So a couple weeks ago a friend of mine bought a used tank complete with fish, I explained the cycle process and since he did replace the gravel and the tank was broke down for a couple days we figured it may have to cycle again plus we dont know the condition of the cycle from the previous owner. Well he got 2 african cichlids with the tank, not sure of the species, the tank has been set up since labor day. I was over his house tonight and his ammonia readings were well above 8ppm, no nitrites and some nitrates. I figured he had screwed up the test some how since the fish are still alive but nope he did it right, I watched. With all the preaching we as a group do about water parameters how the heck are these 2 fish still alive, with 8ppm of ammonia, now our tap water in the areas we live average 1 to 2ppm of ammonia straight out of the tap. He used ammolock right after he set it up and I know ammolock will screw up the readings but thats been 3 weeks ago, could the ammolock still be throwing off his readings? He said the Nitrites were around .25 and the nitrates were around 10 and he is very meticulous so I know he tested them right. Any ideas. He hasnt done a water change in 2 days and the reading hasnt changed even with a water change.
