High ammonia, nitrite and nitrates

Here are the readings of the aquarium.

pH 7.4
Ammonia 8 ppm
Nitrite 2 ppm
Nitrate 40 ppm

I'm honestly tempted to take it down and just be done with it for now. There's no way my little guy can come back here. I don't trust her at all and my mom honestly thinks they dumped alcohol or something in his tank. It absolutely reeks under my desk and I am just heartbroken and discouraged but extremely grateful to have made the right call to take him home where he will be safe. I did test the water at home and it is definitely an issue with the tank here, definitely not him pooping or my feeding as he was producing little ammonia by himself.

I am so thanksful for you guys helping me make the right call and bringing him home. I would have come back to a dead baby and that would make me so depressed I can't even.

edit: sorry idk why the bottom paragraph didn't go through

 

Ugh, I'm sorry to hear that

What does it smell of? Maybe there's a clue there.

 

It honestly smells musky? or hot? Idk how other to describe it other than smelling really really moist and damp under here like someone didn't shower... like when you walk in our room it just hits you with feeling hot and damp idk....

 

Hmm, well ammonia levels at that amount would stink really bad. I'd do 100% water change, clean up the gravel and re-fill if you want to re-cycle it. You can always just wait until you move into your new place to bring him back down.

He definitely would have died so you made the right choice!

 

Would the glass itself stink really bad if I were to just drain it for now and clean it later? I don't have a ton of time because I have biology (but I want to nap right now I feel slow today because of the 3 hour bus).

Would the media still be safe? i'm not sure if she messed with it again, is it typical for ammonia to go that high in a few days? Also should I clean the decor?

 

For now I'd at least rinse it honestly to get the smell out. Toss the media if you're not going to have a fish in there for a few weeks anyways. When you bring him back down, just bring his filter at your moms home with you to keep that cycle.

Without a food source I don't know where the ammonia could possibly be coming from......

Yeah, I'd rinse the gravel and decor.

 

I put in some flakes this weekend before I left. I'll toss the media and rinse the tank really well

 

something is def up with this. that is NOT normal, at all.

maybe not your roomie, but one of her friends? either way, it does seem like someone messed with it

 

Oh ok, could be from the decomposing food then and it can smell really bad.

I guess your next steps depends on whether or not you want to mess with it until you move. Do you know when that will be?

 

I planned on taking the stuff home thanksgiving regardless if I have a moving date set or not. I want to be sure I can lock my room myself before I move since I want to make sure no one messes with my fish.

It still smelled before I put the food in for the weekend pretty bad. So should I save the gravel then or toss that too?
jessakitten yes I think it was her friend because her friend doesn't know not to touch peoples stuff and even told me to knock when I wanted to come in my own room that I have the key too... so yes I do have suspicion on her too but Sarah has the key to the room so I point my fingers at her for right now and her friend is her responsibility for the weekend.

 

How does someone get to college without knowing not to touch other people's stuff???

 

It still smelled before I put the food in for the weekend pretty bad. So should I save the gravel then or toss that too?
jessakitten yes I think it was her friend because her friend doesn't know not to touch peoples stuff and even told me to knock when I wanted to come in my own room that I have the key too...

Ok, that's weird. I hope you told her you don't have to knock at your own room! Poor thing, I am sorry and glad you'll be moving soon.

Up to you on the gravel and what's easiest. I always keep my bettas with sand though.

 

I rolled my eyes! Like the friend didn't even go here and was telling me I should have knocked.

I hope I find a good placement soon. I will be tossing the gravel right now, afraid of the odor piling up. Gravel is relatively cheap though so not a problem. Mom seems to be very happy I took the fish home and promised to take great care of him, at least there is some good in the world! I hate people who dismiss fish so easily and abuse them.

