Help!! 0.5 ammonia!!

[sallyjano]

I just upgraded my 10g to a 60g. Yesterday I put the old filter/media on the new tank along with the new one. I moved the existing 7 fish but have not added any new.

Today I saw 2 fish swimming a bit frantically. I tested the water and it showed .5 ammonia!! I just did a 50% water change and tested the water again. But it still shows .50 ammonia.

So....I just tested the tap water and it's in the water from my faucet.

I just added ammonia remover to the water in the tank.

Please help!! What should I do?

 

[Greta1981]

I would highly recommend you obtain some Prime water conditioner. You can double dose that safely and it will compensate for the ammonia in your tap. In the meantime, do you have any spring water available? Not distilled or drinking. Spring water. You can safely use that to do another 50% water change.

 

[sallyjano]

I would highly recommend you obtain some Prime water conditioner. You can double dose that safely and it will compensate for the ammonia in your tap. In the meantime, do you have any spring water available? Not distilled or drinking. Spring water. You can safely use that to do another 50% water change.

I don't have Prime. I have API Stress Coat. I'll get some Prime tomorrow. Re the spring water - I have a little but not 30 gallons of it. Maybe a couple gallons.

It's weird as I tested the water in the tank before I put the fish in and no ammonia then......

 

[Greta1981]

That is really odd. Here's a thought ... will you retest the water after shaking the 2 ammonia tester bottles really well? Usually you only need to do that with nitrate, but sometimes the reagents in the ammonia bottles will settle and give false readings.

 

[sallyjano]

That is really odd. Here's a thought ... will you retest the water after shaking the 2 ammonia tester bottles really well? Usually you only need to do that with nitrate, but sometimes the reagents in the ammonia bottles will settle and give false readings.

Ok thanks I'll try that now.

 

[sallyjano]

That is really odd. Here's a thought ... will you retest the water after shaking the 2 ammonia tester bottles really well? Usually you only need to do that with nitrate, but sometimes the reagents in the ammonia bottles will settle and give false readings.

I tried that but still got an ammonia reading.

 

[Greta1981]

All right. In that case, I'd use whatever spring water you do have to do a small water change so that the ammonia is at least diluted somewhat. If you can get it down to .25%, that will be manageable for the fish until tomorrow when you can pick up Prime.

 

[sallyjano]

I can do that but I just looked and I only have 2.5 gallons. Doubt that will do much in a 60 tank but I will try.

 

[Greta1981]

Is the ammo-lock you have API's Ammo-lock, by any chance?

 

[sallyjano]

Is the ammo-lock you have API's Ammo-lock, by any chance?

No it's Top Fin.

So I just added the 2 gallons of distilled water.

I just tested the water from the small spout we have next to the faucet which is a purifier. It's much better! Maybe just slightly over 0. So I can use water from that faucet but the problem is I can only get cold and the temperature change would be a problem right? Plus I already did a 50% water change today - I can't do another same day can I?

 

[Greta1981]

Distilled?? Or spring? Distilled is not good news for an aquarium. I'm sorry, I thought I made that clear. Fortunately, 2 gallon isn't much, so it shouldn't be a big problem. The temperature change would be an issue, yes. What are the fish looking right now? Are they gasping or still darting about frantically?

 

[sallyjano]

Oh no! Sorry! I didn't realize it made a difference. Yes it was only 2 gallons.

 

[sallyjano]

I guess I will just have to hope they will be ok until I can get some Prime tomorrow AM. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

 

[sallyjano]

Just checked - no they aren't gasping. Swimming around but nothing too frantic so hopefully the amm remover will work and they will make it.

Ugk just read your post re the water again and you definitely said not distilled. Sorry!

 

[Greta1981]

The no distilled is because distilled water lacks necessary minerals, buffers, etc., that are necessary for fish health. I really don't think 2 gallons will make much of a difference. For tonight, you've done all you can. What you might want to consider doing is putting some of the water in the other tap (the one with no ammonia) in some clean water jugs (maybe the distilled water jugs?) so that it warms up for tomorrow, in case you need it. In the meantime, keep an eye on them for any distress, but they should hopefully be fine until tomorrow. Keep us posted.

 

[sallyjano]

Thanks so much for the help. Yes not much more I can do now but the pet store opens at 7am and I'll be there! I will let you know. And next time you offer advice I will be sure to read thoroughly

 

[Mebbid]

.5 ppm ammonia is not a dangerous or even an unhealthy level at all. I would only start to worry once it gets to 1.0ppm. I'm at work now but will post a link regarding ammonia toxicity when I get home.

 

[Fresh2o]

In 2012 the water from the tap measured 1.0 ppm ammonia. I still did weekly 30-40% WCs. Usually by the next day I would see 0 ammonia and nitrites. The BB in the filter would take care of it. Once I measured 0.25 nitrite and freaked out but remembered that I performed a 80% WC the previous day. Nitrite returned to zero by the end of the day.
Having a seasoned filter and low bioload helped in my case.

 

[sallyjano]

Phew! Ok thanks. I didn't realize. I thought I had read that any ammonia was harmful. I know that once a tank is cycled it gets rid of any ammonia in the water but since its a newly upgraded tank I was not sure it would do that yet.

Anyway thanks and I will research it more.

 

[Greta1981]

Any ammonia is harmful, though not necessarily lethal. I come from a family of fish breeders and grew up with this mandate drilled into my head, though I personally didn't start keeping fish until last year. Ammonia is bad news in any amount, though small amounts will not necessarily kill all fish. (.25 CAN kill some, depending on species sensitivity.) Make sure you get some Prime today, to help with the fish-in cycle.