Ammonia...! Please help! My baby :(

[Eevn665 0]

[*]Test Results for the Following:

[*]Ammonia Level? .1-.25, I can't tell!

[*]Nitrite Level? 0 ppm

[*]Nitrate level? 20-30 ppm, I can't tell!

[*]Ph Level, Tank (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines)? pH is 8.0

[*]Ph Level, Tap (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines)? 8.0

[*]Brand of test-kit used and whether strips or drops? Drops, API Testmaster

[*]Water temperature? 80F

[*]Tank size (how many gals.) and how long has it been running? 6.6 gallon, running for three weeks.

[*]What is the name and size of the filter(s)? No name, but it only does 45 gph at most, I have it a low setting, so Herobrine won't get blown all over the place.

I did my 50% water change yesterday, and so so foolishly, I rinsed my pre-filter sponge and my filter media. I didn't use tap water, I used old tank water. My tank has had ammonia and that's why I have been doing 50% WC every third day or so. It was getting better, the fog at the top of the tank was getting thinner, and my little sweet was active and gluttonus as ever.

I did cycle, with pure ammonia for 29 days. It didn't complete for some reason, So I still have ammonia in my tank.

Today Herobrine was inacitive and laying at the bottom. He was still eating very well.

I am so worried! I don't care if I have to do a 50% water change at this hour, I just want him OK. What do I do?!

[*]How often do you change the water and how much? I did a 50% water change yesterday.

[*]How many fish in the tank and their size? A betta, 4 ghost shrimp and a mystery snail.

[*]What kind of water additives or conditioners? Only water conditioner.

[*]What do you feed your fish and how often? Hikari biogold, twice a day.

[*]Any new fish added to the tank? No.

[*]Any medications added to the tank? No.

[*]Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt," bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? Yes, his 'face' is whitening! His fins are getting very very very faintly frayed.

[*]Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, etc. Yes, he was very inactive today! He was was staying at the bottom a lot!

[Narny105 1,992]

29 days might not have been long enough for the tank to cycle. It can take from 6-12 weeks usually. I would say your tank has not finished cycling.

What water conditioner do you use? I really would suggest you use seachem prime if you aren't already as that will keep the fish safe from ammonia. The ammonia would be affecting your betta, but until the ammonia is removed as well as detoxified, it will be hard to tell if another ailment is affecting him.

You will just have to keep up with water changes until the cycle picks back up. If you do get prime, it will keep the water safe in between water changes.

Do another 50% change to get the ammonia down to 0ppm and see how he is after that. Also, what do you mean by fog? Do you mean condensation?

Edited August 11, 2012 by Narny105

[Narny105 1,992]

Sorry, I have just read over your information again. Did you add fish in while ammonia was still present in the tank?

[Eevn665 0]

No, I dosed ammonia in the tank while cycling, and a couple hours later there was no ammonia or nitrite just a lot of nitrate.

[Narny105 1,992]

Ok so the last time you dosed was when you assumed it was cycled which I gather was not too long ago.

What conditioner do you currently use?

[Eevn665 0]

Tetra Bettasafe, supposedly good for betta's.

[Narny105 1,992]

You will be much better of with switching to seachem prime especially with ammonia present in the tank. It lasts pretty long and will detoxify ammonia whilst allowing the nitrifying bacteria to consume it.

Ammonia is more toxic at a higher pH, so you really want to keep the ammonia at 0ppm or detoxified. With prime, you can allow ammonia to climb to 0.25ppm before a water change as he will be safe in between water changes as long as you dose correctly, which will allow your cycle to slowly catch up.

Edited August 11, 2012 by Narny105

[Eevn665 0]

Excellent, thanks so much. I'll try to pester my parents to taking me to my LFS.

Is there a safe way of lower my pH? Just a little, I want to keep it above 7 for my snail.

[Narny105 1,992]

The pH doesn't need to be lowered so I wouldn't be playing with it. As long as it is stable I would leave it alone

[Eevn665 0]

OK, and also (sorry for the many questions), how is Prime dosed? As in, how many drops/ml to how much water? I'm only changing 3 gallons, I don't want 10 gallons worth of conditioner in each gallon. Do I just divide? ^_^"

[Narny105 1,992]

It would be about 2 drops per gallon, but with the ammonia I would add a little extra

[Eevn665 0]

OK, thanks!