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We have just set up our new 30 Gal tank added water yesterday no fish yet the ammonia is 25 everything Elsa is 0 P.H is 7.2 how do I lower the ammonia. I don't want to add my fish just to die

edith

Does your tap water have ammonia in it? If there is no fish in the tank then there is no other way for it to be present in the tank in such a short time. Maybe you should take a sample of your water to a lfs and get them to check it incase your testkit is not working as it should.

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

My test kit is working Linda it is a new tant we just set up. There is ammonia in the water I huess what I am asking is will it fix it self? I just put in one canddy tetra it is doing really good I just don't want to put in my swordtails till I no it is ok

edith

Hi,
Before "we" go charging off in different directions,
it would be a good idea for you to fill a clean glass
with tap water, wait 24 hours, and then test that water
for ammonia. The next thing I would advise is to not
add any more fish to the tank until things get figured
out.

We don't normally get ammonia with our tap water and if
we do, then water changes, and additional fish, will drive
the ammonia level even higher, until the bacteria that
support the Nitrogen Cycle http://www.koikichi.com/about/articles/nitrogen_cycle.html
become established, and grow large enough colonies
to reduce the ammonia levels to zero where they belong.

Did you simply wash the gravel, and add it, and the water
to the tank? Or, did you also add some chemical to the
water such as ammo lock? Some chemicals alter the ammonia
chemically to another type and if you test for ammonia it
will give you higher than normal results.

Above all... patience is THE key to a successful tank.
Getting a reading of 25 for ammonia, not waiting for
a response, and adding fish is not a good idea (for the
poor fish). Cycling a tank with tetras is never a good
idea. Most of them are very fragile compared to other
fish, and do not tolerate the higher ammonia and nitrite
levels that occur during the cycling process.

Read the information in the above link, and take your
time. You will be rewarded with a tank full of healthy plants and fish.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Wow I guess I wrote that wrong The tetra is not in the new tank. I just bought another one every one said they do better in groups. Ok I just read what I wrote sorry it did sound that way.(I just put in one candy tetra it is doing really good) sorry no it is in the 55 gal tank we have had for 6 months.( I just don't want to put in my sword tails till I no it is ok) That was meant for the new tank What I meant to say was I didn't want the sword tails in the new tank until I got it right. And I live in Canada The water is different. Trust me all. I am to attached to all my fish to be as mean as to use them as giniepigs

edith

Water has the same basics everywhere so being in canada makes no difference. It would be a good idea to a test the tapwater for ammonia just in case. If you have put nothing in the tank there can be no ammonia unless it came from the tapwater. Frank also mentioned ammolock because it will give a false ammonia reading and you haven't answered if you used that. Noone can tell you how to get rid of the ammonia until we determine where it came from.

Thank you I am sorry for not answering. There is nothin in the tank just water from the tap. I have an under ground gravel filter hooked to a rena xp1. Other then that tank is empty.

edith

Oh sorry we have water filter on the the top of the tank

edith

Hi Edith,
First, I read your post in another forum and please don't
misunderstand Fish Profiles, or the posts that are written
in response to a person's questions. Too many times folks
read feelings into the printed words that they see, and
all sorts of misunderstandings are the result.

Much of Canada's water percolates through igneous rock
(granite) or carbonate sedimentary rock (limestone) and
it does have different characteristics.

Your comment was that the new tank water tested with
25 ammonia. We were trying to say that ammonia is an
organic compound and should not normally be found in tap
water. My suggestion of drawing a clean glass full of
water and letting it sit out for 24 hours and then testing
it for ammonia was for two purposes. First the 24 hours
was to allow the water to "degas" and second to see if,
in fact, the ammonia was actually in the tap water.
In the same post I asked if you were using (had added)
a water conditioner to that tank water. Many of the
conditioners alter the chemical formula of the ammonia
just enough so that it is not toxic. However, the test
kits cannot distinguish between the forms of ammonia and
thus give false results that are generally higher than
is actually in the tank.

