stargazer Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 still have a problem, am doing 30% water change daily. after a couple hours ammonia up to 2 ppm. I cleaned the gravel, pulled out driftwood cleaned under that, found some decaying food there, also took apart filter, found a chunk of food there also. also added chemical that changes ammonia to ammoniam. anything else i can do. It's a 30 gal tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 This is the tank that had the filter off for a day+ isn't it? It's going to have to cycle again. Cleaning out the rubbish in the tank will help. The ammonia treatment will help. Extra water changes will help. Feeding less untill the filter starts working again will help. Moving some fish to another healthy tank will help. Between all those things you should be able to save the situation Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Ammonium shows up on ammonia tests. Using products like 'Ammo-Lock' etc to convert ammonia to harmless ammonium means the bacteria have nothing/less to eat, so they don't develop, so the tank doesn't cycle quite right if at all. Depending on your fish load and their value alters my recommendations, but I'd be looking towards removing the ammonia remover/locker and letting the tanks filter cycle (bacteria to grow). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Ammonia is a pretty soluble gas that reacts with water to form ammonium hydroxide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Ammonia is a pretty soluble gas that reacts with water to form ammonium hydroxide. This only happens at acidic pH levels though right? or am I wrong on that Edit: Great place to read about ammonia in aquaria http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/water/ammonia.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Stop adding chemicals and let the tank cope on its own (with the water changes of course) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Ammonia can be converted to ammonium or in the free ammonia state it can be driven off with aeration like chlorine. It is about concentrations and balance. I find most tanks turn acid as time goes on. There is a lot of chemistry going on in a fish tank and the reactions are all inter related and not straight foreward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Forget all the chemicals. You need to add back the bacteria you've killed off. Clean the tank (done?), do a water change, and add bacteria (cycle / filterstart, etc.), wait. Once you can measure nitrite and nitrate you are on your way. Once you can measure ONLY NITRATE, you are ready to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Regular water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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