I have a 115 gallon fish tank and have a hard time keeping ammonia down. I had the fish tank for 3 weeks now. Last week, I did two 20% water changes and one 50% water change. Did not go down. Should I upgrade my filtering system to a Fluval FX4 Canister Filter that filters 250 gallons? I'm currently using a SunSun HW-704B 525 GPH 5-Stage External Canister Filter with 9W UV Sterilizer Knock off-brand. Need advice on how to lower my ammonia. Been using prime every two days to save my fish.
Three week old fish tank
- Thread starter davidwolf
- Start date
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You arent cycled. Until you are the only way to lower ammonia is water changes. Cycling a tank can take weeks or months. Do you know how to cycle a tank?
I would also add that if you are adding biological boosters to assist your cycle perhaps the integrated UV steriliser (assuming you have it turned on, i presume it can be operated independently from the filter) will be killing off any bacteria from the water before it has chance to establish on your media. If on, turn it off until you are cycled.
Your filter should be sufficient for your tank assuming you arent stupidly overstocked.
Your filter should be sufficient for your tank assuming you arent stupidly overstocked.
Test water parameters every day. Your target should be to keep ammonia + nitrite below 0.5ppm combined. If its 0.5ppm combined do 25% water change. If it gets to 1ppm combined, 50% water change. This might mean 50% daily water changes, i don't know what your parameters are or how much ammonia your aquarium is producing, so i cant you tell how much/how many water changes to do.
What are your current water parameters?
While cycling feed lightly, only enough your fish eat in 1 minute daily or in 2 minutes every other day.
When you are consistently seeing 0ppm ammonia and nitrite daily you are cycled for your current stocking. This could take several weeks. Dont add more fish until you are cycled for what you currently have.
Biological boosters like Seachem Stability or Dr Tims one and only might speed things up, but are hit and miss whether they work. The best way to speed up your cycle process is to introduce some filter media from an established tank. Perhaps you have a friend that keeps fish who could let you have some?
Edit: use a water conditioner whenever you change water. Prime is a good conditioner.
What are your current water parameters?
While cycling feed lightly, only enough your fish eat in 1 minute daily or in 2 minutes every other day.
When you are consistently seeing 0ppm ammonia and nitrite daily you are cycled for your current stocking. This could take several weeks. Dont add more fish until you are cycled for what you currently have.
Biological boosters like Seachem Stability or Dr Tims one and only might speed things up, but are hit and miss whether they work. The best way to speed up your cycle process is to introduce some filter media from an established tank. Perhaps you have a friend that keeps fish who could let you have some?
Edit: use a water conditioner whenever you change water. Prime is a good conditioner.
Im presuming the 30g is still stocked? Squeeze out a sponge from the filter in the 30g into the water in the 115g. Take out a little filter media from the 30g and put it into your 115g filter. Dont take out more than 20% of the media from your 30g or you risk ammonia spikes, and replace what you remove so it can repopulate with bacteria. Monitor water parameters in your 30g until you are confident you havent caused any issues.
The crud from the sponge and the small amount of media you move over will seed your new filter much better than any product can.
You are seeing quite a bit of nitrate which is a sign you are cycling, the nitrite is a bit high and the test strip doesn't measure ammonia. The test is for a saltwater set up. I know the freshwater and saltwater API liquid tests are interchangeable but with different colour cards, but im not sure about strips. Is there a freshwater chart on the other side of the bottle?
I bought a tube kit fresh water test kit
I bought a tube test kit. I have done a water change two days ago. Ph looks high to me which I added driftwood hoping it will drop it. So I need to know what the water levels should be at and whats my next step. Thank you
Ph 8.2
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrate 0.20 might be close or between 0.30
I bought a tube test kit. I have done a water change two days ago. Ph looks high to me which I added driftwood hoping it will drop it. So I need to know what the water levels should be at and whats my next step. Thank you
Ph 8.2
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrate 0.20 might be close or between 0.30
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I would leave off on water changes unless your ammonia and nitrite rise. That's about where you want them.
Any idea on why your pH is so high? What is your established tank pH? What is your tap water at?
You are right that driftwood should pH down. Peat moss in your filter and Indian almond leaves in your aquascape will do so as well.
Edit, if you arent changing water for ammonia or nitrite, still do a weekly change to keep on top of nitrate.
Any idea on why your pH is so high? What is your established tank pH? What is your tap water at?
You are right that driftwood should pH down. Peat moss in your filter and Indian almond leaves in your aquascape will do so as well.
Edit, if you arent changing water for ammonia or nitrite, still do a weekly change to keep on top of nitrate.
Fish can acclimate to a wide range of pH. You already have a tank working fine, i presume the pH there is similar. The driftwood should bring it down, but i wouldnt treat it as an issue unless it becomes an issue. The peat moss and almond leaves are options if you find the high pH is causing problems.
DrWho42
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