How Much Is Too Much Ammonia?

So I'm cycling my 55 now, but my male molly has been bullying my established tank and killed one of my fish so I put him in the new tank. Currently have an old filter in there to help with the cycling process, but I doubt that's enough to truly get the tank cycled. So right now there is .25 ppm of ammonia. How much is too much before I do a water change? Currently the tank only has a pleco and the molly so the build up shouldnt be too rapid.

 

So I'm cycling my 55 now, but my male molly has been bullying my established tank and killed one of my fish so I put him in the new tank. Currently have an old filter in there to help with the cycling process, but I doubt that's enough to truly get the tank cycled. So right now there is .25 ppm of ammonia. How much is too much before I do a water change? Currently the tank only has a pleco and the molly so the build up shouldnt be too rapid.

What is your pH? Type of filter and size? Tank temp? What kind and size pleco?
Why don't you transfer media from your established tank over to the new tank? And ic your filter isn't rated for at least a 55 gallon tank and water flow isn't high enough you'll have a problem getting the tank cycled. You could get a large sponge filter (you need an air pump with it). That would help.

 

Ph is high, at a 8.2, but it's been in that same ph in the old tank as well and has been healthy so far. Definitely on the to do list to fix that though.

Fluval 306 filter. Tank temp is 78.

Common pleco. About 6-7 inches now

I did transfer the media, but I don't know if that's an instant cycle. I'm assuming youd want to wait a while to get the bacteria established before putting a ton of fish in there. The filter is rated for the tank

 

Ph is high, at a 8.2, but it's been in that same ph in the old tank as well and has been healthy so far. Definitely on the to do list to fix that though.

Fluval 306 filter. Tank temp is 78.

Common pleco. About 6-7 inches now

Ammonia at any level has to be assumed harmful esp with a higher pH. You can protect your fish from the harmful effects of ammonia and nitrites (up to combined total of 1 ppm) while your tank is cycling by adding Seachem Prime every 48 hours and with water changes. It dechlorinates and binds with ammonia and nitrites without removing them, making them harmless typ your fish. A pH of 8.2 is fine for mollys and plecos. It may drop depending on your tap water KH.

 

I'd be concerned with any level of ammonia with the tank's pH.

Dosing the full tank volume with Seachem Prime will detoxify a total of 1 ppm ammonia+nitrite for 24-48 hours. This treatment can be doubled for 2 ppm, etc., but I'd probably do a water change after it hit 1 ppm.

That said, I'd remove the fish (putting the bully in a breeder's box to segregate him if needed) and cycle the empty tank with household ammonia. It has the ability to produce a stronger cycle and the process is much easier without frequent water changes and balancing the health of the fish. Combine that with a bottle of Tetra Safe Start Plus and the tank could be cycled very quickly.

 

.25 is nothing to worry about. I don't use any dechlorinator no even prime so I shoot for under .5. Its worked for me. If you used some cycled media it self replicates in 7-14 hours depending on temp. At 78 it should be close to the 7 hour. So on a few days it should catch up. Till then keep testing and change water as needed.

 

I did transfer the media, but I don't know if that's an instant cycle. I'm assuming youd want to wait a while to get the bacteria established before putting a ton of fish in there. The filter is rated for the tank

Right. Excellent. What is your nitrite and nitrate levels? Those levels will at least tell you if your tank is processing some of the ammonia. You might want to test your tap water for pH ammonia, nitrites and nitrates as well just to have a comparison.

 

Add the level of ammonia to the level of nitrite. Do water changes to keep the combined ammonia and nitrite at 1 ppm or below. Your fish will be fine and there will still be enough ammonia and nitrites to keep your cycle going.

Don't do water changes based on a schedule. Do water changes based on your test readings.

 

I'm still getting a reading of 0 nitrates and nitrites. I put my media in 48 hours ago now.

 

I'm still getting a reading of 0 nitrates and nitrites. I put my media in 48 hours ago now.

How high is the bio-load in your established tank? If there are just one or 2 fish the bio-load thus the amount of bacteria on your seeded media will be low and will take longer to cycle the new tank.

On the other hand if it is fully stocked there will be plenty of bacteria on the media you transferred over to handle the bio-load of the pleco and the bully. You should quickly see 0 ammonia, should not see nitrites at all and should start seeing nitrates within 3 or 4 days.

to answer your question. Try to keep the ammonia less than .5 with water changes.

 

How high is the bio-load in your established tank? If there are just one or 2 fish the bio-load thus the amount of bacteria on your seeded media will be low and will take longer to cycle the new tank.

On the other hand if it is fully stocked there will be plenty of bacteria on the media you transferred over to handle the bio-load of the pleco and the bully and you should quickly see 0 ammonia, should not see nitrites at all and should start seeing nitrates with 3 or 4 days.

to answer your question. Try to keep the ammonia less than .5 with water changes.

It's a pretty heavily stocked tank. About 5 mollies, 2 gourami, a betta, the pleco about 8 cpd, about 7 amano shrimp, and 3 assassin snails. This old tank is a 29 gallon. I'd say I probably over stocked it for the size.

 

It's a pretty heavily stocked tank. About 5 mollies, 2 gourami, a betta, the pleco about 8 cpd, about 7 amano shrimp, and 3 assassin snails. This old tank is a 29 gallon. I'd say I probably over stocked it for the size.

Great. then there should be plenty of bacteria on the media you moved over. How much media and what kind of media did you move to this tank?

 

The only thing I transfered over is the old filter sponge and still have it sitting in the tank. Should I maybe take a hand full of the old dirt as well?

 

The only thing I transfered over is the old filter sponge and still have it sitting in the tank. Should I maybe take a hand full of the old dirt as well?

The seeded sponge needs to be in your filter. It might help some by just sitting in there but I don't think it will help much. Some folks do swear by adding some of the stuff they vacuum from the bottom of their well established tank. Personally I've never done it but guess it couldn't hurt. If you do it just pour it through the filter.

 

The seeded sponge needs to be in your filter. It might help some by just sitting in there but I don't think it will help much. Some folks do swear by adding some of the stuff they vacuum from the bottom of their well established tank. Personally I've never done it but guess it couldn't hurt. If you do it just pour it through the filter.

I figured that might be why I still have no nitrites. Thanks for the tip.

 

I figured that might be why I still have no nitrites. Thanks for the tip.

If the seeded media does what it is supposed to do you shouldn't see nitrites. What you are doing is moving a cycle from one tank to another. The media should already have both ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria on it.

 

Ph is high, at a 8.2, but it's been in that same ph in the old tank as well and has been healthy so far. Definitely on the to do list to fix that though.

Fluval 306 filter. Tank temp is 78.

Common pleco. About 6-7 inches now

To directly answer your original question, at a temp of 78 and pH of 8.2, a total ammonia nitrogen level of 0.26 is the point where it starts to become toxic to your fish. With the pH that high, essentially any ammonia detectable by typical home test kits is going to be a problem.

As the pH drops, more of the free ammonia becomes vastly less toxic ammonium, giving you a lot more wiggle room when it comes to dealing with the ammonia. At a pH of 7.2 and temp of 78 the danger point is 2.4ppm total ammonia nitrogen. The pH makes a significant difference. I'm not saying you should start dumping in chemicals to chase a lower pH, but if your livestock can handle a lower pH you might want to consider some natural steps to bring it down.