I have a problem with a tank...

[buddah101]

Hello, I seem to be having an ammonia problem with a 30 gallon planted tank that I threw together from an existing 20 gallon fully cycled planted tank and a few old filters and peices I had laying around.
full shot of tank

First of all I'll tell you my readings as of 5:18 pm
Ammonia~1.0
Nitrite~0
Nitrate~5.0
GH~1degree~ 17.9ppm
KH~1degree~17.9ppm
pH~7.4
CO2~1.194ppm ?
test results pic

OK, I added fully cycled filter floss from one of my Aqua clear filters on my 180 Gallon to an old REGANT filter on the 30 gallon in question. I also added a unit of CHEMIPURE to each side and some white diamond ammonia remover in the center.
old filter open hatch

I also have an Aqua Clear 402 powerhead powering an old Marineland single biowheel

pic of (new) powerhead that runs biowheel

biowheel pic

Also, I have a DIY CO2 system hooked into a Minijet 606 powerhead.

I just cant get the ammonia down! I relize that the 30 gallon tank has been sitting empty for a month or so but with all the surface area and live bacteria I added you'd think I would see a difference. What do you think is causing the ammonia to be so high?
My tanks residents are a firebelly newt, Farlowella cat (vitatta), a B. ram, 2 bettas, a 5" pecock eel and a RES (sometimes)
Is it overstocked do you think? Please help.

 

[M|L]

How long have this tank been setup? the tank might be going through a mini-cycle even with old filter medias from another tank.

I'd suggest that you take the fire-belly newt out. They are cool water amphibians and may not fair well in a heated aquarium. Might also climb out of your open top tank too.

 

[redtailfool]

looks like a newly setup tank from what you wrote. Ming is right, it could be undergoing a cycle. In that case, all you can do is more water changes and use a product like amquel that converts ammonia to ammonium. Just maintain a religous water change and your tank will have zero ammonia in no time.

 

[piranha45]

eventually (2-3 weeks), if you don't add chemicals to the water, the ammonia will go down and the tank will be cycled.

 

[buddah101]

thanks guys/gals, I took the newt out and will keep up the waterchanges. I dont like to use chemicals though. Thank you for the quick replies.

 

[rayman45]

good
i never use chem.

 

[buddah101]

Ya know, I never have any trouble with my larger tanks but those smaller ones are just so unstable it drives me bonkers!

 

[buddah101]

I prolly' should do laundry soon huh? LOL!