Ammonia reading

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03-11-2005

Posted by Brian on March 11, 2005, 12:13 pm

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After 3 weeks from a fresh start, I have ammonia of 2.0, nitrite of 0.0.
The nitrite has always been 0.0. I've been adding AmmoLock to remove the
toxicity of the ammonia as I have 4 fish in my 20g tank, but I'm still
getting this reading of 2.0. The AmmoLock label says that the ammonia
reading will still be high but safe. After 3 weeks should'nt this false
ammonia level be gone? Should'nt my biowheel be removing this ammonia?
Should I keep adding AmmoLock til I get a reading of 0?

Thanks,
Brian

Posted by Lisa on March 11, 2005, 12:20 pm

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I'd cut the ammo-lock ASAP and just do water changes. The chemical
interferes with the beneficial bacteria in the bio-wheel, so that it
becomes a vicious cycle - no good bacteria will ever develop to eat the
ammonia as they should. Just keep changing your water (small for
frequent changes - maybe 20% daily) until the ammonia comes down.
Others on this group are more knowledgeable than I am, and can explain
the process better, but this is what I learned in my basic fish-keeping
education attempts.

HTH,

- Lisa

Posted by Brian on March 11, 2005, 1:39 pm

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Would it help if I quit feeding my fish for a few days? How long can the
fish go without eating?

> After 3 weeks from a fresh start, I have ammonia of 2.0, nitrite of 0.0.
> The nitrite has always been 0.0. I've been adding AmmoLock to remove the
> toxicity of the ammonia as I have 4 fish in my 20g tank, but I'm still
> getting this reading of 2.0. The AmmoLock label says that the ammonia
> reading will still be high but safe. After 3 weeks should'nt this false
> ammonia level be gone? Should'nt my biowheel be removing this ammonia?
> Should I keep adding AmmoLock til I get a reading of 0?
>
> Thanks,
> Brian
>

Posted by Ozdude on March 12, 2005, 9:49 am

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> Would it help if I quit feeding my fish for a few days? How long can the
> fish go without eating?

Not more than three days from my experience.

I too am cycling a tank atm, with 5 BATs in it.

I change the water every 2-3 days and feed lightly more frequently, as the
worst thing that could happen is sunken food on the substrate. The BATs are
always hungry so 3 small feeds are given instead of 1 larger one. There
can't be too high' levels of anything in the tank because one of the females
is very round and full of eggs - I've heard these breed easily, but not this
easily in a cycling tank ;) I suspect the tank is past the ammonia stage, or
in the latter stages of it and now I have to really watch out for Nitrite,
or the lot could die.

Be aware also that not feeding the fish doesn't stop ammonia production.
They still piss and poo, respiration across their gills and food that enters
their mouth and is spat out and reconsumed, all produce ammonia.

Safety comes from establishing your filter bacteria as soon as possible, and
staying right away from ammonia detoxification chemicals (which delay your
filter maturation) and be diligent in observing the fish for ammonia stress
(purple or really red gills and hanging near the surface) and changing out
water every two to three days (25-50%).

What you really have to watch out for is Nitrite which is very toxic to
fish, so watch for clamped fins and lethargy after your ammonia starts to
read 0 by itself without any chemical intervention.

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

Posted by Ozdude on March 12, 2005, 9:38 am

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You're holding your cycle back by killing the ammonia with the chemicals.

Do water changing instead and give your filter bacteria time to mature.

You change water every two or three days - 25-50%.

All the best,

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

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