Bacterial Bloom in my New tank~

[Ashlimarie83]

Can you get your lotl into a temp container that you can change regularly and a bottle of Dr tims ammonia? ( I love this stuf)

This way you can cycle your tank and keep your lotl safe. I know it may be stressful on the lotl but not as bad as high levels of ammonia and nitrites.

As for the initital bacteria bloom ... Just wait it out, as frustrating as it is.

I am not sure that I have ever heard of that stuff. I can try and check a local pet store. Argh! This is so irritating!! It had seemed as if it was almost completely cycled a few days ago before I added her..

 

[Ashlimarie83]

I am really worried now.

I just did an at least 96% water change, readjusted all the plants and hides to check for piles of food or poops and removed anything floating (like bits of plant), BUT my water has returned to it's extreme high ammonia levels! It does not look quite as dark as 8ppm, but thats still incredibly high! I have removed my axolotl, but I do not have a temporary tank to hold her in, only a small transportation carrier and some tupperware.

I I am doing another 60% water change at the moment, but I fear that I am stressing my Axie out by having to catch her continually... ;_; I am sooo upset right now.
My municipal waterammonia reading is at about.25 but I read that sometimes the API kit can have a variance of about that much.
I have not been feeding any extra than necessary and remove any floaters that I can and little fish and lotl poops with my handy-dandy turkey baster. My plants seem to be fine, other then a bit of brown smudge (that comes off when rubbed) of leeched tannis from the driftwood I have in there.

I have no idea where all this ammonia can be coming from!! Please someone, give me an idea to help my fish!

Is it the driftwood possibly? Should I toss the plants and get new ones? Should I turn the bubble facing the water surface directly so it interrupts the surface more? Should I get a bubbler to circulate more oxygen? I stir the sand at the bottom to make sure nothing getting trapped and decays in there as well.

I am really getting scared that this problem is persisting from an unknown ammonia ghost~!

Edit: Also, the cloudiness went down a bit from the water changes,so at least I can see my fish, but I am more worried about the ammonia!

 

[Elliriyanna]

Sorry ... This is what I bought, Its also what I used to cycle my tank, I believe you can only get it online. You may have to find another site as amazon will not ship add-on items

http://www.amazon.com/DrTims-Aquati...id=1396462045&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+tims+ammonia

The new bioload can cause issues in a tank. I would really recommend moving her while you sort this.

I do not think Driftwood would cause an ammonia problem ... but you can test if it is ... Test the water, then add the driftwood, Then let it sit for a while, and test the water again.

 

[Ashlimarie83]

Sorry ... This is what I bought, Its also what I used to cycle my tank, I believe you can only get it online. You may have to find another site as amazon will not ship add-on items

Amazon.com: DrTim's Aquatics Ammonium chloride for Aquarium: Pet Supplies

The new bioload can cause issues in a tank. I would really recommend moving her while you sort this.

I mean I could understand a little spike of maybe like 2ppm but it jacked all the way up to 8.
Also that stuff is for adding more ammonia to my tank and doing a fishless cycle.
I have LOADS of ammonia.
Unless you are suggesting I washing everything down and completely start over?

 

[Elliriyanna]

I know what its for ... What I am suggesting is removing whats in the tank and feeding the tank with that ammonia ... So it can continue its cycle without anyone being in danger

Its just an option

 

[Kaini]

Okay,

I don't think you have some sort of freaky 'ammonia ghost' (lol) I think the tank was never cycled and your axolotl is creating that waste, along with the fish (which of course add to the bioload in the tank - why are you keep fish with your axolotl? It's generally considered a poor practice).

Since you have high ammonia and no nitrites, it just sounds like your tank isn't cycled. I would keep the Axolotl separate, in a tub of clean dechlorinated water with 100% daily changes and let the tank be empty of animals and monitor it from there. You'll be able to see if the ammonia goes down and if it will start to cycle. Also remove the fish or they're going to be very dead, though putting them with an axolotl it doesn't seem like you were too concerned about them... ? So whatever you would like to do there, just know that subjecting them to that much ammonia is cruel.

