Issues with water parameters

[Jackkelly]

I am testing my tank today as I’m doing a water change and my parameters seem super bad. My ammonia was around 5 ppm and my nitrates were around 160 ppm. However my nitrites were 0 ppm. The tank is doing really well as my plant and fish are growing and thriving. I am also having angelfish that are laying eggs.

 

[FishSupreme]

Do a 50% water change. In my opinion this is an emergency.

 

[Jackkelly]

I am doing a massive water change right now but why would my reading be so extreme when I know my tank is cycled and healthy.

Do a 50% water change. In my opinion this is an emergency.

 

[FishSupreme]

You've been gravel vacuuming right? Nitrate can really only be removed via water changes. The ammonia might be caused by a death in the tank. Check for all your fish. Otherwise throughout the falling days test religiously.

 

[Jackkelly]

You've been gravel vacuuming right? Nitrate can really only be removed via water changes. The ammonia might be caused by a death in the tank. Check for all your fish. Otherwise throughout the falling days test religiously.

No deaths so I will test everyday and yes I have been gravel vacuuming when I do my water changes

 

[FishSupreme]

I really am confused then. It seems you're doing everything right. Keep pushing forward!

 

[AvalancheDave]

pH?

 

[Dunk2]

If you’re confident that your test results are accurate, an ammonia level of 5 ppm is going to require more than a 50% water change.

 

[DuaneV]

If its not a bad test result, 5ppm ammonia is deadly. Youll need to change out a MINIMUM of 90% of the water and do another 50% tomorrow. If you change out 50%, youre still at 2.5ppm, SUPER high. Even if you change out 80%, youre still at 1ppm which is NOT good. If youre fish arent dying, Im wondering if you caught a spike RIGHT when it happened, or more than likely, its a bad result and Id retest again. Are you using liquid or strips?

 

[AvalancheDave]

Maybe it's a typo and is 0.5 ppm?