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need help with cycling error of overdosing the ammonia

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by Anonymous, Mar 15, 2009.

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  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Newbie Mistake

    I was starting a fishless cycle and i messed up my calculation on how much ammonia to put into the tank, its a 170 litre tank and i put in 336ml of ammonia instead of 36.3ml. Will the bacteria grow with this amount of ammonia or is it best to start again with a fresh tank of water?
     
    Anonymous, Mar 15, 2009
    #1
  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Welcome.

    I would do a few water changes to get the ammonia down to around 3ppm.
     
    Anthony, Mar 15, 2009
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  3. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Agree with Anthony.... A few water changes and it should come down..
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 15, 2009
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  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    First off, thanks for your help guys, much appreciated!

    I've changed out the water by 90% but the ammonia content is reading very high still! Is it possible that the live plants(which i hopefulyy didn't kill) have kept the ammonia in themselves still?

    Tank after 90% water change
    Ph 7.6
    Ammonia 8+
    Nitrite 0
    Nitrate 5
     
    Anonymous, Mar 15, 2009
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  5. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    I bet it does require a few more water changes... maybe also some extra Prime if you use it!

    Ammonia is VERY hard to get diluted down much like Nitrates.
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 15, 2009
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  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Prime? I have Stress Zyme??
     
    Anonymous, Mar 15, 2009
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  7. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Yeah, one water change won't fix it. Maybe 2 more and you'll be down to a good ammonia level.
     
    Anthony, Mar 15, 2009
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  8. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    I dont think Stress Zyme will work... Prime is a VERY recommended dechlorinator that also removes and or detoxifies bad chemicals in the water!

    MUCH better than anything else I have seen so far and more than DOZENS of us on this board use it to treat our water and in case of emergencies!
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 15, 2009
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  9. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    MOD_Dawn, Mar 16, 2009
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  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    I did a 60% water change and the ammonia levels are still 8+, another change?
     
    Anonymous, Mar 16, 2009
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  11. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Yup.... I would keep changing till it gets down! Eventually it WILL dilute...
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 16, 2009
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  12. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    I have 7 live plants in the tank, think they might have to be binned, the ammonia may have killed them, I'll give them a few days to see if they survive. One turned black which I'm assuming was from the high ammonia content, will the plants retain ammonia in its roots and leaves?
     
    Anonymous, Mar 16, 2009
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  13. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    They could along with it could be in the substrate... filter... anything really. I would leave the plants in and just keep doing water changes.... That would be my choice of how to handle it.... It could take 5-6 more water changes.... I would rather do that then throw things out!
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 16, 2009
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  14. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Ok, i did a 60% water change about an hour again, i'll test the ammonia levels in a few and get back to you, thanks for the help!
     
    Anonymous, Mar 16, 2009
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  15. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Curious...what are you using for testing? Strips or drops? Seems odd to me that a 90 followed by (2) 60s and you're still reading that high.
     
    James0816, Mar 16, 2009
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  16. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Remember he REALLY ODed the Ammonia.... a little ammonia goes a REALLY long way :confused:
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 16, 2009
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  17. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Yeah...may want to but it to 75%/day. I would take the plants out as well and thoroughly rinse them off. Just keep them in a bowl/pot of clean water until the ammonia slides down some.
     
    James0816, Mar 16, 2009
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  18. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Agreed with James... plants out in clean water...
     
    LemonDiscus, Mar 16, 2009
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  19. James0816

    James0816 New Member

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    <crosses fingers that there's still life in them>
     
    James0816, Mar 16, 2009
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  20. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Re: Newbie Mistake

    Ok, after all that I'm down to 4ppm of ammonia! :D So as it stands these are the tanks water stats:

    Ph 7.6
    Ammonia 4.0ppm
    Nitrite 0
    Nitrate 5

    API Freshwater Master Test Kit
     
    Anonymous, Mar 16, 2009
    #20
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