ammonia in dempsey tank

**Cor13** · 03-03-2012, 02:30 AM

thanks will not change it again...companies trying to make money, absurd! lol

**Cor13** · 03-03-2012, 02:31 AM

oh wait so should i not touch the tank for a week and see hows it go?

**Honey Badger 1** · 03-03-2012, 02:33 AM

My guess is your tank is cycling because you changed out the media. You need to treat it as a cycling tank and test daily and change water accordingly.

**Cor13** · 03-03-2012, 02:35 AM

ok thanks will do

**Brhino** · 03-03-2012, 04:10 AM

the tank has only been set up for 2 weeks? Then it's definitely still cycling.

Also, how big are these fish and how many are there? A 30 gallon tank will not be suitable for anything but the youngest JDs. I do see that you said you're going to get a bigger tank, but in the mean time you're really going to have to stay on top of the water changes to keep the water clean.

**Lady Hobbs** · 03-03-2012, 01:13 PM

Everyone is spot on. Your tank was just beginning to cycle and grow the "good" bacteria in your filter media. And then you removed it and started the tank all over again so lost those first two weeks. You now began your cycle all over again the day you removed the old filter pads.

Do not allow those ammonia levels to get over .50 or you will kill all the fish.

You can not feed your fish nothing but blood worms. They need the nutrients that are in pellets and blood worms are supposed to be a "treat". If you continue to give them nothing but worms, they will not eat any foods anymore.

**Cor13** · 03-03-2012, 03:41 PM

yeah i feed them a variety of foods, floating pellets, sinking shrimp pellets, blood worms , dried shrimp, baby guppies from our breeder tank. they are 1in and 1.5 in. i am fully aware the tank is too small for when they get big.i check the levels everyday...checked ammonia levels today and they are at .5...water change time?

**nikelodeon79** · 03-03-2012, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Cor13

i am fully aware the tank is too small for when they get big.

Are you aware that due to the tank size, they might not ever get big? They might die due to a number of reasons (overstocked tank, fights over territory, etc.) or get stunted due to the too small tank.

**Cor13** · 03-03-2012, 05:38 PM

friendly place...
i understand...i have done research on all subjects of JD's... i started this tank because theres plenty of room for how big they are right now.

**Goes to 11!** · 03-03-2012, 05:52 PM

It IS a friendly place and niks questions are all valid.

Few and far between are the folks on this site that would ever suggest you stock a tank with fish that will outgrow it by leaps and bounds. [Having the adult sized tank already in hand is an exception]. Plans change, stuff happens & sometimes life gets in the way of getting that bigger tank..

However, This is exactly what you have going on here and asking relevant questions and pointing out the potential issues is the friendliest thing we can do for your fish.

The 'long view' wins over the 'right now' every time.