Strollo's right. Until and unless we know all the important water parameters AND can trust them with great surety, we will always tend to think that your tank water is not good enough. You have three bulky 2' fishes in 150 gal.
I know you know this and it's annoying to keep repeating it... but we are at a dead end, it appears, my friend... We can only go by what you describe is happening to your fish, but the reasons for problems with fish vary greatly and this is a highly inefficient way to go. I earnestly suggest to consider again finding them the right home, as you intended at the beginning, instead of building a bigger tank for them in your garage.
You cannot smell ammonia at the levels we are talking about. Usually the tank water has a little smell but it should not be strong. Strong smell usually (but not always) means there is problem that may or may not have to do with the cycling. Does it smell like rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide)?
Yes, do the biggest water changes you can afford, as stated 50%-75% twice weekly. It is even needless to say that one must use the water conditioner with large water changes (on any municipal water). With 5% daily changes, maybe not, but in your situation, yes. One can let it stand a while or boil it to remove chlorine. However, chloramine may not leave the water that easy. This describes many ways to remove it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramine or google it to learn more.
I know you know this and it's annoying to keep repeating it... but we are at a dead end, it appears, my friend... We can only go by what you describe is happening to your fish, but the reasons for problems with fish vary greatly and this is a highly inefficient way to go. I earnestly suggest to consider again finding them the right home, as you intended at the beginning, instead of building a bigger tank for them in your garage.
You cannot smell ammonia at the levels we are talking about. Usually the tank water has a little smell but it should not be strong. Strong smell usually (but not always) means there is problem that may or may not have to do with the cycling. Does it smell like rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide)?
Yes, do the biggest water changes you can afford, as stated 50%-75% twice weekly. It is even needless to say that one must use the water conditioner with large water changes (on any municipal water). With 5% daily changes, maybe not, but in your situation, yes. One can let it stand a while or boil it to remove chlorine. However, chloramine may not leave the water that easy. This describes many ways to remove it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramine or google it to learn more.
