I have an established 20 gallon with 6 neons and 3 ottos. I want to add more but I have a little ammonia. I haven't lost any fish and everyone seems happy. I feed every few days or so, do weekly water changes, and use fake plants. Is there anyway besides using chemicals, that could lower it? I thought I was doing everything right.
2007-06-30 08:02:45 · 13 answers · asked by Hinderluvr 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
I know I am NOT overfeeding. I only feed every few days and even then, not very much. I wonder if I'm underfeeding sometimes...
2007-06-30 08:34:04 · update #1
Thats where I got it tested, the pet store. The guy said ammonia was normal and not to worry about it but I know better than that...
2007-06-30 08:35:24 · update #2
You're right not to believe that petstore guy! Ammonia is not normal and it's very bad for your fish.
If you have ammonia, your tank is going through a mini-cycle for some reason. Did you just change your filters or gravel? You're definitely not overstocked with those fish. You can feed everyday if you want.. just don't feed so much that extra drifts down into the gravel. The fish should be able to eat all of it when you feed them.
I'm glad you don't want to use chemicals to lower the ammonia. It's lazy, not good for the fish, and more expensive to boot! Do a 25% water change. If there's still ammonia, keep doing that daily until the cycle is stable again. You should invest in a test kit of your own. They're not that expensive, especially compared to driving to the store all the time to get your water tested with gas prices what they are!
2007-06-30 18:01:50 · answer #1 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How long has it been since you added the other fish? Even if you did a fishless cycle, if you added most of the fish at one time, or added a groups within the past week, you might still get an ammonia spike. If it's been several weeks since the last fish were added, I'd suspect the test chemicals are going bad. If you can take a sample of your water to a pet/fish store, they could test the sample to confirm your results.
Until you know what's happening with the ammonia, I woudn't add additional fish - this would only create more ammonia from the additional wastes - and I believe you're still thinking about another group of schooling fish, and hatchets were the last I saw you had mentioned.
Water changes are the best way of keeping the ammonia at a tolerable range (if you indeed have it). You can also increase the temperature of the tank and this will speed up the bacterial repeoduction so the ammonia is converted more quickly.
2007-06-30 15:13:40 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you have ammonia in a tank then 1. it's not completely cycled and established or 2. your way over feeding.
Water changes are the best answer for controlling ammonia. Don;t use chemicals, just get the ammonia out with water changes and allow it time for the bacteria to catch up to the ammonia load before you add any more fish. At this point for your tank more fish would mean more ammonia and stress or kill all or your fish.
MM
2007-06-30 15:11:55 · answer #3 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are overfeeding.
It does not matter how often you feed the fish, the important aspect to monitor is how much foo dis being put into the tank at any one feeding. If the fish can't get the food before it goes to the bottom of the tank or the filter, you are overfeeding. It is the only cause of ammonia in an established tank with the light fish load that you have.
2007-06-30 15:13:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You're off to a great start! Neons and Oto cats don't need very much food at one time, but they need to eat often. What's probably happening is that there's leftover food when you feed. This food will rot, causing some ammonia to be present in the tank, even with a good filter and water changes. I would feed your fish every day, but cut the amount of food in half for each feeding.
2007-06-30 15:24:29 · answer #5 · answered by scalestfw 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you vacuuming the gravel when you are doing your water changes weekly? Your fish should be fed 1-2 times a day(small amounts). If the guy who tested your water said there is 0 ammonia you should be fine! You should also invest in a freshwater ammonia and nitrate testing kit! That way you can keep track your self! Vacuum, this will help remove waste that has settled in your gravel! Good luck!
2007-06-30 15:52:59 · answer #6 · answered by jra60411 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have a filter with biological filtration? If so, the bacteria should consume it. Biological filtration is a key element to removing nitrite and ammonia. Live plants will also feed on ammonia, but very little. Other than biological filtration, water changes, and live plants, chemicals also remove ammonia.
~ZTM
2007-06-30 20:34:30 · answer #7 · answered by ZooTycoonMaster 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to establish biological filtration with nitrobacter and nitrosomonas colonies and real plants. Also test the water that you're putting into the tank. It could for some reason have a higher than normal ammonia reading.
2007-06-30 15:36:52 · answer #8 · answered by magnum opus 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a cycled tank with a working filter you should have zero ammonia.
It's very disturbing that you'd have any ammonia in an established tank. I suggest you have your water retested. Perhaps your test is inaccurate?
What kind of filter do you have on the tank?
2007-06-30 15:06:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can buy ammonia chips that are like charcoal but they are white -- get a little fabric bag at the store or a piece of panty hose and tie some up and drop it in your filter. it works fairly well and doesn't add any chemicals to your water.
2007-06-30 15:48:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