Cycling tank phenomenon

[fishywishywowoo]

Has anyone experienced this? I was struggling with very high ammonia levels of 8.0 for weeks and weeks, was doing daily 50% PWC but nothing progressed. Fish were looking pale. Then I injured my hand and I've been unable to do the PWC. I thought for sure my fish would die but surprisingly they got their colour back and became more sociable and active. I've just done first PWC in nearly 3 weeks and ammonia 1.0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5.0. This is best it's been since started tank in January. Its a 20 gallon with 7 wcmm and 4 Chinese hillstream loaches. New to all this.

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[jglover]

With an 8ppm ammonia after a 50% water change your initial concentration had to have been around 25 or 30 ppm. I'd think that would kill the fish. I'm wondering if there is a problem with the test kit or your water has some sort of a false positive interference in it, like ammonium salts.

 

[fishywishywowoo]

The 8.0 was prior to pic. It's the api freshwater kit. Same one I used today. It's very bizarre

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[schoeplein]

Have you tested your tap water?

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[squirrilah fish]

Have you tested your tap water?

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That was my first thought, and what are you testing with. Strips, especially ammonia strips are pretty unreliable.

 

[fishywishywowoo]

Tap water 0. It's the liquid test. Least fish are happy is main thing

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[schoeplein]

How long have you had the each fish in the tank? You may have had a mini cycle and your bacterial filtration finally caught up to the bioload, hence the nitrates. Seems like a lot of fish for a 20, especially loaches.

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[fishywishywowoo]

They all been in from start. Didn't know any better. The loaches only bout 1-2 inch. They fully grown

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