Darn it!! Thought it was done :(

[holbritter]

Guess my 15 gallon isn't done cycling yet?

Readings were Ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 40+
Did a 50% water change yesterday. This morning, ammonia 1.0, nitrites .50 and nitrates still 40+

Why would this happen? I haven't added the fish yet or anything else. Getting a little frustrated, but that too, will pass :)

[Lady Hobbs]

Those readings should change quickly is the bacteria you grew is still present. I don't know why you would get those readings tho.

[hungryhound]

Could the readings be a result of your tap water. I would check your tap waters parameters and see what it says.

There was someone a few days ago that lived on a farm that had fertilizer washing into their well causing their tap water to have ammonia. You may have a similar problem.

[cocoa_pleco]

Could the readings be a result of your tap water.


hope to god that isnt the issue in your tank again holbritter

[holbritter]

Could the readings be a result of your tap water. I would check your tap waters parameters and see what it says.

There was someone a few days ago that lived on a farm that had fertilizer washing into their well causing their tap water to have ammonia. You may have a similar problem.

Yup, that was me.

And yes, I just tested it again, and the ammonia is reading .25

I give up!

[hungryhound]

Yup, that was me.

And yes, I just tested it again, and the ammonia is reading .25

I give up!

Did I read and understand you correct in that your tap water has a reading of .25 ppm. ammonia.

IF this is the case. Then this would be the reason for your ammonia spike after the water change. To me it appears that your tank is cycled, but you are goign to overload the bacteria every time you do a water change because of the addition of the ammonia in the tap water.

On how to fix it I am stumped. Hopefully someone that knows water chemistry a little better will be able to help you. Personally, the thought of drinking water that has ammonia in it does not seem like a great idea to me. It may be that you need to have it checked.

[holbritter]

I've been doing some internet investigation :)

I found this interesting, and will give it a try. It can't hurt, right?

Thoughts?

Here's the link:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Chrona]

You mean live plants? Sure, but you should not consider it as your primary filtration, since it takes high light + CO2 + additional fertilizers along with fast growing stem plants to bypass the cycling process in a planted tank. At best, consider them supplementary filters. The bacteria growing on the leaves will probably help with your situation more than the actual ammonium uptake.

[hungryhound]

I've been doing some internet investigation :)

I found this interesting, and will give it a try. It can't hurt, right?

Thoughts?

Here's the link:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]


The plants will help, but Unless you get another source of water.,ou are going to get an ammonia spike every water change if your tap water has ammonia in it.

[Drumachine09]

The plants will help, but Unless you get another source of water.,ou are going to get an ammonia spike every water change if your tap water has ammonia in it.

Is it common for tap water to have ammonia in it? I thought that after all of the filtration that it has to go through, there wouldnt be.

[holbritter]

I'm on a well, so no filtration. I do have a water softner, but that doesn't do it.

To help save the fish I already have, I'm going to get some water lettuce to start. There is really nothing else I can do with the limited budget I'm on, so buying 20 gallons of bottled water a week is out for right now.

The other tank I'm just going to take down. :( Very sad about that, as I was looking foward to my little puffers.

Thanks everyone for their input. I'll still be working on my well water problem. My hubby doesn't want me to call the health dept. because if they shut down our well, we'll be totally screwed! At over $10,000 for a new one, that's just not possible right now.
We won't be using the water for drinking or cooking, but at least we'll be able to shower and stuff. And that's GOOD news for the people closest to us :wink2: