[freddy1477]

i have been readin my ammonia and is been high i have been doin water changes and everytime it reads high so i went to my lfs the i deal with and after breaking are heads trying to come with a solution he ask me have i ever use windex in the tank and yes i did i put windex in the background so it could stick to the glass now could that really b the problem help me out please i dont want my fish to die thanks...

 

[gaqua]

............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Please select some of the above punctuation marks and intersperse them throughout your future posts, it will make them easier to read.

As for an answer: if you sprayed windex inside the tank, it could be the cause. But first things first.

1) How big is this tank and how long has it been established?
2) How did you cycle the tank and how long has the problem with ammonia been present?
3) If you put windex on the outside of the tank, it's probably not the problem. Unless you have very bad aim.

 

[freddy1477]

the tank its been runnin for a month and a week and i used bio spira to cycle and is a 55 gallon tank the problem been there for about a week or two and yes i spray the windex outside the tank so i dont know if thats really the problem. and im also reading nitrate so dont that means the tank is clycle?

 

[gaqua]

5 weeks is usually enough to cycle a 55G, especially if it's seeded with biospira.

What kind of fish are in it and how many? What are your exact readings for
Ammonia
Nitrites
Nitrates

 

[freddy1477]

i have 8 mbunas in there now and my readin is 8.0 they told me at the lfs to do a big water change and start all over again?

 

[cichlidaholic]

I would do several partial AND frequent water changes, rather than do a massive change all at once. Pick up some Prime and use this as your dechlorinator...It will also help detoxify the ammonia. You may need to do 3 water changes a day until you get things under control.

Feed minimally until you do...

Are you sure this is your ammonia reading and not your ph???

I'm not clear on whether you used the Windex on the outside of the tank or on the inside...I hope it was the outside.

Also, it would be good to know what type test kits you are using? Are they the strip type or liquid reagent type? How old are they?

Have you done any water changes since setting up the tank?

Are the fish showing any signs of problems? Gasping at the surface? Redness in the gill area? Flashing?

Kim

 

[freddy1477]

yes im sure is the ammonia and i used the windex outside the tank im usin both type of test how old are they i dont know thats a good ? but i will check for exp dates and yes i have been doin water changes since setting up thats why i have no idea wat could b ccausing the problem? how about rocks? could that ever make your ammonia high?

 

[cichlidaholic]

The tank is still relatively new.

I'm not a big fan of the "bacteria in a bottle", but are you sure you used it properly?

Test kits shouldn't be used after 6 months of opening them, for the most part.

Waste is making your ammonia high. Take a look at your feeding habits and tank maintenance...How is your filtration on the tank? How many gph are you pushing through?

 

[freddy1477]

i feed them once every other day and i have 2 hob filters i really dont know im starting to worry i dont want my little guys to die im attach aleady :-?

 

[cichlidaholic]

I would get started on those water changes.

 

[freddy1477]

ok thanks i will but you think is really the windex i used?

 

[kewlkatdady]

dont ever use a chemical cleaner on your tanks....

EVER!

Can that be the issue? Yes.
Am I sure that is the issue? No.

 

[chapman76]

I doubt the windex had anything to do with it since it was on the outside of the tank. I do agree with the above post about not using soap or any type of cleaner on a tank. If needed, I'll use some ammonia since that is a starter for cycling anyways.

Most likely, it's just a new tank with a large bio load. If the Bio Spira wasn't kept properly the entire time, the bacteria was most likely dead when you put it into the tank and therefore didn't provide any benefit. It's a product that must always get kept cool.

 

[freddy1477]

so should i try another bio spira? and it was cold wen i got it tho.

 

[chapman76]

Nah, I wouldn't waste the money. Just do partial water changes as Kim suggested.

 

[freddy1477]

ok thanks for the help