Ammonia won't go down

**cj5_dude** · 08-10-2012, 12:48 AM

So I've had a few threads on this already but I want to keep making sure I'm doing things right. I can't get my ammonia down below 0.25. I did a test using the API test kit and it showed 0.25 so I did a 50% water change in my 10 gallon tank. I tested it right after and it was still at 0.25. I did two water changes today and it still shows at 0.25. I can't imagine what's causing it to stay there after water changes. I'm afraid I'm stressing my fish out too much by doing water changes. The platy's seemed happy a week ago and now they just hang out at the top of the water facing into the corners like they're in time out. The hatchetfish and the dojo seem as normal.

I've got a gravel vacuum and moved all the decorations to one side and cleaned out the gravel on one half then the next water change did the other half. Why won't my ammonia level go down? My nitrates and nitrites are at 0 and have been for over a week now.

**Cory Catfish** · 08-10-2012, 12:51 AM

Maybe it's the test kit's problem? I know API is a reputable brand but it can have defects if kept too long in humid/hot conditions in the petstore.

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-10-2012, 01:54 AM

If it was cycled, you would not be showing ammonia or nitrite levels at all.

**cj5_dude** · 08-10-2012, 02:01 AM

I don't believe it's done cycling, so I realize that the level will be something until it's done cycling, but I can't figure out why it won't go down. I guess it's possible that the kit is defective but I don't know how to prove it. I did take some water to test at the local fish store and he showed 0 ammonia but I didn't trust him. If it's not ammonia why do my platy's hang out in the corner? Should I not do any water changes for a few days to see if it's the water changes that are stressing the fish?

**dbosman** · 08-10-2012, 02:04 AM

Boiler plate that I'm sure some folks are getting tired of seeing, follows:
At .25 to .5 Your specific ammonia reading may or may not matter depending on your test kit. There are two basic aquarium Ammonia test kits. Nessler and Salicylate.

Nessler test kits often (almost always) give a positive of .25 to .5 Ammonia due to ammonium. Nessler kits check for only total ammonia and ammonium, shows in that total, but for the most part, isn't an issue in aquariums. *
Nessler method kits have color charts in shades of amber or brown.

Salicylate method kits have color charts in shades of green. They test for free ammonia or they have you do further tests to differentiate free ammonia and ammonia bound as ammonium compounds.

For the nit pickers * Yes I am aware of the pH and temperature interactions. If you are, why didn't you address the actual question?

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-10-2012, 02:32 AM

Have you read the cycling threads? You have to have some ammonia in order to cycle but not so high that it harms the fish. You can't just get rid of the ammonia. Bacteria needs to grow that will do that.