Huge ammonia problem solution?

Question

I have a 47 gal column tank that I could not get right. Was setting it up for African Ciclids. Could never get the ammonia under control. Bought a very small air pump so I could put fish in a bucket in case I had to do a masive water change, tank cleaning. Didn't have time right away so I just put the stone aireator into the tank to the bottom. Within a week the water was clear and ammonia almost zero. Now I have it on a small cheap timer. Runs about 14 hours a day, off at night. I am thinking that it increased circulation at bottom of tank and increased oxygen helping bio-filter get established. Dual bio-wheel filter system. No more problems. Any body else with simular experience?

Been keeping a close eye on nitrites (zero) and nitrates (slighlty elevated but not seriously). PH is a dead-on 8.2.

Answer 1

It sounds like your tank just took a long time to cycle. If the ammonia numbers have fallen now is the time to monitor the Nitrites,they are just as toxic as ammonia. The Nitrite should spike and then go down to zero in a period of 3 to 4 weeks.
The air stone is definitely helping because both of the beneficial species of bacteria (Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter) require oxygen to do their work. No harm would be done by letting the air stone run around the clock.

Answer 2

Ammonia analyzing in the presence of a nitrate analyzing (without nitrite analyzing) in many situations shows overfeeding,overstocking,or underfiltration. If the ammonia attempt equipment exams out as ok (no longer expired) .... i might tend in direction of underfiltration .Overstocking with the blend given might matter specifically on the size of the Angelfish and different occupants. As fish strengthen so does the bio-mass and the waste stages ... a clear out "that gets you" by utilising while they're small may be thoroughly inadequate as they mature (continuously clear out a tank as though the occupants are adults from day #a million). The extreme ammonia analyzing can be to each and all the climate Black Kat talked approximately (no longer being concerned approximately perfect answer,only including info) ... yet i might surely seem on the filtration point,which IMO is an excellent contributing difficulty because of the fact,mutually as technically no longer overstocked,you're teetering on the sting. For reference you have no longer have been given much less ammonia in acidic water ... that is in basic terms much less poisonous for the reason that is tied up as ammonium (which some kits study/some do no longer) instead of unfastened ammonia ... so the acidic pH is actual what's saving the fish. Be VERY careful with water alterations in this occasion because of the fact a speedy shift to a extra alkaline pH will unencumber ammonium as unfastened ammonia rapidly. the main concern is honestly verifying the accuracy of the ammonia attempt equipment first ... and verifying whether the water business corporation has been "monkeying" with their chemistry and ingredients (an project-free telephone call to the municipal water business corporation is all that is needed there).