molotov256
Aquarium Advice Regular
Okay, I'm getting confused here.
I set up a used tank that I got. Before I set it up, I washed it out (yes, I used soap, but I rinsed it really really really well with a pressure washer, so I THINK that should be okay).
I let the tank run for about a week with a bio wheel filter and a heater in it, and after asking a few people, I bought some lava rock from the walmart garden center to use as a substrate because it looks really cool. I rinsed it off pretty well, too, because it was really dirty. I got the water tested before I bought any fish, and they said I had high ammonia, so I put some amquel-plus in the tank to try to counteract that. I got the water tested again, and the lady said that the water was fine, but also that the lava rocks were going to continue to put off ammonia. She said that as long as I use amquel, it would be okay. Since the water was fine, I picked up a few feeder fish to put in the tank to test it before I bought any nice fish, and they all died within 24 hours. (hmm, sounds like the water may not be so fine after all?) :?
SOOOOO... my question is this. Why do I have high ammonia, and how can I fix it? The only 2 things I can think of is either the soapy washing may not have been rinsed well enough, or the lava rocks are a lethal substrate. BUT, if thats the case, then why did my water test out fine for ammonia? I've also read in a few places online that lava rocks help REMOVE ammonia from ponds. Too much conflicting information. I figured that with all the super-smart people here at aquariumadvice, somebody would help set me straight here!!
Thanks in advance,
Andrew
I set up a used tank that I got. Before I set it up, I washed it out (yes, I used soap, but I rinsed it really really really well with a pressure washer, so I THINK that should be okay).
I let the tank run for about a week with a bio wheel filter and a heater in it, and after asking a few people, I bought some lava rock from the walmart garden center to use as a substrate because it looks really cool. I rinsed it off pretty well, too, because it was really dirty. I got the water tested before I bought any fish, and they said I had high ammonia, so I put some amquel-plus in the tank to try to counteract that. I got the water tested again, and the lady said that the water was fine, but also that the lava rocks were going to continue to put off ammonia. She said that as long as I use amquel, it would be okay. Since the water was fine, I picked up a few feeder fish to put in the tank to test it before I bought any nice fish, and they all died within 24 hours. (hmm, sounds like the water may not be so fine after all?) :?
SOOOOO... my question is this. Why do I have high ammonia, and how can I fix it? The only 2 things I can think of is either the soapy washing may not have been rinsed well enough, or the lava rocks are a lethal substrate. BUT, if thats the case, then why did my water test out fine for ammonia? I've also read in a few places online that lava rocks help REMOVE ammonia from ponds. Too much conflicting information. I figured that with all the super-smart people here at aquariumadvice, somebody would help set me straight here!!
Thanks in advance,
Andrew