Oh God what is wrong with this Ammonia!!??

[bettons]

I changed that water yeterday.

Tested the ammonia and it was 0 PPM.

The next day I tested it again and it read .25 PPM.

I am not sure if you may consider this to be low or high but I don't feel confortable unless somebody tells me that this level is normal.

I calculated the Free Ammonia and it is 0.0006... (mg/L)

Would you consider this low?

here is the website of the calculator bridge.ecn.purdue.edu/~piwc/w3-research/free-ammonia/nh3.html

[amanichen]

What kind of water conditioner do you use?

Do you ahve well or city water? Does your water have chloramine in it?

[bettons]

humm. I use super strength water conditioner by aquarium pharmaceuticals. I use city water, But I am sure it dosen't contain chloramine in it because I have last year report of New York city water supply and I also tested ammonia without conditioner and with conditioner and both read 0 PPM. Just a quick question would you consider .25 PPm high enough for a partial water change?

[amanichen]

Yeah, go ahead.

How big is this tank and what kind of fish are in it?

[bettons]

alright, I guess I'll have to do 20% water changes since the ammonia pikes up every 2-3 days. the tank is a mini bow 2.5 with the mini whisper filter and two banana plant, my betta is the only inhabitant.

[amanichen]

bettons said:

alright, I guess I'll have to do 20% water changes since the ammonia pikes up every 2-3 days. the tank is a mini bow 2.5 with the mini whisper filter and two banana plant, my betta is the only inhabitant.

How clean is the gravel?

[bettons]

Actually, I took out the gravel out 3 days ago because there was too much debris and gunk settling on the gravel at which point i tested the ammonia, it was 2.00, too high which is why I don't have gravel.

[amanichen]

Just make sure to keep it clean =)

[bettons]

yes sir. Thank you very much for helping me and replying so fast!

[bettons]

I've got the total ammonia somewhat regulated, or that's what I think. I did readings of everything and this is how it came out:

1.ammonia=.25 PPM

2.nitrate=10 PPM

3.nitrite=2.0 PPM

These reading are extremely toxic to my betta, but i don't get it! I did a 20-25% water change yesterday and ammonia was 0 PPM and nitrite were at 0.50-1.0 PPM. There must be something wrong or is this just how the cycle process should be, which I doubt because the level cannot increase so rapidly in just one day. any help will be appreciated.

[amanichen]

amanichen said:

You have a single betta in a 2.5 gallon...are there any other critters like snails in there?

I know you took out the gravel not too long ago -- how clean is the bottom of the tank?

Test your tap water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

[bettons]

just the betta inhabits the tank, my guess is that the tank is in the middle of the cycling process which is why I get these readings. Right?

[amanichen]

bettons said:

just the betta inhabits the tank, my guess is that the tank is in the middle of the cycling process which is why I get these readings. Right?

Yeah, that's why.

I'd still like to know what chemicals are in your tap water.

[bettons]

I downloaded the Pdf. files of New York city water report and they don't put chlorimine in the water just chlorine. I think there is the possibility of some metals in it since usually the pipes are made of metal unless they changed pipes before I moved in here but my conditioner detoxifies chlorine and heavy metals instantly, so yeah.

[amanichen]

bettons said:

I downloaded the Pdf. files of New York city water report and they don't put chlorimine in the water just chlorine. I think there is the possibility of some metals in it since usually the pipes are made of metal unless they changed pipes before I moved in here but my conditioner detoxifies chlorine and heavy metals instantly, so yeah.

I want you to test it for ammonia nitrite and nitrate, sorry.