Ammonia Problems, Please Help

[Nicnic1]

I have 2 goldfish, 3 minnow and 1 dino, I moved them from 50L to 150L maybe 5 weeks ago, I used API QUICK START in the tank, conditioned my water, as I believe on the bottle it says you can add fish straight away (I know only brief about the nitrogen cycle) but I waited 24 hours before adding them just in case and let the filter do its thing, I checked the ammonia before adding them and it was at 0... great, couple of days later and its spiked ALOT. I added ammo-lock and did 50% water change as advised, I have been doing 30-50% water change every maybe 5 days (and still adding the quick start) because it just won't go down, I believe even when you use ammo-lock it still comes up positive but its been weeks since I used it. There is evidence of ammonia burn on my fish and I feel so bad and getting so stressed. Nothing is working. I'm going back to the pet store tomorrow and get more ammo-lock as I ran out.
Note I also changed to a bigger filter, and I did stick the other filter sponge in with the bigger one.

 

[Mick Frost]

First off, don't buy more AmmoLock. AmmoLock is for emergency use only, and will not allow your filter to build up bacteria.
What is "a lot" of Ammonia?
Seachem Prime or Tetra SafeStart+ are good alternatives to AmmoLock, but daily water changes are cheaper.
MicrobeLift or Dr Tims (there are others) can kick your cycle into high gear, but rushing it can cause other problems.

 

[mgarza]

Get some " Dr Tim's one and only" it works super fast and is a great product

 

[Nicnic1]

Mick Frost - I use seachem prime whenever I put new water in, I will try to find Micro or Dr Tims when I got to the store tomorrow, I live in Aus so hopefully they stock it. It was pretty green on the chart near the maximum.

 

[mgarza]

I've never had great results with prime.

 

[mattgirl]

Daily water changes need to be done or even more than one time a day until you get that ammonia down to where the Prime can neutralize the rest of it. You need to keep it below 1 pmm for the safety of your fish.

Your cycle needs some ammonia to complete growing enough bacteria to process the ammonia your fish are adding constantly to their water so getting it down to less than 1 will leave enough to feed the cycle. Prime will make that small amount safe for your fish but it will still register on the tests and will still be there in the form that your cycle needs.

Every 5 days or so is not often enough while doing a fish in cycle. It will be once the tank gets cycled and established but not now. You need to get and keep that ammonia down and that may very well mean daily water changes with the stock you have in this tank.

I've never had great results with prime.

Prime is first and foremost a water conditioner with the added benefit of neutralizing low amounts of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. What were you expecting it to do for you that it didn't do?

 

[Nicnic1]

By daily water changes, what percentage should be changed?

 

[Adriifu]

By daily water changes, what percentage should be changed?

50% daily is fine. Once it's below 1 ppm, I'd suggest using Seachem Prime to detoxify it and letting the tank cycle on its own with 25% water changes every other day. I would suggest against having two goldfish in such a small tank, especially with other fish. Minnows and danios need to be in groups of six or more. If you want to keep them, I'd suggest moving the goldfish to a 75-gallon tank and keeping the minnows/danios in the 40-gallon. You can start a different stock there and just make the 75-gallon for goldfish only.

 

[Nicnic1]

Ok I will do that thank you for all your advice I do plan to separate them, we are moving house next month so I wasn't going to bother until then (hassle of moving the water), also the water needs to be under control most importantly

 

[mattgirl]

By daily water changes, what percentage should be changed?

I agree with Adriifu as to 50% each time until you get the ammonia down below 1 but then at least 30% every other day as long as the ammonia stays below 1. Every day if the ammonia keeps going up above 1 each day.

It takes a lot of water changes when doing a fish in cycle if it is being done without bottled bacteria. Some folks have had success when using TSS+ (Tetra Safe Start +) but I am thinking you have too many fish in there to go that route.

 

[Nicnic1]

You guys I am so happy! After 2 weeks of trying it is down to almost nothing! I have just used the prime to detoxify what was left so we should be good to go! Thank you all!

 

[Georgie Girl]

You guys I am so happy! After 2 weeks of trying it is down to almost nothing! I have just used the prime to detoxify what was left so we should be good to go! Thank you all!

Congratulations! And good luck on moving house. I hope all goes swimmingly. (BOOOO!!)

 

[Bradley Moles]

Bio balls are cheap and will help you out a lot with this issue, just shove them in your filter