I started a tank about 12 days ago and the ammonia level was testing high yesterday, which is normal during cyling I'm told, and so I did a partial water change 10%. So I tested it today, and it's still the same. Is this still normal or should I do a larger PWC?
Water still testing high...
- Thread starter bhath19
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Sounds pretty normal to me.
12 days is not that long when it comes to a fish tank. How big is the aquarium, what do you have in it to cause the ammonia to rise, and how high is the ammonia at the moment. Changing 10 % of the water will only lower the ammonia by about 12 % which is will be hard to measure. Moreover, whatever is causing the ammonia to rise will probably continue to keep the ammonia rising.
Also, depending on your local water supply, there may be Chloramine in it. This will also give you a high ammonia reading.
I would continue with the partial water changes making sure not to disturb the tank unduly until it's cycled. If you have something very ammonia tolerant in the tank (you haven't mentioned whether it is saltwater or freshwater) such as Damsels or Danios, I'd be tempted to just leave the tank to cycle itself.
More info please! Jeff
12 days is not that long when it comes to a fish tank. How big is the aquarium, what do you have in it to cause the ammonia to rise, and how high is the ammonia at the moment. Changing 10 % of the water will only lower the ammonia by about 12 % which is will be hard to measure. Moreover, whatever is causing the ammonia to rise will probably continue to keep the ammonia rising.
Also, depending on your local water supply, there may be Chloramine in it. This will also give you a high ammonia reading.
I would continue with the partial water changes making sure not to disturb the tank unduly until it's cycled. If you have something very ammonia tolerant in the tank (you haven't mentioned whether it is saltwater or freshwater) such as Damsels or Danios, I'd be tempted to just leave the tank to cycle itself.
More info please! Jeff
Those are pretty hardy fish.
I wouldn't change more than 10 % every other day, making sure to let the tap water stand for at 24 hours even with dechlorinator.
It's quite a small tank and by changing more than 10 % I think you could end up doing more harm than good through stressing the fish and disturbing the substrate.
Also, be careful if you are going to use one of the chemicals for removing ammonia. They can also have a bad effect on oxygen levels. Anyway, you also haven't said: how are the fish doing? Jeff
I wouldn't change more than 10 % every other day, making sure to let the tap water stand for at 24 hours even with dechlorinator.
It's quite a small tank and by changing more than 10 % I think you could end up doing more harm than good through stressing the fish and disturbing the substrate.
Also, be careful if you are going to use one of the chemicals for removing ammonia. They can also have a bad effect on oxygen levels. Anyway, you also haven't said: how are the fish doing? Jeff
Menagerie
Aquarium Advice Addict
What are your exact ammonia level and nitrite levels?
Menagerie
Aquarium Advice Addict
0.09 is not that bad. When ammonia spikes, it could easily hit 2+. Keep a watch on the fish and the water parameters. Remember, you need to leave some ammonia in in order for the bacteria to grow and convert it into nitrite. Then the nitrite will peak, and then you will have nitrates.
Similar threads