 

I find people to be deplorable. I stay to myself once I leave work for the most part. I have 7 tanks going, from my 5 gallon to my 75g. I would lose my mind if someone so much as touched them. they are for looking, which you do with your eyes, not your hands. do not touch my babies and their homes, lol

 

Tank has been emptied and gravel and media is being pitched now. There is still an oder in the tank. Any suggestions on how to get rid of it?

 

Vinegar?

 

Since you've torn it down I would add a little bleach and water. If you don't have any maybe you can "borrow" a capful from someone or in the laundry room?

Swish the water and bleach mixture around, let it sit for 15 minutes or so and then rinse really well and dry it. Should be gone by then.

 

I stuck a dryer sheet in there that was wrapped in a Target bag with holes popped in it so it would smell but hopefully not get the odor stuck permanently on the glass.

I'll see if someone has bleach. For the most part, I have it all torn down now just need to disinfect my desk. The tank is also behind a cart by my fridge so hopefully she won't see it and mess with it. I hope she's pleased with herself! Thank god I didn't decide to go buy another fish even though I am technically allowed to if I get lonely

 

You could try sticking a dish of baking soda in there to absorb any odours.

 

You could try sticking a dish of baking soda in there to absorb any odours.

Good idea! this would help in your dorm room too.

 

I'll run to the store tomorrow between classes and see if I can pick some up. Thank you guys again for all your help. I would be so lost without this forum and this community helping me through every newbie thing that comes up. I'm sad it had to come down to this but i'm glad my baby got out in the end. I'm sure if I left him in the 3 gallon she would have easily messed with it and killed him let alone being burned by ammonia in the other tank.

My desk looks so bare now without a fish tank here to look at and make it look pretty, hopefully soon I'll be in a new place where I don't have to worry about someone hurting him.

edit:


Left to right: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate

Bad lighting but here is an idea of how bad the tests came out. The green was darker than 8 ppm even..truly saddening

 

In the meantime:

 

Thank you so much for that, honestly fish calm down my anxiety so much and this definitely helps a ton

 

You're welcome! I'm sure there are more out there but I like the fact that they have angelfish in the freshwater scenes

 

Clumping cat litter will absorb odors and moisture. But since baking soda is so much cheaper it's usually a better choice unless you need to dehumidify.

Rinsing the tank is a good idea then it won't fester. You can bleach everything and reuse it later. Just rinse very, very well and once you get it home let it air out in the sun for a day or so. Then rinse again and you're good to reuse it. It's a lot of rinsing. It better safe than sorry.
It's unfortunate that your roommate and/or her friend thinks it is okay to mess with your tank. Many people just don't realize how terribly cruel it is to do so. In a dorm there's all sorts of variables over which you have no control. Unfortunate but true. When/if you are able to get in a shared house and be able to lock your room that would be better. Just be sure it is a keyed door lock. The standard bedroom door locks are easily jimmied with a screwdriver, chopstick, ice pick, etc.
It is a good thing you took him home where he will be safer. Good call!

 

Just walked by my roommate on the phone, not sure if she said this to get me upset or if she meant it but she mentioned she was "glad it was gone" assuming she meant the fish, that means she did indeed mess with it. Sickening. Cannot wait until I find an assignment where a roommate will respect not only my stuff but animals. Well...lets just say nature bit her in the backside today....

 

oooh, a bit of intrigue!

do tell which portion of nature bit her!!! LOLOL

 

Let's just say not only was the wind helpful in getting odor out but also did some interior decorating and it didn't end well

also last night her and her other friend also inquired about where the fish went and were laughing and jeering comments at me. Praying for an assignment soon. I am sick of this girl.

 

LOLOL. I love it.

are you going to another dorm or to a private house with housemates? you may have said earlier, but with so many responses, it got lost to me LOL

 

I was offered a 4 bedroom/4 person apartment on campus where I would have my own room but didn't take it because I had gone home last weekend and I wanted to be sure I could lock my bedroom myself when I left so if the roommates got curious I wouldn't have to worry about my fish when i'm at class.

