Crazy Ammonia Spike!!!

[Jonny Steele]

Did you rinse the bio filter media in tap water? If you did that you probably killed all the beneficial bacteria.

I did, but that was about 4 weeks ago. Im not sure my Eheim 2217 has the filtration power for my listed fish.

 

[Jamo3030]

I would say something is dead in there. Rotting fish will spike ammonia like that. I went away for Xmas and came home to one of my fish missing and huge ammonia levels. Removed the fish, did a water change, it's getting better. I agree with those guys though... clean up!

 

[geronimo69]

I would say something is dead in there. Rotting fish will spike ammonia like that. I went away for Xmas and came home to one of my fish missing and huge ammonia levels. Removed the fish, did a water change, it's getting better. I agree with those guys though... clean up!

Did you see the poop in the pictures??? The ammonia is from a combination of the crap laying everywhere and the rinsing of the filter media in tap water.

I would:

Do at least 75% WC, daily, till that Ammonia is lowered. NEVER clean filter media in tap water. Use old tank water. Gravel Vac that poop every week. Get rid of the pleco. He's causing the big chunk of the crap.

Also, these fish require different water params. I suggest re-stocking the whole tank.