fzrexupru

It was my birthday recently and I was given 12 pencil fish, 6 neon tetras, 2 small synodontis, a small royal pleco, a small golden nugget pleco and 6 assorted small ramerizis. They all went into my 120 gallon (us) tank which has been stable for a year and has about 100 other small fish. A few days later the ammonia went up to 0.4mg/litre, nitrates and nitrites went through the roof too, pH has gone to 8.5. I've done a 20 gallon daily water change for the last week using tap warmed to 74F with "tapsafe" to dechlorinate but the results stay the same and the fish remain unhappy with a number at the surface looking for air and a couple of deaths. I've also been adding ammo lock every couple of days. I haven't messed with the filter. Any ideas how to get the ammonia levels down. I don't want to mess with the ph by adding any other chemicals as I reckon it will just buffer up again. Guy

capekate

Sorry to hear about your problems in the tank. You must have put yourself into a serious mini cycle by adding all those fish at once. Even with the daily water changes, in a tank that large its going to take awhile to get back to normal. Besides the water dechlorinater do you have anything to help detox the ammonia and nitrites such as a product like Prime?
That would help along with the water changes. Best of luck!

agabr123

although it won't be fun, your best bet is going to be to increase the number of gallons that you change daily to at least 40, but 60 would be better (as that would be 50%)

cerianthus

Very odd, IMO. Amt of fish added wasnt that many for 120G, especially if already hold/sustaining 100 fish as you said.

I've added lot more than what you have mentioned in well established tank w/o any ill effects.
When you said pH shot up t 8.5, do you mean pH increased all by itself after the addition of new arrival?
What was pH like before the new arrivals?
Although I like to see lower pH for fish you added but would NOT recommend such action at this point w/o knowing more facts about your tank such as history of recent testing results and type of existing fish before new arivals..

What are the reading of tap water (pH, NH3, NO2)?

fzrexupru

Thanks for all your replies.
I've been doing 50% water changes and the ammonia has come down to about 0.1 but there are a number of still unhappy fish - up at the surface gasping. Haven't messed with the ph. Haven't seen Prime in the UK but I have been adding ammolock - I know it wont reduce the ammonia readings just neutralise it. Haven't had time to test the tapwater. Will get to that at the weekend. Lost a cardinal tetra, a platy and a swordtail in the meantime.
The joys of fishkeeping!

fzrexupru

All good now. Happy fish. Thanks for the advice

Lucy

That's great! What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings now?

agabr123

i'm glad you got your tank sorted out