I'm still in the housing reassignment process and should have something by Christmas. Honestly hoping for just one roommate and not three just because trying to convince one person not to touch your stuff is easier than three lol

 

Unless they're all good and studious people! I know there are, or were, options for dedicated students to live with others of the same mindset. That would probably be ideal for you!

 

Update:
Just spoke to my mom a bit more in depth about him today. He is eating good and she is feeding him every morning and will feed dinner only 4 days a week (Mon, Weds, Fri, Sun). He also recognizes her as his food source now and will come over and greet her when she comes near the tank. I also get daily videos about a minute long and they definitely help me! I've been missing him so much and today was definitely a rough day.

She said he has been glass surfing constantly on the right side of the tank closest to where our kitchen is so i'm guessing the light from the kitchen allows him to see his reflection easier since he is just around the corner. She did mention he stopped when she put the towel up on that side and also when she opened the lid to distract/refocus him and he hasn't been over there since and has since kept closer to the left side of the tank by the coral decoration.

Is it most likely due to seeing himself or because of ammonia possibly being present? She also said he looked like he was chasing his tail and was nose diving into the gravel and sometimes trying to itch himself on the gravel but has no evidence of any dots on his body. He does have a rip in the middle of his tail and on his dorsal fin which might be from hitting the gravel.

 

Is there a lot of activity in the kitchen? He might just be people watching over there because it's interesting!

I'm sorry to hear you had a rough day x

 

There can be I think my mom said she was doing dishes and my sister and dad might have been talking which got him excited since he's not used to me talking to him so loud haha. The towel did help so maybe he saw the movement somehow (or just the light fading in and out from shadows and it got him excited). Should I be concerned about him scratching himself on the gravel? That's how my mom described it

Yes I had a talk today with the roommate about how I was feeling and really lost my patience today and made a fool of myself. Today was extremely rough and I missed him a lot for sure, feel like my stress is getting to me and need to work on it.

 

Oh dear, well hopefully you didn't make as much of a fool of yourself as you think you did and that your open expression of emotion really got across to her the seriousness of what you've gone through.

 

Ehh it's complicated the stuff is more suited for a PM of what really happened, I really didn't touch on the issue of the fish too much because I didn't want to give her the satisfaction that I was upset about that too much if it makes sense. I mean since she gives her key out to people I cannot entirely be sure she is aware it happened since people tend to come in here without her. Plus her friend was here so it really wasn't right to accuse anyone. I just simply said he had to go home because he was getting really sick and I didn't want to have to worry as bad. I am glad he did go home since he would be going home in a few weeks anyway for Thanksgiving/Christmas break. Mom seems to be really enjoying him so I might be convincing her for a fish tank in the kitchen

 

I see. Well, it doesn't sound so bad from what little you've said. It really sounds like you were quite reasonable about it! Frankly, if my roommate gave out keys to our shared room to all and sundry I'd be requesting that the college change the locks and kick out the roommate!

 

I'll be discreet so she doesn't find my FishLore! There's more I could go on about but it's not exactly appropriate haha. We'll see if we get any improvement from the things I mentioned to her I wanted to stop, there is no way the fish is coming back though I'm afraid he will get sick because I can't entirely rule her out of being the one who messed with it since she is easily influenced and clueless.

I'll keep this thread posted though if any issues arise with him. It is okay though that my mom waits 2 weeks for the first major water change? She asked me today if that's too long because the water looks gross already but she thinks that is because we don't have a light strip on the tank.

 

Gotcha.

What's "gross" about the water? Describe it? Personally I would cut back the feedings to once every other day to reduce the strain on the new bacteria.

 

She just said it looks cloudy and dark but she said when she puts her flashlight on top of the tank, it looks clear.

Would just cutting the dinner out be okay for now? I was already just feeding him light back here before my tank got messed up and he lost a little bit of weight when I look at the old pictures.