 

[Ashlimarie83]

I know what its for ... What I am suggesting is removing whats in the tank and feeding the tank with that ammonia ... So it can continue its cycle without anyone being in danger

Its just an option

I understand,
I just don't have an on-hand cycled tank that I can put everyone in atm.

 

[Smoxolotl]

Yeah haha just like we said originally
A helpful tip if you ever decide to feed live blackworms is to make sure they cannot access those moss balls. I learned the hard way that they will infest them and cause them to start dying if not removed.

@ Boomsloth: Blackworms have taken up residence in my moss balls and I haven't seen any ill effects sofar to them, the worms, my axies, or even my parameters. My larvae love to rest on top of them and wait for worms to appear. I was actually wondering if it might be more convenient to purposefully "infest" them.

 

[Ashlimarie83]

Okay,

I don't think you have some sort of freaky 'ammonia ghost' (lol) I think the tank was never cycled and your axolotl is creating that waste, along with the fish (which of course add to the bioload in the tank - why are you keep fish with your axolotl? It's generally considered a poor practice).

Since you have high ammonia and no nitrites, it just sounds like your tank isn't cycled. I would keep the Axolotl separate, in a tub of clean dechlorinated water with 100% daily changes and let the tank be empty of animals and monitor it from there. You'll be able to see if the ammonia goes down and if it will start to cycle. Also remove the fish or they're going to be very dead, though putting them with an axolotl it doesn't seem like you were too concerned about them... ? So whatever you would like to do there, just know that subjecting them to that much ammonia is cruel.

I had put the fish in there after a few weeks of cycling the tank fishlessly, and I admit I had gotten impatient and added them to help with the cycling.

However, the ammonia levels never climbed much over 1ppm even wiht them in there. There was a few times I start to get large spikes in ammonia of about 4ppm, but then it would decrease.

Its not that I don't care about the lives of the fish at all, I love animals period. I am trying to get them re-homed, but the person who said they would take them is kind of flaky, so I might need to bring them back to the pet store.

Other than that, I really don't have another tank lying around. Would the axolotl really be okay in a small tub? The one I have now doesn't offer much room for swimming activities, although I suppose it's better than sitting in an ammonia bath.

Also for these daily 100% water changes, I feel like it would eventually be super stressful. What should I do to speed up the cycling in my tank?

 

[Smoxolotl]

Yes, your axolotl will be fine in a tub full of clean water. Just make sure that he has enough room to stretch out and walk around some, and has at least enough water to cover him. Daily water changes are less stressful on it then living in a toxic environment. Your tank just takes time to cycle, but its worth the wait!

 

[Ashlimarie83]

Yes, your axolotl will be fine in a tub full of clean water. Just make sure that he has enough room to stretch out and walk around some, and has at least enough water to cover him. Daily water changes are less stressful on it then living in a toxic environment. Your tank just takes time to cycle, but its worth the wait!

Alright, Well I've also swished my filter around a bit in some fish water to take away any dead matter that could have been trapped in the clay filter media, also cleaned out a good bit of sand.

I must go to work, but hopefully things will turn out for the best!

 

[Kaini]

Yes, your axolotl will be fine in a tub full of clean water. Just make sure that he has enough room to stretch out and walk around some, and has at least enough water to cover him. Daily water changes are less stressful on it then living in a toxic environment. Your tank just takes time to cycle, but its worth the wait!

I second this. Keep it in the tub - it's better than in the cycling tank.

 

[Ashlimarie83]

Here is a picture of sad Freya (Just got finished feeding her and I cleaned out the excess)
and my water tests so far.



This is the Water ammonia when I woke up

This is the water ammonia from my tap

This is the water ammonia from the tank after a 60% change.


****..those are all sideways, but you get the idea.