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Thread: Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

  1. #1
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    Default Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

    What do you all do when you find ammonia in the tank when you are not expecting it? What is your standard operating procedure to deal with it?

  2. #2
    Registered Member HarryDk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

    1) Check if there is a dead fish somewhere. (a friend of mine found a dead rat in his tank, don't ask me how lol)
    2) Big water change asap then a good dose of Safe/Prime.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

    Quote Originally Posted by HarryDk View Post
    1) Check if there is a dead fish somewhere. (a friend of mine found a dead rat in his tank, don't ask me how lol)
    2) Big water change asap then a good dose of Safe/Prime.
    Step two is a temporary solution. What if the problem is more chronic than that?

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

    Check for decomposing organic matter anywhere. Consider why the bio filter isn't taking care of the ammonia...pH/kH too low, not enough bio media, etc. Reduce feeding until resolved and test for nitrite.

  5. #5
    Registered Member HarryDk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

    Quote Originally Posted by CammieTime View Post
    Step two is a temporary solution. What if the problem is more chronic than that?
    Those 2 steps are for emergency.
    Assuming you have a fully cycled tank. Ammonia spike only appear when there is decomposing organic, if not worst you have PH crashed that wipe out your entire bb colonies.
    Like Megalodon said, check your PH, bb start to die off when PH going below 6 (if i remember the number right). If you detect the issue quickly, there is good chance you can save your filter. If not ...... ehh, i dont want to talk about it, nightmare i had when i started ~_~.

  6. #6
    Registered Member warblad79's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

    Maybe you missed you water change or not enough water change. How to deal with it? Do 100% water change daily (aged water).

  7. #7
    Silver Member Willie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

    Come by and I'll give you a cycled sponge, Willie
    At my age, everything is irritating.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Dealing with Unexpected Ammonia

    Quote Originally Posted by Willie View Post
    Come by and I'll give you a cycled sponge, Willie
    Thanks Willie. I will take you up on that.

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