[Dr. Giggles]

I had 4 ac300 sponges sitting in a bucket of tank water with pure ammonia added for about 4 days at about 70 degrees F. I am currently battling high ammonia levels in my 55 gallon for the last 2 weeks. I am currently diluting the water daily with 30 percent water changes, adding ammo lock, and salt. Still have 8 ppm ammonia. The highest nitrite reading was at .50 ppm but the last 3 days has been zero. Also there is a positive reading on the nitrates. Seems like the bacteria that converts the ammonia to nitrite died off. Besides a possible ph crash what else could have caused the bacteria to die off even though there was an ammonia source in the bucket the sponges were in ? I am baffled on why this happened.

 

[Dr. Giggles]

The first advise i can give you is to NOT use Ammo-Lock!As far as i know it can give you false readings concerning Amonia-Nitrite-Nitrate!
I suggest you also to use some live bacteria like Stress Zyme.They will help you!

[snapback]825176[/snapback]​

Jim, I am using a salicylate based ammonia test kit which will rule that out. I am stumped.

 

[Dr. Giggles]

it has to be the oxygen levels... did you add enough ammonia?

[snapback]827069[/snapback]​

Definitely I added enough on the ammonia...Left the sponges in the compartments they come with and rested them on the bottom of bucket. I had no circulation or air pump. Not sure if that would do it. If it will another thing learned. Need experts to confirm.

 

[Dr. Giggles]

Thanks. Another fishkeeping lesson learned...You guys