and how much water was changed? How often do you change your water? Do you vacuum the substrate?
- last wednesday, 80% due to the fact that the store said my ammonia was extremely high.

13. What foods do you provide your fish? What is the feeding schedule?
beef heart, bloodworm, goldfish every so often (bought them about 3 weeks ago and 3 out of 24 died the first 3 days, since then none of them have died and are all healthy in another tank)

14. What unusual signs have you observed in your fish?
-no much, they swim back and forth in the back of the tank, get spooked and scoot to the back when i come by the tank. the one that died was small, got picked on ,and used to lean against the plants, none of the ones do that now.

15. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis? If so, what treatments did you use? State your reasons for planning ahead of proper diagnosis.
- i have never treated my fish with anything. the chemical that have been in my tank are:
• stress zyme+, recommended amount during water changes
• stress coat, same as above
•Fritz zyme #7, ammonia was still extremely high even after large water change and that is what store recommended. (put in half, mix up gravel, wait half hour, put in other half)