scotty81 Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I am currently haveing problems with amonia, over the last 4 days the levels have slowly risen to 1. How can I fix this. I am concerned as I have more fish on order and they are likely to arrive in the next 5 to 10 days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiel Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I am currently haveing problems with amonia, over the last 4 days the levels have slowly risen to 1. How can I fix this. I am concerned as I have more fish on order and they are likely to arrive in the next 5 to 10 days Hi Scotty Go to a decent pool shop and buy a bag of zeolite. Put a few handfulls in a stocking and put if where there is decent water flow. Ammonia will be gone in about 3 hours. Michiel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathobes Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I am currently haveing problems with amonia, over the last 4 days the levels have slowly risen to 1. How can I fix this. I am concerned as I have more fish on order and they are likely to arrive in the next 5 to 10 days Hi Scotty Go to a decent pool shop and buy a bag of zeolite. Put a few handfulls in a stocking and put if where there is decent water flow. Ammonia will be gone in about 3 hours. Michiel Michiel is correct. Although I would not stress if it's not completley gone in 3 hours, I would give it overnight. Also I incorporate zeolite into my hang on filter, if possible I would reccomend you do this to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty81 Posted March 14, 2010 Author Share Posted March 14, 2010 I am currently haveing problems with amonia, over the last 4 days the levels have slowly risen to 1. How can I fix this. I am concerned as I have more fish on order and they are likely to arrive in the next 5 to 10 days Hi Scotty Go to a decent pool shop and buy a bag of zeolite. Put a few handfulls in a stocking and put if where there is decent water flow. Ammonia will be gone in about 3 hours. Michiel Michiel is correct. Although I would not stress if it's not completley gone in 3 hours, I would give it overnight. Also I incorporate zeolite into my hang on filter, if possible I would reccomend you do this to. Thanks will give it a go. Do I just leave it there till the level goes away??? Will it affect the fish??? My filter sits at the top of my tank it has 4 sections, if I have room to put a stocking with some of this stuff in it, what section should it go in, ie first or last etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonauv Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 How long has the tank been running? Is it a rift lake cichlid tank with high pH? What is the pH? Zeolite/pimre is a bandaid solution and you should be finding out what is causing it. If you are cycliing your tank still ammonia is only the start of your problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathobes Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I am currently haveing problems with amonia, over the last 4 days the levels have slowly risen to 1. How can I fix this. I am concerned as I have more fish on order and they are likely to arrive in the next 5 to 10 days Hi Scotty Go to a decent pool shop and buy a bag of zeolite. Put a few handfulls in a stocking and put if where there is decent water flow. Ammonia will be gone in about 3 hours. Michiel Michiel is correct. Although I would not stress if it's not completley gone in 3 hours, I would give it overnight. Also I incorporate zeolite into my hang on filter, if possible I would reccomend you do this to. you can get zeolite from your lfs, it's usually little rockS that you place in a mesh bag then inside your filter. I think it lasts about 6 months, I've had zeolite in my filter and never had a trace of ammonia. You can also get it in pad form, just like foam pads that you get for mechanical filtration except they are impregnated with zeolite. I love the stuff it works great, none of my tanks are without it. Thanks will give it a go. Do I just leave it there till the level goes away??? Will it affect the fish??? My filter sits at the top of my tank it has 4 sections, if I have room to put a stocking with some of this stuff in it, what section should it go in, ie first or last etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathobes Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 you can get zeolite from your lfs, it's usually little rockS that you place in a mesh bag then inside your filter. I think it lasts about 6 months, I've had zeolite in my filter and never had a trace of ammonia. You can also get it in pad form, just like foam pads that you get for mechanical filtration except they are impregnated with zeolite. I love the stuff it works great, none of my tanks are without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 How long has the tank been running? Is it a rift lake cichlid tank with high pH? What is the pH? Zeolite/pimre is a bandaid solution and you should be finding out what is causing it. If you are cycliing your tank still ammonia is only the start of your problems. I agree with this. you need to give more details for full help to be given. The Zeolite approach is a filtration angle from a chemical point of view, which will need replacement ($) as times go by. Natural cycling is filtration from a biological angle = free tank cycling. Zeolight will artificially lower your ammonia but take food away from bacteria = prevent/slow/reduce natural cycling. It may be necessary to lower ammonia but keep in mind a daily water change can export ammonia untill levels are under control. Perhaps you should delay the new fish till tank is fully cycled. You should also understand why you have ammonia - is it a new tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 I can only assume this is related to the New 160lt tank post in Cichlid Discussion sect tank thread main points of post raised 25-2-10 tank running 4 days I have two Bristlenose 4 electric yellows and one electric blue water is 7.6 - 7.8 pH March 11 ammonia trace noticed March 13 ammonia increases March 14 ammonia increases seems the tank is going through cycling and has entered the spike period all I can suggest is water changes and keep the pH at the 7.6 reading to reduce the ammonia effect add some zeolite or other ammonia absorbing chemical filter to reduce levels while monitoring then remove the absorbant when the level reduces ........ remember the bacteria need this to establish always tempting to run the tank before it's ready I don't think anyone hasn't been there Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tranced Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 if you can get a good bag of filter squeezings or a handful of substrate from a trusted source it will speed things up drastically. without this you could be spending alot of time doing water changes to keep ammonia and then nitrite under wraps, and may damage your fish regardless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 If the tank is still cycling as Chris suggests, then NO NEW FISH GO INTO THE TANK. It's as simple as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty81 Posted March 16, 2010 Author Share Posted March 16, 2010 If the tank is still cycling as Chris suggests, then NO NEW FISH GO INTO THE TANK. It's as simple as that. Thanks for the replies, Yes I stuffed up by putting fish in to early. They are all still alive at the moment so hopefully I can keep them that way. Didn't have alot of luck finding Zeolite, so have been going about a 40% water change out daily for the last two days. I have the fish I ordered on hold. I have been testing the water twice a day. The fish still have a realy big apetite. Tests this morning show. PH 7.6 Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 5 These tests were done befor the water change Tested water again this arvo and the readings are as follows PH 7.6 Ammonia 0.25-0.5 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 5 It's been a week since I vacuumed the gravel, should I vac it when I do my water change tomorrow or not?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathobes Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Strange that you can't find zeolite, any lfs should hve it. It will help get rid of ammonia through the cycle, which will take alot of stress from your fish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 If the tank is still cycling as Chris suggests, then NO NEW FISH GO INTO THE TANK. It's as simple as that. Thanks for the replies, Yes I stuffed up by putting fish in to early. They are all still alive at the moment so hopefully I can keep them that way. Didn't have alot of luck finding Zeolite, so have been going about a 40% water change out daily for the last two days. I have the fish I ordered on hold. I have been testing the water twice a day. The fish still have a realy big apetite. Tests this morning show. PH 7.6 Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 5 These tests were done befor the water change Tested water again this arvo and the readings are as follows PH 7.6 Ammonia 0.25-0.5 Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 5 It's been a week since I vacuumed the gravel, should I vac it when I do my water change tomorrow or not?? We all make mistakes, the trick is to learn from them which you clearly have Cut down their food, say once every two days till ammonia and nitrite = zero. Less food = less poo = less ammonia/nitrate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty81 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Share Posted March 27, 2010 Just like to say thanks to all who gave advice, my tank has had water chemical levels of PH 7.8, Amonia 0 Nitrite 0 and nitrate 5 for the last 5 days. All fish made it through the crisis!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathobes Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 That's great news, well done mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.