20g freshwater tank help!

[Wiggy316]

Hi I'm over a month now with my tank and I need advice. I went to my LFS and they said I should just leave my tank alone but I don't know I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. My pH fluctuates and my ammonia is at a constant 4.0 for almost a month. Here's my data I've collected since starting tank. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for your help.

Fish Tank Journal: 20 gallon tank

4/16: Started Tank
Added: Substrate, decorations, stress coat, stress zyme, water conditioner

4/23: Added first fish
Angel, marigold platy, red wag sword

4/25: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 7.6
Added ammo lock

4/28: Ammonia: 2.0 pH: 7.2

4/29: Added new fish (3); 2 cherry barb, angel
Added salt, bacteria

4/30: Ammonia: 2.0 pH: 7.2
Cherry barb died (1)

5/1: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 7.2
Added (2) new fish; 2 cherry barb
Added ammo lock
50% water change
Added stress coat, stress zyme, salt, bacteria
Bacteria bloom
NO FOOD!!!!!

5/2: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 6.2

5/3: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 6.0 (before water change)
25% water change
Added stress coat
Ammonia: ---- pH: 6.0

5/4: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 6.0

5/6: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 6.0
Added 10/40 drops of pH up

5/7: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 6.6

5/9: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 6.6 Nitrite: 0.0 Nitrate: 0.0
25% water change
Added stress coat, stress zyme, salt, bacteria

5/10: Ammonia: 4.0 pH: 7.0 Nitrite: 0.0 Nitrate: 0.0

5/12: Ammonia: 4.0. pH: 6.6. Nitrite: --- Nitrate: 0.0

5/14: Ammonia: 4.0. pH: 6.6. Nitrite: 0.0. Nitrate: 5.0
Ammonia: 4.0. pH: 7.2. Nitrite: 0.0 Nitrate: ---- (Fishtown)

5/15: Topped off tank ( approx 3.5g)
Added stress zyme, stress coat

5/16: Ammonia: 4.0. pH: 6.6. Nitrite: 0.0. Nitrate: 5.0

5/18: Ammonia: 4.0. pH: 6.6. Nitrite: 0.0. Nitrate: ----

5/20: Ammonia: 4.0. pH: 7.0. Nitrite: 0.0. Nitrate: ----
Added stress coat, stress zyme, bacteria

5/22: Ammonia: 4.0. pH: 6.0. Nitrite: 0.0. Nitrate: 5.0

5/24: Ammonia: 4.0-8.0. pH: 6.4. Nitrite: 0.0. Nitrate: ----
Added bacteria

 

[rkaragozler]

which test kit are you using, what is the experation date, it seems that their is something wrong with it. first off stop adding chemicals, try doing larger water changes. have the water sit for a day before doing them.

 

[Wiggy316]

I'm using all APi tests bought recently and they aren't close to being expired. I also haven't done a water change back to back days nor have I done them more than once in a day.

 

[rkaragozler]

from my past experience in order to keep the ph stable i used arogonite, of crushed coral in my cichlid tank, as far as amonia i did 25 % water changes weekly.

 

[Wiggy316]

I went to my LFS and they said not to do water changes because it prolongs and hinders the cycling process. So I'm not sure which way to go with this

 

[rkaragozler]

i'm sorry but i did't now that fresh water went thru a cycle, i never had that problem, maybe others will chime in

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

besides the cherry barb that died, anything else is dying?

If nothing else is dying nor gasping for air, then the test value of 4 is a false alarm, because the ammo lock has already turned the ammonia into safer ammonium compound.

Do a 25 percent water change(of course the water MUST aged for at least 2 days or RO type water)

Test the ammonia
Test the ammonia again in next 2 days, if the value change only slightly, that means your cycle is done. The ammonium compound is harder for the bacteria to digest.

Once you added ammo lock, most of the test kit out there is no longer useful. I believe the ammo lock instruction may also mention that. You have t use guess work by experience.

 

[Wiggy316]

I've been doing a bunch of water changes to dilute/get rid of the ammo lock. And now I think I've gotten rid of it. I don't think I'm cycled because if I get ammonia to 0 and I miss a water change (been doing min of 50% every other day) I get readings of .5 and I haven't gotten any nitrate or nitrite spikes to know I've been advancing cycle wise so I'm not sure what's going on all I know is that ever since that 1 barb died nothing else has died nor are they gasping for air.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

So currently you have 0.5 ammonia right after you did your last water change, correct? Report back the ammonia level right before you do the next water change.

I assumed you are using either aged water or RO water, correct?

 

[Wiggy316]

Actually my ammonia is at 0. It's when I miss a scheduled water change (like if I have a busy work weekend and don't get to change) it goes up to ,5. I'm just using regular tap water.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Did age your tap water? You need to age the water in a bucket for 2 days so that the chlorine can escape in forms of gas. You would see bubble on the side of the bucket. Without doing so, you new tap water along with the chlorine could kill your bio filter. This way, you don;t need to continuous add the water conditioner to the mix.