Ammonia problem?? Please help

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FoolsGold

Aquarium Advice Newbie
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
1
Hi,

I have a 20 gallon that’s currently having a huge ammonia problem, the levels are off the charts (I’m using API Ammo Lock to the ty and keep my fish from dying) and I need to move some fish out. The ammonia levels are measuring at 4ppm. I’m using the API Freshwater master test kit. I did a 50% water change last night and right after and this morning the ammonia was measuring the same as before the change. I’m going to be doing 20-25% water changes every day for the next week.

Another thing is that I changed the substrate of the tank last week, from gravel to to sand. It wasn’t live sand, but it seemed to be fine and I added API quick start to replace the lost bacteria.

The fish inside are 4 Dalmatian Mollies, 6 Kuhli Loaches, and 3 neon tetras. There’s no live plants. There was a snail in there too, but last night they died.

I have a small 5 gallon that has never had any fish and has been cycling for at least 2 weeks now, but when I went to test the water to see if I could move the tetras into it to relieve some stress from the 20 gallon the water measured at 1-2ppm of ammonia!? There’s no reason for there to be ammonia in that tank that I can think of. I don’t know what to do to fix this. None of the factors that could be affecting the 20 gallon should be affecting the 5 gallon.

I tested the tap water from the sink I use to for aquarium water and it didn’t have any ammonia in it, so I’m not sure where it’s coming from.

Please give any advice you can
 
I am unfamiliar with your issue, this forum is pretty dead, I would recommend joining fishlor. You will get help with in a couple minutes of posting :)
 
Hi,

I have a 20 gallon that’s currently having a huge ammonia problem, the levels are off the charts (I’m using API Ammo Lock to the ty and keep my fish from dying) and I need to move some fish out. The ammonia levels are measuring at 4ppm. I’m using the API Freshwater master test kit. I did a 50% water change last night and right after and this morning the ammonia was measuring the same as before the change. I’m going to be doing 20-25% water changes every day for the next week.

Another thing is that I changed the substrate of the tank last week, from gravel to to sand. It wasn’t live sand, but it seemed to be fine and I added API quick start to replace the lost bacteria.

The fish inside are 4 Dalmatian Mollies, 6 Kuhli Loaches, and 3 neon tetras. There’s no live plants. There was a snail in there too, but last night they died.

I have a small 5 gallon that has never had any fish and has been cycling for at least 2 weeks now, but when I went to test the water to see if I could move the tetras into it to relieve some stress from the 20 gallon the water measured at 1-2ppm of ammonia!? There’s no reason for there to be ammonia in that tank that I can think of. I don’t know what to do to fix this. None of the factors that could be affecting the 20 gallon should be affecting the 5 gallon.

I tested the tap water from the sink I use to for aquarium water and it didn’t have any ammonia in it, so I’m not sure where it’s coming from.

Please give any advice you can
I would do 40% changes daily and keep adding quick start. Keep me updated. :)
 
I suspect that switching the substrate released the ammonia - sand can get really dirty. I would do a 50% water change and see if that cuts the ammonia down.
 
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