Goshdarn Ammonia!

[TheRoyalOctopus]

Ugh! This ammonia is starting (to use a better term) to pee me off! I have the PH perfect, Nitrates and Nitrites perfect. But the ammonia. Nope. I have somewhat high levels of ammonia in my tank Okay, I haven't cleaned out every tiny bit of food today, but I have been. I just cannot get it down to the very lowest levels

Anyone have any suggestions?

I did a 20% water change 4 days ago to try and help it. But it's still high

Also, I am thinking of buying an Air Stone? I got told they're good? Do I need a line with it or something? Im confused about them.

<3

 

[Possum63]

No suggestions sorry but in regards to an airstone - you need an airpump and tubing to connect the stone to the pump. I learnt this the hard way...

I had a airstone in with my guys for a couple weeks before realising you had to have a pump for it to... Of course the packaging doesn't say anything about this so I know where you coming from with it being so confusing... Needless to say I felt like a bit of a noob when I found out

 

[TheRoyalOctopus]

Aha, yeah I felt like a right noob posting that.. So I need a tube out of it that goes..? Into my filter or? /facepalm

 

[Possum63]

Haha dw, it's a very confusing thing! So pretty much you have your little air stone and it should have like a little plastic thing poking out one end. A plastic tubing will push on there and then the other end of the plastic tubing gets pushed on the same looking thing on the air pump.

Heres a few pictures to better explain

http://aqstyle.why3s.cc/GOAQUA/Image/1001001_242.jpg

This pic is an eample of the plastic thing your tubing will push onto. It's that white bit The air pump will have the same thing poking out one end. It may even have two. Dw - you can put the tubing on any one of them it doesn't matter

http://www.growell.co.uk/wp-system/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/aeration2-web.jpg

And this shows the air pump end and the plastic tubing

Hopes this helps!!

 

[snuggly time]

What are your exact water readings for ammonia etc?

I had an air stone in mine. I decided to connect it to a sponge filter which really helped my cycle in the end. Instead of having the stone you just connect the line to the filter and it gives somewhere for your bacteria to live.

This is mine. I have the air pump at the top, with the tubing which is attached to the sponge filter which produces bubbles and helps my cycle.

(You can just see Wooper posing for the picture too, lol)

Or as posted above you just attach the stone instead of the filter if you want an air stone.

Also, if you have the air pump below the tank it's best to buy a non-return valve. This stops any water from accidentally getting sucked into your air pump and causing a boom lol. They're really cheap and worth every penny.

Non Return Valve For Pond Airpump Line or Aquaium Pump Airline: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

 

[mackinthebox]

What kind of filter are you currently using in your tank?

 

[layna]

Have you tested your tap water to see what the basic reading from that are?
Your tank seems to be still cycling, if your axies are in it, its best to move them to a clean dechlorinated tub of water whilst it cycles. If you cant remove them then you should do a 20% every couple of days to keep the levels down.
Do you continously run you filter? (if your turning it off, which you shouldnt, then it will disrupt things)
Also an airstone is great, axies love them, they work best if they are placed above the tank and if you find them a little noisy when they are vibrating then you can try putting a cloth/sock (a general piece of thick-ish meaterial lol) underneath the motor and it will be a LOT quieter