How to lower ammonia level safely?

Question

I was happy to see my level go to a 1 because it was a 8+. I added some cycle today, but I do not know how long it takes.

Answer 1

Listen to the first lady. Anyone who tells you to change 75% of your water is an idiot.

You have a lot of fish in there for a cycle. I suggest that you return at least 1/2 of your platies and your "algae eater", (if this is a common pleco, http://www.aquariumlife.net/profiles/com... it will grow way too large for your tank anyway,) and start over with a proper cycle:

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

As you add fish throughout your cycle, remember that yours is a small tank, and will easily become over-stocked. It is important to stock based on the full-grown size of the fish, (2-2.5" for platies, depending on which kind you have,) and not the baby size sold at most stores.

For more info on fish requirements/profiles/size:

http://www.peteducation.com:80/category_...

and

http://www.aquariumlife.net/fishsearch.a...

Good luck.

Answer 2

Change 25%-75% regularly until the ammonia level drops, it should drop gradually.  

Answer 3

If your ammonia levels were that high you need to be changing between 25-50% of your water. This may shock your fish but that would be better for them then getting ammonia poisoning. Ammonia is very painful to fish when it is in too large of amount. Keep doing this daily until your ammonia levels come down. Are you using a siphon to pick up some of the debris and remove the water for the bottom of the tank? If not what might help is sticking in your net and pulling out 25% of your gravel and rinsing them in hot water. THis should almost immediately drop your ammonia levels. Keep doing this everytime you do a water change and in about a week or two your ammonia levels should be down.

Do you cycle the tank before you put your fish in? If you did you  are probably overfeeding and that is what caused your ammonia spike. Remember to only feed your fish as much as they can eat in a 2-3 minute period. Also, you may want to make sure your filter is working properly.

Answer 4

If you have done a water change, i can not see why the level is so high, maybe you are feeding them too much.

Answer 5

You never want to change more than 50% for any reason.  25% on weekly water changes.

My question is you have a 14 gallon for two months and have 7 fish.  Did you test your tap water?  Do you have a planted tank as well?

Ammonia comes from the fish, food, rotten plants etc.  Sounds like you may need to check your filter.  It may be too small for your tank.  Also do not feed your fish for a day.  Excess foods will also spike your ammonia level.

You need to keep to a 25% weekly water change and cleaning schedule.  Even a 1 is high for ammonia.  Do not add chemicals to bring the ammonia down.  These chemicals only show false readings on your testing driving you more crazy trying to figure out what is going on.

Keep testing.  When you see it is starting to drop, then worry about the nitrites.

Answer 6

It sounds like your tank is not cycled.  Doing water changes will decrease the ammonia in your water, but you should never do more than a 50 percent water change.  20 to 30 percent once or twice a week should be plenty.  More than that IS too much.  Besides, water changes are a temporary fix and your ammonia is just going to go back up again.  You need to get your tank cycled.  Try getting some Cycle, Bio-Spira or Start Right to add the beneficial bacteria that converts ammonia into nitrite.  You can also use Amquel+ which binds ammonia into a less toxic form, but leaves it available to the bacteria.  Also, live plants will help by using the ammonia for fertilizer.  Faster growing plants use more.  Make sure you keep your plants healthy and trim off any dead or dying leaves or fronds.  Dead plants only add to the ammonia in the water.  Make sure you are not overfeeding your fish.  Rotting food in the water increases ammonia.  Be diligent about your gravel vacuuming.  Check your filter to make sure it's functioning and clean.  As a last resort you can decrease the number of fish in your tank.

As your tank cycles your nitrite levels will go up.  Continue to do frquent water changes to nurse your fish through the nitrite spike.  Eventually it will drop down to zero as the bacteria that converts nitrite into nitrate grows.  Once your ammonia and your nitrites are both at 0 and you have nitrate in your tank, it will be fully cycled.  Then you will only have to do weekly regular water changes to keep the nitrates down.  Fortunately nitrates are much less toxic to fish than either ammonia or nitrite.