LjTx
Aquarium Advice Newbie
60 gallon fresh water tank set up, water cycled for a week and fish introduced on 12/23.
Finally got past the cloudy phase, after a couple water changes & 2 doses of Water Clarifier.
I have not been able to get the ammonia levels to come down. Angel fish had been hovering near the top so tested the water Tues and the ammonia was pretty much off the chart. 25% water change and level down to near 4.0. Came home from work yesterday, same thing, this time did nearly 37% (I used a tape measure and w/ 20" of water area, drained 7 1/2" = 37%). Did 2nd test and again, level down to 4.0 area. Tested again (rerunning test again) and it is the same - except my angels (large guys) are not hovering near the top so they don't seem to be as stressed. Test is done, more than 4.0 but not up to 8.0 this time.
Since tank has been going for almost 30 days, should I be having this much ammonia trouble this long? It has been years since I have established a new tank and this time around no bio-wheel so I don't have the long time bacteria established (like when I would when I would break down & “reset” the 25 gallon tank).
One site suggested I pull some gravel from a clean established system. Anyone concur with that? Even though the other tank is empty, I've keep the filter running on it so it is a viable option if it is possible.
Finally got past the cloudy phase, after a couple water changes & 2 doses of Water Clarifier.
I have not been able to get the ammonia levels to come down. Angel fish had been hovering near the top so tested the water Tues and the ammonia was pretty much off the chart. 25% water change and level down to near 4.0. Came home from work yesterday, same thing, this time did nearly 37% (I used a tape measure and w/ 20" of water area, drained 7 1/2" = 37%). Did 2nd test and again, level down to 4.0 area. Tested again (rerunning test again) and it is the same - except my angels (large guys) are not hovering near the top so they don't seem to be as stressed. Test is done, more than 4.0 but not up to 8.0 this time.
Since tank has been going for almost 30 days, should I be having this much ammonia trouble this long? It has been years since I have established a new tank and this time around no bio-wheel so I don't have the long time bacteria established (like when I would when I would break down & “reset” the 25 gallon tank).
One site suggested I pull some gravel from a clean established system. Anyone concur with that? Even though the other tank is empty, I've keep the filter running on it so it is a viable option if it is possible.