High Ammonia - Help?

[MadameFizzgig]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum.

I'm a pretty new fish owner, and I didn't know about a lot of the things that were necessary to do for a healthy fish tank (like most newbies). I came here because the people on the other forum I went to have been less than helpful.

So, here's the story.

I bought a Violet Goby from a less than reputable place. They gave me all the wrong advice, and luckily I did some research because some of the things they told me weren't adding up. This fish WAS living in a highly crowded completely freshwater tank with no substrate or hiding places at all. I did not know about tank cycling when I got him, so now I have to do a fish-in cycle. He's about 4in long, and I have him temporarily in a 5G tank (I know, not ideal. I'll be upgrading soon.)

Anyway, I've had him for about a week and a half now. The ammonia levels in his tank are high, but I've been doing 2 20% water changes a day (about 12 hours apart) to try and lower them. He was going to the surface in the beginning, but since I started doing the water changes he has pretty much stopped doing that. He has been eating well also, so I think that's a good sign.

I'm slowly raising the SG in his tank to 1.010, this should help him as well because he'll be living in his native brackish water. When I change the water, I change a little under a gallon. I do dechlorinate the water every time I do this. I have also been adding a few drops of beneficial bacteria to the new water every time I change it. Some people have said that it's unnecessary, but others have said it's smart to do, so I don't know.

Is there anything else that I could be doing for this little guy? He certainly seems to be doing much better than he was, but I want to be sure I'm doing all I can.

Thanks!

 

[Matt68005]

You can use a product like prime or amquel plus which neutralizes ammonia with every water change but will not "stop" the cycle, its good for just use as a normal declorinator too, many people use it as such.

 

[MadameFizzgig]

You can use a product like prime or amquel plus which neutralizes ammonia with every water change but will not "stop" the cycle, its good for just use as a normal declorinator too, many people use it as such.

Where would I get these products, and how expensive are they? Is it possible to continue with what I am doing without damaging my goby?

 

[IllusionX]

How long have you had the water in the tank?

 

[MadameFizzgig]

How long have you had the water in the tank?

About a week, though I've been doing the 20% water changes twice a day.

 

[Matt68005]

You can get prime at most pet stores and any fish store. Its a little pricey, but you only need a little bit like 2 drop per gallon

 

[MadameFizzgig]

You can get prime at most pet stores and any fish store. Its a little pricey, but you only need a little bit like 2 drop per gallon

I'll look for it tomorrow. Is it safe to add right into the tank?