danielled8

I am wondering if anyone can help me i have a 35 litre tank with 2 platy's , 5 neon tetras and 1 algae eating fish. i have had the tank set up since the 31st of june 09. i can't seem to get the ammonia levels down i haven't fed my fish in a week and done part water changes every day for 7 days. i have one small plant an a ornament in there it sits on about 25 degrees in temperture. i don't know what to do next?? the water changes have definetely brought the ammonia levels down but not low enough and also one of my platy's gills are quit red?

Ammonia- 0.25
pH. 7.0
nitrite- 0

matt6765

Keep changing water and buy some ammonia netrulizer stuff

danielled8

but should i start feeding them again like normal cause thats when my ammonia levels go high?

Lucy

Hi welcome to Fish Lore
When did you start your tank? lol, It's not June 31, 2009 yet.

What kind of algea eater do you have? If it's a common pleco they get really big and produce alot of waste. Too much for your size tank.

You may be feeding too much. Fish only need a pinch of food. And yes, feed them, 7 days is a long time to go without feeding.

matt6765

yea feed them normal, buy some ammonia stuff, and change the water often

aquarist48

Hello. First, feed your fish! Continue doing 30 to 50% daily water changes. Add some Prime or Amquel +. Prime and Amquel+ will detoxify the ammonia for about a 24 hour period until it's time for the next water change. These two chemicals turn the ammonia into ammonium which is not toxic but only for those 24 hours. You will still get readings of ammonia once added but like I said it's actually ammonium and not toxic to your fish.

Lucy

Be very careful when recommending 'ammonia stuff'
some products remove all the ammonia the bacteria need and you could kill the cycle.

Try Prime, it's a water conditioner that'll detox the ammonia for 24 hours, not remove the ammonia.

matt6765

sorry I use AmQuel but I forgot what it was called so I just said ammonia stuff

danielled8

i meant may 31 lol it is a sucking loach i think

danielled8

i am also putting stability which is a new tank stabilazation system thing...

Lucy

lol, Thanks.
Do you have a nitrate reading? I'm wondering if your tank is cycled.
Sucking loaches can grow to about 6 inches, too big for your size tank.
Since the ammonia goes up when you feed them, feed them daily but less. Their stomachs are only as big as their eye.

IMO Stability isn't going to allow your tank to cycle. It's something you have to add with every water change.

danielled8

no i don't have a nitrate kit but can you tell from that reading can you? ill get one tommorow

Lucy

The nitrate reading will tell us if the ammonia and nitrite and being processed by the bacteria.
However, since your using stabilty these readings may not give an accurate picture of how the natural bacteria is processing the toxins.

danielled8

so i don't use stability anymore?

Lucy

Some members like it. Personally, I'd stop using it. I'm not a big fan of any bacterial additive that you have to add with every water change, that can add up ($) over the life of your tank. I only use a dechlorinator.
Allow the bacteria to grow naturally, it'll be able to sustain your tank.

I'd suggest getting a nitrate test, continue daily water changes until your readings are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite with 5-10 nitrate.

danielled8

Algae Eater - Chinese that is the fish i have they say they are aggresive fish when adults?

Lucy

They can, yes.
Some say it has to do with lack of proper diet and they go after the slime coat of other fish. Here's some info.
sucking loach
Chinese Algae Eater

You might want to see if you can re-home him, he'll get too big for your tank and that can also cause aggression.

When they're young, they look so small and innocent, don't they?

danielled8

yes they do .. what would you suggest i get for an algae eater?

Lucy

You shouldn't really need one. Algae can usually be controlled with less light etc.
Once you get your cycle stabalized perhaps a snail?
Ottos do a great job on the algae, but they're very sensitive and should only be added to a very well established tank.

danielled8

my tank is still high up in the ammonia levels it reached like 8 so i started doing water changes again and got some API stress zyme or something that i have addded my readings are
ph- 6.9
nitrite- 0
ammonia- 3
nitrate- 0

can anyone please help me i am trying everything ??

Lucy

Stress Zyme is like stability. Most of the bacterial additives on the market won't allow your tank to cycle properly.
They'll use up the ammonia the bacteria needs to develop naturally. The additives die off quickly and the ammonia spikes back up.
I believe that and being overstocked is why you're having issues.

danielled8

well my algae eater died not sure why so now i have 2 platys and 5 neons so i shouldnt use the stress zyme should i just wait for it to cycle and keep doing part water changes every day? i

Lucy

Sorry about your algae eater.
Yup, stop using stress zyme. Daily water changes, no bacterial additives. You can use Prime for your water conditioner, that'll detox the ammonia for 24 hrs between water changes.

There's a product called Tetra Safe Start, it's a bacterial additive, but you only have to add it once because it contains the right kind of bacteria.
Several members have had good luck with that.

Good luck, I know it's frustrating.

danielled8

it is ill let you know how i go