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Ammonia2007-11-24 23:09:32

Just recently got a 55 gal tank. My bf has previously owned fish and said we had to have the tank running for at least 2 weeks before we got fish.

It was running for about 6 days and he said it should be ok, so we picked up 2 German Blue Rams, 2 Swordtail koi, 2 bala sharks, 3 danios and 2 sucker fish (i cannot remember the specific name on those).

Well, the fish were doing ok for the first couple of days, (Tomorrow will be 1 week since we have had them) but he said it was looking like they had ick. We started treating the water with some tablets from PetSmart and it wasn't helping. Last night he did a test on the water and said the ammonia is at 10 (I'm almost positive he said 10). I know this is REALLY bad,

This morning one blue ram and koi were dead.

Are the rest of my fish going to die as well? And how do I get the ammonia down? Is there anything I can do to save my other fish?

Answers:

You need to do a partial water change (50%) ASAP! I'll write more later, but you need to start on this !

When you add the new water, try to get it as close in temperature to what's in the tank now, and remember to add the dechlorinator.

Your tank has WAY too many fish at the moment. The fish produce wastes including ammonia, which is toxic to them in relatively small amounts. The more fish (or larger they are), the more ammonia that's produced. In an established tank, there are bacteria that will convert the ammonia to nitrite (also toxic), then to nitrate. But in a new tank, you don't have any of the bacteria yet, and it will take 3-6 WEEKS to get it established. Until then, you should only have 1-2 hardy fish in the tank.