High Ammonia in Betta Tank

[SCWood]

Hi! I'm having a lot of trouble getting my tank to balance. My one fish's tank is extremely high in ammonia and when I came home he was laying on his side. I removed him and put him in clean water and he seems better but I'm freaked out. I was told not to touch the water but I know the only way to gee t rid of ammonia is to change it so I removed 25%. Anything else I can do?

If you wanna step inside, pay admission at the door...
🐕
🐱
🐍🐍
🐊🐊
Total: 6❤

[MrGriffyn]

Not trying to come off as rude but you do realize your on a forum based about reptiles and even ball pythons in particular, right? Your best bet will be to register on here > http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/

[SCWood]

Not trying to come off as rude but you do realize your on a forum based about reptiles and even ball pythons in particular, right? Your best bet will be to register on here > http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/

I know but this is a subforum and there's a lot of people here so I figured I could ask..

If you wanna step inside, pay admission at the door...
🐕
🐱
🐍🐍
🐊🐊
Total: 6❤

[GoingPostal]

You could add prime or some other ammonia binder/remover. Is this a new uncycled tank? Do you have a stable setup tank you can get some good bacteria from?

[SCWood]

You could add prime or some other ammonia binder/remover. Is this a new uncycled tank? Do you have a stable setup tank you can get some good bacteria from?

This is a new tank. We have 2 and only one is doing this so no :/ no way to get the bacteria. I used Quick Start but it didn't help

If you wanna step inside, pay admission at the door...
🐕
🐱
🐍🐍
🐊🐊
Total: 6❤

[kriwu]

This is a new tank. We have 2 and only one is doing this so no :/ no way to get the bacteria. I used Quick Start but it didn't help

If you wanna step inside, pay admission at the door...
��
��
����
����
Total: 6❤

Quick start doesn't do anything, don't buy it, it's a scam. Bacteria doesn't have a shelf life and it can't live in a bottle. The only way to establish a cycle is to use pure ammonia or in-fish cycling. Here's a great guide on cycling.

[NJxRinzler]

Quick start doesn't do anything, don't buy it, it's a scam. Bacteria doesn't have a shelf life and it can't live in a bottle. The only way to establish a cycle is to use pure ammonia or in-fish cycling. Here's a great guide on cycling.

I agree, quick start is crap and don't buy it. I do, however, recommend Tetra Safe Start instead and have used it many times in the past. Works great as a boost to establish a healthy bacteria colony. But it doesn't work on it's own and as Kriwu said, you need to either do a fishless cycle with ammonia (can get a bottle for like $3.00 on amazon) or have fish while cycling.

[SCWood]

I'm glad to hear he's already showing signs of improvement! Clean water and the right temps can do wonders for a fish! Keep us updated.

Pescado has eaten! He loves the air stone and I added some Betta Fix to start healing his fins. His main tank is still very cloudy so another change is in store

I agree, quick start is crap and don't buy it. I do, however, recommend Tetra Safe Start instead and have used it many times in the past. Works great as a boost to establish a healthy bacteria colony. But it doesn't work on it's own and as Kriwu said, you need to either do a fishless cycle with ammonia (can get a bottle for like $3.00 on amazon) or have fish while cycling.

I want to balance out my parameters and see what happens from there. He is not going back in until it's cycled

If you wanna step inside, pay admission at the door...
🐕
🐱
🐍🐍
🐊🐊
Total: 6❤

[kriwu]

You could add prime or some other ammonia binder/remover. Is this a new uncycled tank? Do you have a stable setup tank you can get some good bacteria from?

Actually, prime mostly neutralizes chloramine and chlorine, to remove ammonia from the water you need to do a water change. Your tank cycle has either crashed or was never established. What are you using to test your parameters, and what are they exactly? If the ammonia is "extremely high" I would suggest doing at LEAST a 50% water change. It would also help to know what size tank you are using and how long it's been established.

[SCWood]

Actually, prime mostly neutralizes chloramine and chlorine, to remove ammonia from the water you need to do a water change. Your tank cycle has either crashed or was never established. What are you using to test your parameters, and what are they exactly? If the ammonia is "extremely high" I would suggest doing at LEAST a 50% water change. It would also help to know what size tank you are using and how long it's been established.

Okay, so it's 2.5 gallons with a filter. It's been running 2.5 weeks now. I added stress coat and quick start when I added my water and changed 10% a week later and added pre-mixed water. I took my water in to test it. All of my parameters look great except PH is low (not sure exactly but under 7.8) and ammonia turned the strip dark green and said DANGER under the chart. I usually have it tested at work weekly and I'm so tired I sound like and idiot and can't remember the numbers

If you wanna step inside, pay admission at the door...
🐕
🐱
🐍🐍
🐊🐊
Total: 6❤