ammonia up in hypo tank

dbestnindy

dbestnindy

Member
It has been four days since fish went into hypo and it was constant water changes to get it down to .009. It has been only two days since I haven't changed any water. Anyway decided to take advice and check on ph. It is down to 8.o
ammonia is at .50 scary
nitrates and nitrites are at 0
there isn't anywhere to get salt water until the morning. I don't understand why this is so high already. Any ideas on what could be causing this?
The fish are in a 46g
1 dottieback
2 clown
1 kole tang
1 baby hippo
5 chromis
1 coral beauty
I moved the filter from the DT and the water so there shouldn't be a cycle. Also, what is a good product for the PH. Any suggestions would be helpful. I hope the fish will be okay until tomorrow.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
The water from the DT will not prevent a cycle. Biological bacteria colonizes on surfaces, such as rock, sand, tank walls, and filter media. Using the filter from the DT is helping. There isn't a great deal of surface area in filter media so the bacteria is having trouble keeping up with the large bio load. The bacteria will spread out and colonize the other surfaces of your tank. You will have to manually keep the ammonia low until it does. When you go to the store in the morning pick up some Amquel plus. That will detoxify the ammonia and help with the nitrite spike that will be coming. As for tonight, you can pull some water from your display and dilute it to 1.009. Use that for a change.
 
dbestnindy

dbestnindy

Member
I can't believe I didn't think of that. Thanks a bunch. I have it mixed and waiting for it to heat up some. Glad I had some R/O water on hand.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by DBESTNINDY
http:///forum/post/3016576
I can't believe I didn't think of that. Thanks a bunch. I have it mixed and waiting for it to heat up some. Glad I had some R/O water on hand.
Pick up the Amquel plus when you go buy the salt. It is just a product for when you are in a pinch, but it does work.
 
dbestnindy

dbestnindy

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3016804
Pick up the Amquel plus when you go buy the salt. It is just a product for when you are in a pinch, but it does work.
I just read Do NOT use with ammonia test kits using Nessler reagents (will give a false reading).
What kind of test kit would I get?
 
dbestnindy

dbestnindy

Member
I still have high ammonia, about .30. I did a 15g change and the next day I did a 20g change. (in a 46). I read that doing a water change everyday was too much. Would it help to put some sand in from DT to help with some bacteria?
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
Originally Posted by DBESTNINDY
http:///forum/post/3019823
I still have high ammonia, about .30. I did a 15g change and the next day I did a 20g change. (in a 46). I read that doing a water change everyday was too much. Would it help to put some sand in from DT to help with some bacteria?
Sand from DT will help..1-2 cups
Originally Posted by DBESTNINDY
http:///forum/post/3020037
no, I didn't. I thought that would be for an emergency only. I wasn't sure how I could test the water after I used also.
options are to use the Amquel plus evn though you can't test or massive water changes
 
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