Hello, I have a 36 gal setup for nearly 2 months and have got it to cycle and everything tested excellent except the ammonia levels. I changed out 50% and added ammonia remover. It would go from 8.0 and then I have been as high as 0.25 and since the 50% was done on Saturday, I checked it on Sunday and it was at 2.0. So I went ahead and did a 25% change and left it until Monday Morning and it was at .025 so I left it alone thinking it would clear up a little more in a 24 hr. period.
This wasn't the case, I checked it yesterday (Tuesday) and it had went to about a 5.
I left it alone again in the hope that it would cycle and come back up the next day when I figured I would do another 25% change, which is today, Weds. It was still reading 5.0 so I did another 50% change today and added the conditioner as well as some bacteria starter as directed by the LFS.
I am hesitant to do too many water changes and I felt like 2 in 2 days was to much and that being a 50% and a 25%.
I know I'm going to get over the hump with the ammonia levels at some point ,but my question is, How often or how much water changes can I or should I do per week? And should I use a bacteria starter at each water change if I clean the gravel as well? Which I do once or twice a week until I have everything established! Just a light cleaning but water test fine at the LFS except the ammonia levels. Should I add a little more water conditioner than directed by the manufacture or stay vigilant on the plan I have going now?
This wasn't the case, I checked it yesterday (Tuesday) and it had went to about a 5.
I left it alone again in the hope that it would cycle and come back up the next day when I figured I would do another 25% change, which is today, Weds. It was still reading 5.0 so I did another 50% change today and added the conditioner as well as some bacteria starter as directed by the LFS.
I am hesitant to do too many water changes and I felt like 2 in 2 days was to much and that being a 50% and a 25%.
I know I'm going to get over the hump with the ammonia levels at some point ,but my question is, How often or how much water changes can I or should I do per week? And should I use a bacteria starter at each water change if I clean the gravel as well? Which I do once or twice a week until I have everything established! Just a light cleaning but water test fine at the LFS except the ammonia levels. Should I add a little more water conditioner than directed by the manufacture or stay vigilant on the plan I have going now?