Ammonia Reading from Dead Fish

[Just Another Fish Guy]

Hey guys!

Unfortunately I lost 2 Zebra Danios...1 last night and one today. I tested the water last night and my Ammonia reading was around .25ppm. The test before that which came on Friday morning showed 0ppm Ammonia.

I'm not sure what killed the first Danio, but I'm thinking that the .25ppm is coming from me not being able to find him in the tank. I did an 85% water change today and moved all of my decor, but still couldn't find it. I think the large water change I did today lead to the death of the second Danio because it was during the refill that he went belly up.

How long do you think it will take for this fish to decay fully?

 

[UABsleeperSRNA]

if you have already removed the two dead fish and you got all of the first dead fish out after the water change your ammonia problem should not be from the first dead fish it should have removed that problem when you removed it from the tank! if you do still have ammonia it is probably due to another cause! ha and yeah the 85% water change may have been a little excessive for the fish! probably next time may wanna try 40-50% water change and dosing prime for the full volume of the tank that way your neutralizing any residual ammonia not removed with the water change

 

[Just Another Fish Guy]

Two died...but I was only able to get 1 out. I'm not sure where the other is lol.

 

[UABsleeperSRNA]

Oh then yes you will continue to have ammonia build up until you get it out or it completly breaks down which could take a while.. I would try to look pretty good decaying fish could cause a bunch of problems bacteria fungus ect..

 

[Just Another Fish Guy]

Well...that's why I took out as much water as I did. I was hoping it would swim out from where it was hiding...but no luck.

I also took out most of my decor and rinsed it, but still couldn't find the darn thing. It was tiny, so hopefully it goes away quickly. As long as my Ammonia stays below .25ppm...I think I'll be ok.

But yeah...for sure next time I won't take out as much water lol.

 

[UABsleeperSRNA]

Well...that's why I took out as much water as I did. I was hoping it would swim out from where it was hiding...but no luck.

I also took out most of my decor and rinsed it, but still couldn't find the darn thing. It was tiny, so hopefully it goes away quickly. As long as my Ammonia stays below .25ppm...I think I'll be ok.

But yeah...for sure next time I won't take out as much water lol.

Here is a Calculator for free ammonia which is the toxic form and varies depending on your ph and temp you can put in the formula and it will tell you at which level your fish are apt to be at risk.. i would say .25 would probably be ok but also need to keep a watch on your nitrites

CNYKOI - Ammonia calculator

 

[Just Another Fish Guy]

.021 Free Ammonia.

Current temp is 78 and pH is 8.2. I'm ok for now...just need to keep total Ammonia as low as possible for now. Nitrites are 0ppm.

It could also be because I've added quite a few fish all within a week.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

If a water change killed your fish, it was probably due to a change in parameters, not the change itsself. I've done a 90% change with no issue, but I have a 35 gallon rubbermaid that I fill with water, then drop an airstone in and let it sit for 24 hours. I'm on a well so I don't use dechlorinator, but I have to do this because of low pH out the tap.

After 24 hours, the result is my water with a pH of about 7 (tank pH 7.4) with an overall change of .2- not bad. (50% change)

The temperature is about 72, with a tank temp of 78ish and a change of about 4 degrees, again not bad. (50% change)

However, when I did a 90% change, I turned off the heater in my tank so that there was no change in temperature, then plugged the heater back in afterward.

 

[UABsleeperSRNA]

It could also be because I've added quite a few fish all within a week.

Very likely possibility gonna take a little while for your aquarium to catch up with your bioload if it's not overstocked! and your filtration is adequate! your good for now just keep a watch on it and no more changing 85% ha 50% max

 

[Just Another Fish Guy]

If a water change killed your fish, it was probably due to a change in parameters, not the change itsself. I've done a 90% change with no issue, but I have a 35 gallon rubbermaid that I fill with water, then drop an airstone in and let it sit for 24 hours. I'm on a well so I don't use dechlorinator, but I have to do this because of low pH out the tap.

After 24 hours, the result is my water with a pH of about 7 (tank pH 7.4) with an overall change of .2- not bad. (50% change)

The temperature is about 72, with a tank temp of 78ish and a change of about 4 degrees, again not bad. (50% change)

However, when I did a 90% change, I turned off the heater in my tank so that there was no change in temperature, then plugged the heater back in afterward.

