ammonia spike

[DEBBIEINNEWROC]

Hi everyone-
Well I thought I was doing good....Sunday was my scheduled 2 gallon water change which I did. Since I am overstocked 2 gallon changes twice a week?
I tested the water on Monday and found ammonia.
Nitrite and Nitrate readings are fine. Tested everything on Thursday and everything was fine. I did another water change Monday and vacuumed the gravel. I did not vacuum on Sunday. After I did the vacuuming and water change again - Ammonia was zero....Did this happen because I did not vacuum the prior day? probably overfeeding?? I have read and read and read and I get so much different information on everything that I am becoming confused again. Tonight after work when I check the water again and if I find ammonia - do I do another 2 gallon water change? vacuum where I left off? Does the carbon portion of the filter have any effect? I have not touched it - The aquaclear was set up on 1/7. I have read so many different things on changing portions of the filter also. Don't know what is the right thing to do. Change the carbon portion now? I am currently setting up the 29 gallon I got on Sunday and am depressed now that I found this ammonia. Please bear with me with all of these questions. thanks again, Debbie

[DEBBIEINNEWROC]

Just to let you know - I checked ammonia before work this morning and it is now zero....so now just keep monitoring it every other day?? :confused:

[DEBBIEINNEWROC]

I found this info on aquariumfish.net - is this correct?



Make Regular Partial Water Changes. Your fish need fresh water. Your fish can’t live forever in the same old water. One of the Seven Essentials of Keeping Fish is to regularly remove some of the old water and replace it with fresh safe water. This is called a Regular Partial Water Change.

How Much Water Should be Replaced? If you have a Fish Bowl, twice a week change 15% to 20% of the water. You can't use tap water straight from the faucet. Click here for the details on how to change water in your Fish Bowl.

If you have an Aquarium or Pond, twice a week remove 15% to 20% of the water and replace that water with fresh tap water from the faucet. You don't need to add Water Conditioner to the new water when you replace 20% or less. Click here for more information about Water Conditioner.

But replacing more than 20% of the water during one day is risky, even when you add Water Conditioner. Click here for more information on how to measure 20%. Click on the items in the list below for more details about changing water.


One of my questions is - no water conditioner when doing a water change??

[AngelMom]

It could be a number of things, or a combination. What was the actual ammonia level? If it was very low (I suspect it was since the subsequent water change took care of it) it's probably not a big issue right now.

You didn't mention if you used a dechlorinator, but I will assume you did.......does your tap water have chloramines? If so, does your dechlorinator break them down? You can get an ammonia reading from the breakdown of the chloramines if you test too close to the water change (I recommend waiting at least 8 hours) as the breakdown process frees and then neutralizes the chlorine, but leaves a small amount of ammonia in the free state in the water.

Over feeding can also cause it......either directly from the leftover food breaking down or from a higher level of fish excretions. Since you are overstocked and the vacuuming seemed to help, this is the most likely explanation.

I would recommend continuing with the twice weekly water changes and monitor the ammonia level daily. If the ammonia starts to come back, you can do additional water changes as necessary until the new tank is ready to go.

On the changes themselves.........I recommend minimum weekly 15%-20% changes for a smaller tank (less than 30 gallons) that is not overstocked. If you have a tank over 30 gallons, you can extend that to 25%-30% every two weeks IF the tank parameters are stable and weekly testing is done. Overstocked tanks need twice the recommended maintenance.

Always use a good water conditioner. Adding tap water directly without neutralizing the chlorine and heavy metals can be deadly to the fish.

Good luck!

[DEBBIEINNEWROC]

Hi - Thanks for all your information. It is greatly appreciated - I guess I am a paranoid fish keeper.
I use Aqua Plus when I do water changes. I usually put in about 1/2 capful per gallon change. Is it possible to use too much of this conditioner?
I just hope I don't have the same problems with the 29 once it gets going. You know that I will be letting you guys know...LOL

[AngelMom]

I suppose it would be possible to use too much conditioner, but I would think it would take more than twice the dose (maybe much more) to cause problems. If you are dosing as recommended on the bottle (or close to it) it should be fine.

[DEBBIEINNEWROC]

Well it says 1-2 capfuls per 10 gallons depending on what you are treating for. So I have been treating for the entire tank. 1 capful when I replace 2 gallons. Am I just suppose to be treating for the 2 gallons? Ut oh..... :eek:

[crazyred]

It would take tons of that stuff to OD. You only need to treat the incoming water, but it's not going to hurt to treat the entire tank. Put this one to bed. ;)

[Buddha_Red]

exactly, do not worry about stress coat or a declorinator OD'ing. measure as best as you can and call it done. I always treat the whole tank since i python it.

[DEBBIEINNEWROC]

Thanks - B.Red did you ever see the pic I finally posted?