If the tank water was treated with a water conditioner,
then I would ignore the "25" reading and since there
is nothing in the tank but gravel, I would then assume a
zero ammonia reading and go from there. You don't say
how you are going to cycle the tank, fish-less, or with
fish. Either way works, but, you will find that some of
our members really, really, encourage fish-less cycling
rather than stressing fish. Since you already have other
tanks and fish, you are not brand new to the hobby and I
assume that you already know about the Nitrogen Cycle
and know how to do it.

Hope this helps.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thank you Frank and yes it doe's help. I have one tank 55 gal but I am still new it I have only been raising fish for six months lol Newbie yes I am.The tank has no fish but a friend has helped me a little I traded the filter sponge 's from the new tank to the old just the white one in the canister she told me not all or then I would be starting the new tank again. And your wright some times it is hard for us new guy's we take thing's wrong when we read them. But I will try to do this sorry. I wont be putting fish in the new tank till I no it is safe. I love my fish to much and I think that is what I did wrong with the big one we lost 3 fish. But now it is good and so are they I am learning. Again I am sorry for takeing any one wrong
Edith

edith

I am sorry I miss printed again (she told me not all or then I would be starting the new tank again
0 that would be if I did I would be starting the OLD tank again sorry (take thing's wrong when we read them. But I will try to do this sorry) Again I ment try not to do this sorry. They other thing is I haven't added any water treetments to the new tank.I am going to be reading the water every day for a while when it is safe then I put in fish I am Cycleing the tank with no fish just fish food and some gravel from the big tank. Does that sound right?


edith

Hi Edith

For what it is worth, thought I'd mention my water straight from the tap has ammonia in it. I live in Sydney, Australia. That is just how my water is. It tests straight from the tap to be 20, so maybe this is your problem too Edith. Have you tested the water straight from the tap. I also have 20ppm of nitrate straight from the tap too

If this is the case with you, your tank will eventually cycle. Mine did. It took around 21 days to cycle (meaning 0 ammonia & 0 nitrite). Now the water in my tanks tests out better than the water I drink.

I used platys as my cycling fish. My plan would be to have 2 or 3 hardy fish (platys, guppys, danios) and not to add any more until your tank tests ammonia & nitrite to both be nil. Patience and you will get there. Good luck & have fun.

Cheers
TW

Thank you TankWatcher I just checked the water from the tap now here is what I do I run cold and hot together to try and get the right temp well my hot water is .50 my cold alone is .25 I been trying to figure this out and so I was asked to take some tap water and let it sit over night it is .25 And I took water to the pet store wating for them to phone back but she said yes there will be ammonia in the water out of the tap. Do to the dieing fish in our water's here they have been adding all kinds of stuff. But she also said that yes it would filter it's self better. Thank you I thought I was going nut's some made me feel that way

edith

Sorry the water that sat over night was cold and hot it was .50 last night today it is .25.As for nitres and nitrates they are 0 the P.H from the tap is 7.6

edith

Well this is good I hope I now have nitrites they are .25 I just tested the smorning and was happy to see this. It is a good thing right

edith

Hi Edith

Sounds like you've reached the 2nd stage of your cycle. Do you still have ammonia?

Cheers
TW

I did when I checked it, It looks like it going to turn lighter tho. I was just glad to see the nitites starting.One question now that there is nitrites I still don't do water changes do I? I meen I have to let all that buils up first right or wrong.I have no fish in it.Just feeding the tank like frank said. Am I doing ok?

edith

Hi Edith,
We have been corresponding privately for several days.
You have to have a source of ammonia for the cycle to
continue. The source can either be fish (they excreet
ammonia) or bottled ammonia, but you must have ammonia
in the tank for the tank to cycle.
This gives you two choices. You can add a few hardy fish,
or you can purchase regular old household ammonia from a
grocery store, and add it a few drops at a time per day.

When you put the small handful of gravel from an
established tank into the new tank, you added a small
amount of established bacterial colonies to the new tank.
Now, you have to feed them so that they can grow and
support the entire tank. Ammonia is their food.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I am testing the tank now to see if I still have ammonia.
Ok got the test 0 ammonia nitites.25 nitrates are 5.0
Is that good. Is danios strong enough for the tank?

edith