I use the Aqueon water changer, so it comes right from the tap to the tank. I make sure to dose the tank with dechlorinator for the total volume of the tank.

The only parameter that is different is the temp. Tank is 78 and tap is 79.

 

[Just Another Fish Guy]

Very likely possibility gonna take a little while for your aquarium to catch up with your bioload if it's not overstocked! and your filtration is adequate! your good for now just keep a watch on it and no more changing 85% ha 50% max

Lol...I have 2 Emperor 400s with 4 bio-wheels on my 60 gallon. So far I have 7 Zebra Danios, 6 Corys, 2" Pleco and 8 Black Neon Tetras. I put all that in the tank within a week of finishing the cycle.

 

[UABsleeperSRNA]

Lol...I have 2 Emperor 400s with 4 bio-wheels on my 60 gallon. So far I have 7 Zebra Danios, 6 Corys, 2" Pleco and 8 Black Neon Tetras. I put all that in the tank within a week of finishing the cycle.

ha yeah i would say that would increase the bioload.. probably just gonna take some time to catch up! what type of pleco is that may eventually have to rehome it..

 

[Just Another Fish Guy]

ha yeah i would say that would increase the bioload.. probably just gonna take some time to catch up! what type of pleco is that may eventually have to rehome it..

It's a Common Pleco. I'm thinking I'll get a year out of him before he will need to be rehomed. I may just get a BN Pleco instead.

 

[UABsleeperSRNA]

Yep probably a better choice 5 inches or so instead of 12 haha

 

[Just Another Fish Guy]

I may just get more Julii Corys lol. I still want to get about 10-12 Cardinal Tetras and maybe a half dozen Rummynose Tetras. Then I'll top it off with 1 male and 2 female Dwarf Gouramis.

 

[UABsleeperSRNA]

Or a couple more Cory and a couple of angels!! My fav

 

[treemanone2003]

An 85% WC will in no way harm the fish. It's awl way better to change more than less IMO/E. I do 50% 3x's per week and 100% once a week on my adult tanks. My juvie (when I have them) and QT get a minimum of 75% daily.

The ammo buildup corresponds directly to the tank stocking immediately after completing the cycle as the bb is trying to play catch up.

When looking for fish in the future, try to find out what days they get stock in. Don't buy that day !!!!! Let them settle in for a couple days since the shipping has stressed them. Also allows for the LFS to end up with the loss and not you. A better choice (and my preference) is to purchase online from a trusted source. Then into the QT tank for a couple weeks of observation and finally the DT.

 

[UABsleeperSRNA]

Ha did I mention you will get many opinions on this topic.. I only change about 30% of my water every 3 days (all my fish are happy as can be nitrate 10-15 ammonia 0 and nitrite 0).. I have seen large water changes kill a couple of fish esp if already stressed out fish.. Unless your raising discus and and trying to remove the inhibitory growth hormones or ammonia is grater tan 1.5 I don't know why you would need to change more than 50 % but I use a water change system and run tap water directly into my tank so that probably adds a little extra stress this is just my personal opinion hope it helps

 

[Caliban07]

An 85% WC will in no way harm the fish. It's awl way better to change more than less IMO/E. I do 50% 3x's per week and 100% once a week on my adult tanks. My juvie (when I have them) and QT get a minimum of 75% daily.

The ammo buildup corresponds directly to the tank stocking immediately after completing the cycle as the bb is trying to play catch up.

When looking for fish in the future, try to find out what days they get stock in. Don't buy that day !!!!! Let them settle in for a couple days since the shipping has stressed them. Also allows for the LFS to end up with the loss and not you. A better choice (and my preference) is to purchase online from a trusted source. Then into the QT tank for a couple weeks of observation and finally the DT.

With that amount and frequency of water changes it's now wonder your fish are not effected. They will be little time for parameters to alter much and if the replacement water is stable then your good to go.

 

[Just Another Fish Guy]

Well...good news and bad news. The good news is that I only lost 1 Zebra Danio instead of 2. I found him by one of my rocks and flushed him last night. The other one that I thought I lost due to the WC is actually completly fine now.

The bad news is that my Ammonia is spiking (around .25ppm this morning) due to the bio-load I've put on the filters. I'll be doing a 30% water change today and will recheck in the morning.