Whats the easiest way to reduce ammonia?

Question

In my 20 gallon tank, i've already done 2 water changes this week and my ammonia level is still at 1 ppm. What are the best products to reduce my ammonia level to 0 ppm. (I've already reduced feeding and vaccumed the gravel)

Answer 1

It is a mantra spoken by all involved in the fishkeeping hobby: "water quality, water quality, water quality." The novice aquarist is told by the advanced hobbyist, store employees, equipment manufacturers and magazine writers, water quality is the number one factor that determines your success in this hobby..and this same water quality is the key to reduce amonia...change water, change again...again..and again, but never more than 50% at one go.

Answer 2

Stop adding all the balancers and ammonia removers and any other chemical besides water de-chlorinator. Adding all the chemicals can cause more problems than it fixes. All you need is simple water changes. A lot of them until the tank cycles and then on a weekly basis. Good water quality is actually very easy to maintain and all you really need is water changes. Even though your tank is new, you need to be doing water changes pretty much daily at this point. Yes, it will take longer for your tank to cycle but it is the ONLY way to keep your fish from getting sick. Ammonia removers will screw up your cycle since ammonia is needed for the good bacteria to grow in your filter (I assume you have a filter, if not, get one). A PH that isn't ideal is better than one that fluctuates because you're adding chemicals to try to make it ideal. This is especially true if you want to keep shrimp because they're sensitive to water quality. Hold off on getting any more shrimp until your tank is cycled (ammonia and nitrite both reading 0 and nitrates 20 or less) or they're likely to just die again. Oh, and the ONLY way to keep nitrates low is water changes.. Better to get used to doing them now and not have problems with your fish poisoning themselves with nitrates after you've had the tank going and everything seems fine for weeks (or even months depending on how hardy your fish are).

Answer 3

There is no product better than a water change. 50% or more will do it. Those things will just lock the ammonia up and the tank will be difficult to cycle. The only temporary thing I would use is zeolite. If you are using salt in the tank, you shouldn't use zeo lite. If there is no salt, put the recommended amount in a nylon sock in the filter. Leave in no more than 3 weeks and toss out. If the ammonia falls near to zero, remove it. I would only use it in an emergency. Sometimes when you first set up a tank you may have to change water daily or every other day. Leave the filter alone for the first 6 weeks. You're tank will cycle faster this way. Three weeks max if you do it right.

Answer 4

I assume you have a new tank and that it hasn't cycled yet. The best course of action is to continue doing water changes. Do a 20-25% water change every day or two depending on the level of ammonia and wait out the cycling process. The trick is to keep a little ammonia in the tank but not too much for the fish to tolerate.

I wouldn't suggest you use and ammonia lowering chemicals as the majority of them will interfere with the cycling process. I'm not referring to the bacterial supplements mentioned above, those are totally different.

MM

Answer 5

The easiest way to reduce ammonia is to not over stock, not over feed, properly filter, and to properly cycle your tank. Short of that water changes are easiest. There are a number of chemical treatments. These work, but tend to disrupt the proper development of the biological filter.

Answer 6

It is a new tank? It has to cycle. This takes time. 4-6 weeks is not uncommon. You should continue with small water changes every few days. Too much, too often will slow the cycle down.
Hagen Cycle or API StressZyme are products that contain bacteria spores that once added to your tank, activate and reduce cycle times about 30%. The is a refrigerated product called Bio-Spira that supposedly will cycle a tank in a few days.

Answer 7

there is water conditioner that reduces chlorihe , ammonia, and other heavy metals. i recommened any brand water condittioner. look below for water contidors. (the top selers are usualy good)
also you should get a bio wheel filter. its really good for fish ^^ it can reduce your time changing water all the time and treating it. it reduces ALOT of ammonia and give alot of oxygen to it it has 3 stges of cleaning which is mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration.
the penguin, emperor, eclispe, or ANY Bio-Wheel filter is WONDERFUL

Answer 8

they sell ammo rocks, they absorb ammonia and if their big their a pretty decoration, when the rocks get dark its time to replace them they also sell ammo rocks that are granuals, that you add right in the filter, keep vacuming and replacing a quarter of the water at a time, if you change the water alot it will stress out the fish, partial water changes are fine

Answer 9

Do you use a water purifier cleanser? It's drops you add to your water every time you change it. I forgot the name but easy to find if your looking in the fish or aquarium department.

Answer 10

I use this stuff called " Aqua Pure: Purifying Blend" from a company called HBH. This works very well I use it for my tank.