High Ammonia in Betta Tank

[kriwu]

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

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Does your betta have a heater? 2.5 is a tad small for a betta, did you add him immediately without cycling the tank? If you have a fish in the tank and it's not cycled, you need to be changing and checking the water DAILY. Most people, while doing in-fish cycling will change about 25% per day until you get nitrite and finally nitrate readings. If you're using strips to test your water, I'd definitely suggest investing in a liquid test kit. They're about 30$ and are FAR more accurate.

The thing is I was told NOT to change my water. That 'the cloudiness will go away just leave it alone'. But it only got worse

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Whoever told you that definitely doesn't know how to cycle a tank, you have to remove dirty water and replace it with clean, treated water. Your fish makes his dirt in there, you have to remove it, or the ammonia will build up and become fatal.