Help! Ammonia Spike!

I have a 20 gallon tall tank. Just did my first water change yesterday due to ammonia staying between .25-.5 ppm. (I don't have tests for nitrite or nitrate yet, will pick them up this weekend) pH is 7.6+ and today ammonia spiked to 2 ppm!! Fish all seem fine...Energetic, eating, etc...Sailfin molly even seemed much better! I was very surprised to see the ammonia this high...Any suggestions??

 

Can you list your fish stocking?

I would do larger water changes to keep your ammonia below 0.25 ppm while your tank cycles. Definitely get the nitrite and nitrate tests as soon as possible. That'll help us see where you are in your cycle.

 

First thing to do is a partial water change about 30% perhaps and make sure you replace it with dechlorinated water if you are using tap water. Try to clean most of the organic matter that shouldn't be there(feces,uneaten fish food, dead bodies,e.t.c).


And what other fish do you have in the tank? I'm just curios sorry

 

What kind of test kit are you using? If it's the test strips they can be unreliable and I recommend the API master freshwater test kit. Another water change is needed, two 50% back to back should get you down to a reasonably level. With fish in cycling I try to keep the ammonia below 1.0, to low of ammonia takes forever to cycle to high will kill your fish and your BB. If you have a friend or coworker that keeps aquariums you may be able to get some filter media from them to seed your tank to speed the process. If that isn't a option try to pick up some Tetra safe start + and follow the instructions on the back of the bottle.

If TSS+ or seeding is not possible then keep a close eye on the levels and continue doing water changes to keep your levels down. It can seem like forever and a losing battle but keep your head up and you will come out ok.

 

My fish stock is 3 platies and 1 sailfin molly.

I will do another WC asap (I replaced with dechlorinated tap water at the same temp as the aquarium water the first time)

I use liquid tests but only have ammonia and pH atm, but I will get the master test this weekend... Unfortunately, no co-workers with aquariums to help seed but I did use TSS+ when I started the tank plus just put seachem stability today per the directions after a water change (1 cap per 20 gallons after water change)

 

I would rehome the sailfin molly - the tank isn't large enough.

Just keep up with large water changes to keep ammonia low and dosing Stability.

 

Yeah, that was the plan for the molly...I was ill-adviced from my LFS when I got him and plan on returning him since I have no one else to take him...Thank you for the help!

 

Just tested ammonia today....Now it's at 4! Just completed at 50% water change...Added a water conditioner plus seachem stability after the change...Will test in 24 hours for an accurate reading...I hope my fish make it

Edit: All of the fish, (platies and molly) are still very energetic and eating well as of this WC, so I'm staying hopeful!

 

It's simple math at 4ppm 50% will only drop the ammonia to 2ppm. Do another 50% and test again, 24 hrs from now the ammonia will be back up.

 

I would even do a few 50% or a few larger changes in a row. As stated, you want to keep the ammonia at or below 0.25 ppm.

Alternatively, you can use Seachem Prime and dose daily to protect your fish from up to 1 ppm ammonia. If you have more than that in your tank, you'll need to do large water changes to get it below 1 ppm and then dose Seachem Prime.