Need some serious help

[kanima]

I know this is saltwater only forums, But I can get better and quicker answers here than anywhere else.
Let me give ya some background. I gave my brother my 55 gal saltwater and he changed it to freshwater. Everything was cleaned he is using my penguin 400 biowheel on it. This tank is now going on 4 months old and is having major ammonia issues. He is using Ro/Di water, I cut him down to feeding every 2 days I think he has like 10 fish total in the tank nothing in the large size scale.We cycled the tank I even done the testing to make sure it was cycled before we added any fish. We are using 2 differnt test kits both are readin the same. He started his problems 3 months ago I got him some ammo sorb it would never get under 2ppm never! We have been doing 10 to 15 gal water changes every week on the tank still no drop in AMMO. So now this morning he just told me it was at 8ppm. Do any of you have any ideas to help me solve this I haven't messed with freshwater in sooooo long. But everything I read is pointing to a new tank that is cycling at 4 months old no way this is still cycling.

 

[luvmyreef]

Did you change the bio wheel? Some of the bacteria may be dying, or any left over coraline, etc.

 

[kanima]

Yep new wheels and no corline all this stuff set outside for a like a week before cleaning to left all die off and dry out to make it easier to get it off.

 

[flower]

I kept freshwater fish for over 30 years....
You don't have enough bacteria built up to handle the amount of live stock. The penguin doesn't have enough bio media...it is a big HOB filter for a 55g but it doesn't have much in the area of media, it just has those toss away pads...switch to a canister filter where you can run different media an keep the pads and not toss them out...rinse and reuse them, they will be full of good bacteria.

 

[luvmyreef]

Well, then I am not sure... Ammonia can be found because of uneaten food, decay of a dead animal, an antibiotic, and a shortage of oxygen, or tank temps are too warm, or dying bacteria. I have no experience with large freshwater tanks, hope someone can help ya...

 

[kanima]

Yea I kind of thought that too about the bacteria but isn't there enough rock in freshwater to have a huge surface area for it? I have a canister he can use but then won't we eventually enter a nitrate issue?