i tested positive for ammonia

[ozpkchris]

i was tested my water on my 180 cichlid tank and i came up with
0.25 ammonia
nitrites 0
nitrates 10
ph 7.6

weird my tank has been running for a year easy
what gives
any way i did a 60 wc and now its gone

i also ran a sample over to my lfs and that confirmed that my results are correct.

and thoughts why an ammonia spike

new changes are i added
salt 2 tblspn per 10 gal
purigen
and the temp went from 79-82 over the last week
im trying to heal a beat up fish

give me some incite ??????????????

 

[bigspizz]

Although no one else seems to have this problem, but when I add purigen, or anything else with a high surface area, the bacteria migration leaves the tank vulnerable, and I ALWAYS get a spike...It should slowly be less, and less, as you continue to change water.


Considering I do not know all of the facts, I would not be surprised if their is an unknown variable, that is causing this issue for you. Could there be a dead fish somewhere? Food? Snails? Have you called your water company? Have you tested the tap? How thick is your gravel? How often do you feed? How often do you gravel vac? How much water do you normally change? How often do you change it? Feel free to add anything else that might help. Good luck.

 

[ozpkchris]

all fish accounted for
i feed light, 2 tablespoons once a day
i do have those tiny pest snails in the tank
i haven't tested the tap but i will now
i have sand its bout 3'' thick
i vacuum with every wc which is a 60% weekly

this one doctor i work with tells me all the time if you dont test, you dont have to treat
if every thing is fine and you start testing stuff now you have to start treating stuff