Quick help

BECKIN1507

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Feb 8, 2011
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I moved my fish from 1 tank to a larger tank, everything out of the old tank went into new tank. The 1st day my ammonia went up to 0.25, yesterday 0.5, I did a 30% water change today, tested again and it's still 0.5! I've got some prime, some amquel plus and some stress zyme here, I don't really like using chemicals but will any of these be worth using? At the moment I've been using Nutrafin Aqua Plus Dechlorinator to treat the tap water. My peppermint pleco isn't looking to good and my L134's are a little pale :cry:.
 

dan1801a

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Aug 10, 2010
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Derby
If the filters rated big enough for the tank i would just keep a eye on the levels and carry on with the water changes untill it settles.
As long as you have not added more fish and just moved to a new tank the levels should settle in a few days.
 

BECKIN1507

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Feb 8, 2011
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Mt peppermint has just died :cry: I don't think it was the ammonia as when I caught him to move him to the new tank he looked skinny but I didn't really get a good look at him. Looking at him now he's dead his belly was quite sucked in and his eyes. Yes the filter is big enough for the tank. My L134's have come out to eat, they seem to have alot more colour in them now
 

bigbird

Pleco Profiles Moderator - RIP FRIEND
Sep 9, 2010
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sorry for your loss of your pep :cry:, however good sign that the 134 are eating. monitor this and also keep up the water changes. If you have seachem prime, then also use this. hope after a day or so all ok. cheers jk :thumbup:
 

Doodles

Retired Staff
Apr 8, 2009
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Sorry about the peppermint:(
Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels, you can always use the prime to detoxify both. What is the PH?
 

BECKIN1507

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Feb 8, 2011
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Thanks, I'm quite gutted about him dying, he's the reason I got into my L pleco's. Ph hasn't changed, the normal ph test says its 7.6 but if I do the higher range test it says 7.4. I'll test everything again in a min to see if there's any change
 

boogaloo

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Apr 16, 2011
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Highlands of Scotland
Sorry to hear about the loss of your pep!

If it's any help, I experienced the same problem when I upgraded a tank a few years back (I moved the old water and filter too). In my situation, the ammonia never went above 0.5 and the nitrites remained at 0, which I thought a bit bizarre. I did 30 % water changes every couple of days, and within a week, no ammonia and no nitrite. Hopefully your tank will settle down as quickly as mind did - my fish were all fine.

Seachem Prime is great stuff by the way and good value, as you don't need to use much - I swear by it.
 

BECKIN1507

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Feb 8, 2011
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Funny you said that about the nitrites as I Just did another test, ammonia is back down to 0.25, but no nitrites yet. Did a 30% water change but used the prime to treat the water instead of the nutrafin aqua plus. Not sure if I did it right, but worked out that 1ml would treat 40l, my bucket is 12l so I added just under 0.3ml. Does that seem about right? Doesn't seem alot at all. I've never used prime but bought it to try once my aqua plus had ran out as I've heard alot of people saying it's very good.
 

Breamlegend

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Apr 22, 2009
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Funny you said that about the nitrites as I Just did another test, ammonia is back down to 0.25, but no nitrites yet. Did a 30% water change but used the prime to treat the water instead of the nutrafin aqua plus. Not sure if I did it right, but worked out that 1ml would treat 40l, my bucket is 12l so I added just under 0.3ml. Does that seem about right? Doesn't seem alot at all. I've never used prime but bought it to try once my aqua plus had ran out as I've heard alot of people saying it's very good.
That is right. 5ml (about a capful) treats 200 litres.
 

st24rsap

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Apr 21, 2009
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sorry to hear about your loss, i dont think it would have been caused by the amonia.
you dont use a lot of prime when conditioning the water, i thought the same when i started using it amd yes it is great stuff

as for the amonia, it is probably just a mini cycle due to the move. as the filter is already mature you should not see any nitrites at all, keep up with small regular water changes to remove the amonia then it should settle with no amonia, no nitrites and a small amount of nitrates. Feed little and often whilst the amonia is still present so the uneatn food does not create any more amonia in the tank
 

D-MAC

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Jul 24, 2009
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Lossiemouth
www.danditropicals.co.uk
Sorry to hear of your loss.
I have just had a look at the thread and imo the fish was possibly in a very weak state before your move, going by what you describe when you found him...I fear the move was just too much stress for him...The ammonia levels you spoke about wouldn't kill a healthy fish that quickly.