Ammonia in my Hypo Tank...

[synyster11]

I recently had a very bad out break of ich in my 80g tank. I had to set up an emergency Hypo tank. I used the water from the 80g to help with any cycling problem. Well, this did not seem to help. I went to look at the tank last night and noticed my blue hippo was losing color very bad and swimming into the corner like it was blind. The other fish were also breathing very heavy. I checked the water and the ammonia was around .75. I took about 20% of the water out and replaced it with the water from the 80g. I did not know what else to do, it was 2am and my blue hippo looked like it was going to die right there. Well, today the hippo looked ok. But the ammonia is still around .4 to .6. What should I do. I was about 1 second from giving up last night and putting the fish back in the main tank to save them, but I really want this ich problem solved. The Hypo tank is a 10 gallon, which is all I can afford right now, and it has 3 small tangs in it. Is this the problem???? I really don't have the money to buy a 30 gallon and a filter for it.....

 

[beth]

3 fish in a 10 gal that was never cycled, is that a problem? Yep. Please read the FAQ section which is stickied above.
At this point, place 2 cups of your substrate from your display tank in to the QT. If you have a dsb, try to pick out any worms, etc, in the sand before placing it in the diplay AND RETURN THE SAND CRITTERS TO THE DISPLAY.
Make sure that surface water agitation is very good. Vaccum up any uneaten food you see in the tank within 1/2 hr of feedings, or any other time that you see debris on the floor of the QT. Aside from this, you will need to perform water changes to dilute your QT.
Is the water hypo-ed at this point?? You can't just return fish in hypo to the main tank. That will kill them!

 

[synyster11]

No the SG was about 1.018. quick question. How can I tell if the fish are in troulbe because of ammonia just by looking at them. This is not the way I would like to do this but this ich case got out of hand reallly quick.

 

[beth]

Extremely labored breathing. fish darting about if crazy, even jumping, or trying jump out to get a way from the poison.