Propper ammonia level?
- Thread starter AVenom
- Start date
The peacock didn't make it.....He basically rotted(gross I know). His fins just looked like they were eaten away
The reason I started to get worried about the others is one of my female kenyi had a single white spot. Of course I assume it's ick. Well come to find out I'm just paranoid. The white spot is gone today.
Our ammonia is at 0.25....I have some AmQuel+ but haven't added it yet.
And no they're not gasping at the top.
The reason I started to get worried about the others is one of my female kenyi had a single white spot. Of course I assume it's ick. Well come to find out I'm just paranoid. The white spot is gone today.
Our ammonia is at 0.25....I have some AmQuel+ but haven't added it yet.
And no they're not gasping at the top.
You might want to save these links in your favorites for future reference and maybe have a head start if you suspect illness in your tank...
http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#External
http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/diseases.html
http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml
http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#External
http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/diseases.html
http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml
ammonia should always be at 0ppm
nitrate should be fairly low (0-30ppm)
temp for a tropical freshwater tank should be around 78 degrees
the best way to get rid of ammonia is to wait it out. eventually, enough good bacteria will grow to break down the ammonia as fast as your fish produce it. if this is a new tank and hasnt been cycled, I would buy a bacteria additive product like cycle or bio-spira.
I usually wait a few hours after a water change before testing. although a 10% water change isnt very much. 20-25% would be better.
nitrate should be fairly low (0-30ppm)
temp for a tropical freshwater tank should be around 78 degrees
the best way to get rid of ammonia is to wait it out. eventually, enough good bacteria will grow to break down the ammonia as fast as your fish produce it. if this is a new tank and hasnt been cycled, I would buy a bacteria additive product like cycle or bio-spira.
I usually wait a few hours after a water change before testing. although a 10% water change isnt very much. 20-25% would be better.
See now I'm confused..lol
I just changed to sand. So I removed all the gravel.
I was told to do water changes everyday over on cichlid-forums.....
then at the store just now they told me the ammonia level is high, and I shouldn't do water changes.
I just started my 7 day melafix treatment....so I should wait the 7 days to do a water change?
What about cleaning the filter?
I didn't clean it because I wanted to keep the bacteria in it after the switch.
I just changed to sand. So I removed all the gravel.
I was told to do water changes everyday over on cichlid-forums.....
then at the store just now they told me the ammonia level is high, and I shouldn't do water changes.
I just started my 7 day melafix treatment....so I should wait the 7 days to do a water change?
What about cleaning the filter?
I didn't clean it because I wanted to keep the bacteria in it after the switch.
OK ammonia should be zero always. Any = a disaster. To get it there you need to get your bacteria working, but f you wait for them to grow you might kill all your fish in the meantime so keep going with daily 10 or 20% changes.
IF you decide to clean your filter , and if you think it's clogged up you should, do it in some old tank water you're changing out and put the old media back in.
African cichlids are not good in poor water quality. Personally I would give the melafix a miss right now, it's pretty useless anyway.
IF you decide to clean your filter , and if you think it's clogged up you should, do it in some old tank water you're changing out and put the old media back in.
African cichlids are not good in poor water quality. Personally I would give the melafix a miss right now, it's pretty useless anyway.
lol...all part of the fishy jagon i guess... 
as has been stated before...
make sure you squeeze out the filter in tank water...
if you do it under the tap...bacteria will die...
i pop a couple of pints into a jug...
and squeeze the filter in my hand about four times...
then i put the 'sponge' back into the system as quickly as possible...
[the water i then ditch down the sink...mucky poo in suspension]...
i want to make sure my bacteria survive...
it's all about those crazy little bugs...
keeping the water good...de-chlorination...de-chlorAmine-ation...
de-gassing...temp...ph...hardness...nitrogen cycle...
we're not really pet owners...we're bloody chemists...
all the best dude...good luck with your tank...
as has been stated before...
make sure you squeeze out the filter in tank water...
if you do it under the tap...bacteria will die...
i pop a couple of pints into a jug...
and squeeze the filter in my hand about four times...
then i put the 'sponge' back into the system as quickly as possible...
[the water i then ditch down the sink...mucky poo in suspension]...
i want to make sure my bacteria survive...
it's all about those crazy little bugs...
keeping the water good...de-chlorination...de-chlorAmine-ation...
de-gassing...temp...ph...hardness...nitrogen cycle...
we're not really pet owners...we're bloody chemists...
all the best dude...good luck with your tank...
thanks again man.....
When we bought our house the fishtank was already built in, and we thought it was really cool.
Didn't realize what it really takes to keep the tank up.
Unfortunatly for us, the previous owners didn't ever clean the tank(or so it looked) So I've had to try to start over.
Thankfully this site is here....I've been on other sites(cichlid-forum) and they suck. I can never get help, and it's so hard to find info.
When we bought our house the fishtank was already built in, and we thought it was really cool.
Didn't realize what it really takes to keep the tank up.
Unfortunatly for us, the previous owners didn't ever clean the tank(or so it looked) So I've had to try to start over.
Thankfully this site is here....I've been on other sites(cichlid-forum) and they suck. I can never get help, and it's so hard to find info.
no worries...
not a bad thing to start over...
it means that you get to do it right...
and you also get to make it your own...cool...
stay here dude...all the info is at hand...
tanks are only difficult at the start...
once they're up and running it's just weekly water changes...
and monthly filter maintenance [or thereabouts]...
all the best...and again...good luck with your tank...
not a bad thing to start over...
it means that you get to do it right...
and you also get to make it your own...cool...
stay here dude...all the info is at hand...
tanks are only difficult at the start...
once they're up and running it's just weekly water changes...
and monthly filter maintenance [or thereabouts]...
all the best...and again...good luck with your tank...