Tank crash?

[Niki_up]

Been having a problem with my tank and my guppies dying, now my ram has been at the top of the water with clamped fins (not gasping), not sure what’s happening. Any input is appreciated.

tank stats:

30g
Aquarclear 70 filter with a sponge on the intake. Media is sponge, one bag of flu all Zoe-carb, and ceramic rings.
Heater
Just purchased an air pump to add to the tank today in hopes of adding more oxygen to the tank.

80% water changes weekly, last filter cleaning was about 2-3 weeks ago. I filled a sink with water adde prime and cleaned the media.

Plants
2 crypts, 1 sword, clump of moss, hydro-philia (haha not sure what it is called), small Anubis.

stock
5 female guppies, 2 male guppies, 3 cherry barbs, 2 harlequins, 6 Cory cats, 2 gbr, 1 small female apistogramma, guppies dropping like flies and ram not doing so good.

water parameters
0.25 ammonia
0 nitrites
Barley registering nitrates between 0-5ppm
80 degree temperature
PH about 7.8 (didn’t test, but can)

Has my cycled crashed? Thoughts?

cherry barbs we’re breeding a few days ago.

 

[The Morning]

How long has the tank been set up and if awhile any newly introduced fish? Never like to see any ammonia present. Have you tested tap water?

 

[Niki_up]

How long has the tank been set up and if awhile any newly introduced fish? Never like to see any ammonia present. Have you tested tap water?

Tank has been running for about 5 plus years...so long I’ve lost track really. It has had different sticking though out the years.

the guppies are all new (I didn’t quarantine as I should have)

actually all the fish are fairly new, December was the re-stock I believe, with The guppies being the newest on Jan 7, 2019.

No didn’t test the tap water but it is normal for my local water to have between 0-0.50 of ammonia reading. My city uses
Chlorimines in the water

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

Check your heater if you have glass heater

 

[Blakewater]

Sounds like you overdid the waterchanges and now it’s recycling. Really there shouldn’t be a trace of amonia. 80% is a lot at once. 2x 40% ones would be better. In general 60% is my absolute max and that’s if there’s a big issue otherwise I do 40-50% every 3-5 days for my 550

 

[FreshyFresh]

If your using the same 5yr old substrate and the media in your aquaclear is well established, you should have plenty of beneficial bacteria to handle your cycle.

Little/no beneficial bacteria lives in the water column, so water changes should not effect it at all.

As a guess, I'd say something was brought into the tank with the new additions. Could be parasitic, bacterial or viral.

 

[Blakewater]

If your using the same 5yr old substrate and the media in your aquaclear is well established, you should have plenty of beneficial bacteria to handle your cycle.

Little/no beneficial bacteria lives in the water column, so water changes should not effect it at all.

As a guess, I'd say something was brought into the tank with the new additions. Could be parasitic, bacterial or viral.

Draining the water exposes and can kill the bacteria as well as adding in 80% of brand new tap water even with dechlorinator added during the fill up.

 

[esoxlucius]

Draining the water exposes and can kill the bacteria as well as adding in 80% of brand new tap water even with dechlorinator added during the fill up.

Many of us do fin level water changes with no problems whatsoever. Also, unless your water changes are taking days to do then BB won't die, even if exposed to air for a couple of hours. Their mucus membrane protects them.

 

[Blakewater]

Many of us do fin level water changes with no problems whatsoever. Also, unless your water changes are taking days to do then BB won't die, even if exposed to air for a couple of hours. Their mucus membrane protects them.

I’m not saying it’s a definitive recycle each time but there’s plenty of evidence that shows it ca happen from just that all over this site. It’s happened to me as well. And obviously since OP is showing amonia with no nitrates or nitrites, it’s happening to him so I’m not sure how it could be seen as anything beyond a cycling issue with 0.25 0 0 params

 

[twentyleagues]

1. Retest your parameters.
2. Do not rinse media in fresh water always use old tank water.
3. 80f is to hot for guppies they can handle it some times but they are more temperate fish not tropical.
4. Agree possible parasite or disease added with new fish.
5. Also agree that with that long of an established tank a wc wont wipe out enough bacteria to cause a recycle. Its in the substrate, on the decor, in the filter on the glass. You would have to remove everything let it all dry out for days or bleach it to kill all the bacteria.