Tuesday I bought 5 guppies to add to my 160L tank that already houses 5 neon tetras. Since adding the guppies my ammonia levels have increased due to the increasing bio matter.
I read that guppies need to be fed 3 times a day due to how active they are- so I fed them 3 times a day (including my tetras), the only problem was they were also eating the food that was for the tetras, which I later figured out how to avoid.
Last night I tested my water and my ammonia level was 0.25, when before the guppies it was continuously at 0. I couldn't do anything until this morning when I went to my local pet store and picked up some Quick Start and also some Ammo-Lock to detoxify my ammonia. When I got home I did a 30-40% water change and vacuumed my gravel as well, added in all my water conditioners etc, along with the Quick Start and Ammo-Lock. Returned from work tonight and did another ammonia test and my ammonia has gone up to between 0.25 and 0.50!?! I know the Ammo-Lock detoxifies the ammonia but what the hell!? How did this happen!?
I tested my tap water and it's at 0 ammonia!? WHAT IS CAUSING THIS!?
It's also worth noting that I bought another piece of driftwood today for my tank (I've had previous problems with lowering my pH) and I boiled it to clean it. I only fed my fish once today to prevent excess waste to have a better reading of my levels, my tank is also planted (had to get rid of a lot of one of my plants today due to algae but then added in an algae conditioner)
A friend of mine suggested doing a 50% water change if it doesn't change. Another question I have is should I still add in my conditioners etc or not if I'm having to do water changes everyday?
Please help!
I read that guppies need to be fed 3 times a day due to how active they are- so I fed them 3 times a day (including my tetras), the only problem was they were also eating the food that was for the tetras, which I later figured out how to avoid.
Last night I tested my water and my ammonia level was 0.25, when before the guppies it was continuously at 0. I couldn't do anything until this morning when I went to my local pet store and picked up some Quick Start and also some Ammo-Lock to detoxify my ammonia. When I got home I did a 30-40% water change and vacuumed my gravel as well, added in all my water conditioners etc, along with the Quick Start and Ammo-Lock. Returned from work tonight and did another ammonia test and my ammonia has gone up to between 0.25 and 0.50!?! I know the Ammo-Lock detoxifies the ammonia but what the hell!? How did this happen!?
I tested my tap water and it's at 0 ammonia!? WHAT IS CAUSING THIS!?
It's also worth noting that I bought another piece of driftwood today for my tank (I've had previous problems with lowering my pH) and I boiled it to clean it. I only fed my fish once today to prevent excess waste to have a better reading of my levels, my tank is also planted (had to get rid of a lot of one of my plants today due to algae but then added in an algae conditioner)
A friend of mine suggested doing a 50% water change if it doesn't change. Another question I have is should I still add in my conditioners etc or not if I'm having to do water changes everyday?
Please help!