can't get my ammonia and nitrites down

[Beans21]

I have a 20 all in one. I've done 3 5 gallon water changes in the past 2 weeks and there still very high. My fish are breathing hard. Any suggestions.

[mbingha]

How long has the tank been setup, how much love rock, type of filtration, number of fish, how many, and how were they introduced?

[jrozzi]

yeah take your fish out put them in a different tank and let your tank cycle. by doing water changes you are prolonging it. the water changes are what is keeping your fish from dying from ammonia poisoning but with an uncycled tank you are fighting a losing battle. you need to let it finish. go buy like a 10g tank at Walmart for 20 bucks you'll have to keep the water changes up in the new tank. then buy some bacteria in a bottle to help speed up the cycle in your display tank, and if you can get your hands on some cured live rock that would help too.

[pmrossetti]

Amquel , water change, and let it cycle

[jrozzi]

Originally Posted by pmrossetti

Amquel , water change, and let it cycle

you do realize adding an ammonia detoxifier will not help a tank cycle at all and doing water changes will not help either. Bacteria needs to break the ammonia down into nitrites then nitrates if you are taking the ammonia out by water changes the bacteria can not accomplish this. It just starts the process all over every water change. eventually there will be enough bacteria established to sustain a tank but you are only prolonging a cycle by detoxifying and doing water changes.

[pmrossetti]

if fish are gasping you need to act fast.

[jrozzi]

yeah by putting them in a different tank with completely ammonia free water.

[phillrodrigo]

The ammonia detox will let the fish not feal the effects of the ammonia or nitrite. I don't think it wasn't meant to cycle faster. I would always keep a bottle of amquell on hand.

[Beans21]

Even if the water changes are from a established tank it's still going to prolong the process?

[GT350pwns]

water from an established tank does NOTHING for your nitrogen cycle. imo, you need to get the fish out of there and stop changing your water until you see a change in ammonia and nitrite levels. Ammonia and nitrite are in the water, the bacteria that process it are on any surface area (tank glass, rock, sand, etc) and they can't get to the ammonia and nitrite in time to process it if you keep taking it out and putting in other water.

[Beans21]

But what's the difference between setting up a quarantine with lr and established water and the tank with the high ammonia and nitrites. Wouldnt the quarantine tank have to get established too

Thanks everyone that replied

[jrozzi]

There is no difference you will have to keep doing water changes in your QT TO keep the ammonia down. This will allow your display time to cycle correctly. Doing water changes every day it will take your display tank forever to cycle.

[Beans21]

What's the avg. Time for a 20g to cycle

[UncleSalt]

3-4 weeks.

[Beans21]

How often do i water changes on the10g QT. With filter


Also I let the tank cycle for 4 weeks ( with a shrimp) before i put anything in there. Everything read normal

[Xavibear]

Originally Posted by Beans21

What's the avg. Time for a 20g to cycle

8-12 weeks

[Beans21]

Registered Member

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Join Date: Jun 2014

Posts: 87

How often do i water changes on the10g QT. With filter

[mbingha]

Originally Posted by mbingha

How long has the tank been setup, how much love rock, type of filtration, number of fish, how many, and how were they introduced?

...

[Beans21]

How often do i water changes on the10g QT. With filter

[Beans21]

Double post.

[mbingha]

Can't answer my questions?