A direct answer to.
Let me start by giving a brief history on my fish tank and me. Shortly before the new year 12/31/05 I bought a 20gallon tank w/everything I need. About 8/06 every fish I put in the tank just dies. So something tells that there is something seriously wrong. So I completely redo the tank. I remove all the gravel, wipe the thing clean, get new gravel, and properly clean my toys. Now about 2 weeks later I fill the thing up with water and run the filter for exactly one week. Exactly a week later after I first ran the tank I bought 3 different community fish (did not make note of the kinds). 2 weeks later one of 3 dies, hanging down the bottom, looking like he is gasping for breath Before, during, and after I was this time monitoring for everything: PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia. During his departure PH 7.0, Nitrate and Nitrite at 0, but Ammonia at .25, and later .50. I then was about to pour in something that is supposed to get rid of the ammonia, but during so I get advice about changing the water instead. So I hold off on the ammonia stuff, and take out half of the water. Now life is good all the numbers I gave earlier hold and Ammonia is back to 0. Now a week later, which is today (actually less than a week) my Ammonia is back to .25.
Now I have questions, is this bad, should I change the water again, should I use chemicals??? I just not sure of myself at this point. I enjoy the fish, but I don't want to be the killer of the fish by doing the wrong thing. Please help.
Let me start by giving a brief history on my fish tank and me. Shortly before the new year 12/31/05 I bought a 20gallon tank w/everything I need. About 8/06 every fish I put in the tank just dies. So something tells that there is something seriously wrong. So I completely redo the tank. I remove all the gravel, wipe the thing clean, get new gravel, and properly clean my toys. Now about 2 weeks later I fill the thing up with water and run the filter for exactly one week. Exactly a week later after I first ran the tank I bought 3 different community fish (did not make note of the kinds). 2 weeks later one of 3 dies, hanging down the bottom, looking like he is gasping for breath Before, during, and after I was this time monitoring for everything: PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia. During his departure PH 7.0, Nitrate and Nitrite at 0, but Ammonia at .25, and later .50. I then was about to pour in something that is supposed to get rid of the ammonia, but during so I get advice about changing the water instead. So I hold off on the ammonia stuff, and take out half of the water. Now life is good all the numbers I gave earlier hold and Ammonia is back to 0. Now a week later, which is today (actually less than a week) my Ammonia is back to .25.
Now I have questions, is this bad, should I change the water again, should I use chemicals??? I just not sure of myself at this point. I enjoy the fish, but I don't want to be the killer of the fish by doing the wrong thing. Please help.