Ammonia at 0.25 ppm normal?

[dmerklinger]

One of my toger barbs seems to be breathing heavily. I have 10 tiger barbs in the tank as well as a red tail black shark and a clown pleco. It is a 20g high tank with a Aqueon quiet flow filter. I did all the tests for water today and have 0ppm nitrates, 0ppm nitrite and 0.25ppm ammonia levels. I just yesterday did a 40% water change and k vacuumed most of the gravel. I did a 20% water change about 4 days before that. I also have about 6 small plants in there as well as an air pump with a air stone. I have had this tank for about week and a half and used api stress coat and api quick start when I first started the tank as well as with each water change. The rest of the fish seem fine, although one barb did die during the first couple of days in the tank. Any suggestions on why he might be doing this? He is a bit larger then the rest of the fish about over an inch, does not seem to have any discoloration. Any help would be awesome thanks!

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[Mebbid]

If he's breathing heavily then that's not normal. I would try increasing aeration in the tanak. This can be done by either adding an airstone or dropping the water level by an inch to increase the splash of the filter.

The ammonia isn't normal, but it's a sign of a cycling tank. The 0ppm nitrate level supports this. just keep up testing the water daily and changing 50% of the water any time the ammonia or nitrite rises above 0.25ppm.

 

[sinibotia]

If you set the tank up a week ago, then your tank isn't cycled, so seeing ammonia is normal, but it's also really really bad.

I see you used API quick start. I tend to think bacterial additives are aquarium snake oil but some people have had success with them, so let's assume the best. Try looking through the bottom of the test vial into a light source. I have found that a 0 reading with API test kits can look a whole lot like a light-green .25 reading, but if you look at it through the bottom and into a light it'll be yellow.

Assuming it is in fact a .25 reading, you're going to need to cycle your tank.

That could be what's causing your tiger barb trouble. It could also be early indications of ich, gill flukes, or some other disease, but you'll have to wait and see on that.

Also, your red tailed black shark will get too big for that tank. And assuming you don't upgrade it, your tank is going to be really heavily stocked and you'll need to do large weekly water changes to keep things in shape.

 

[dmerklinger]

I also have a ph level at about 7.8. Should I get this lowered?

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[dalto]

No, I would not try messing with your pH. You need to be tracking your ammonia and nitrite levels and do frequent large water changes until your tank is cycled.

 

[dmerklinger]

Frequent? 2 times a week ok?

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[Mebbid]

As much as is needed. Like I said earlier anytime your ammonia or nitrite rise above 0.25ppm

 

[dalto]

I would keep an eye on your ammonia and do a 50% change every time it reaches 0.5ppm.