GuppyLog || ammonia

New to Guppylog?
Immediate Help

Conversions and Calculator
Conversions and Tank volume calculator

Add yourself to our guppylog map
Guppylog Members

* Change as much water as often as you can! *
Inkmaker

Front Page · Everything · News · Ask Guppylog · Diaries

ammonia
By theguppy24 from the theguppy24 department, Section Ask Guppylog Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:18:11 PM PST Tags: (all tags)

what are the best medicines for ammonia that are not ammo lock 2. also how many guppies can i put in a 5 gal. tank? thanx

< is my female pregnant | Just Need Advice >

Menu

· create account

· F.A.Q. For Newbies!

· Immediate Help For Newbies!

· search

· Scoop Info

· Our Tanks

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Related Links

· More on Care Tips
· Also by theguppy24

ammonia | 9 comments (9 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: ammonia (none / 0) (#9)
by theguppsterdude on Sun May 08, 2005 at 04:21:26 PM PST

I really had no Idea until now that you could fit about 3 guppies in a 5 gal tank. Of course, Im new to guppies, so I know virtually nothing.But my friend said that ammonia choosing is pretty tough.

Re: ammonia (none / 0) (#8)
by Catball on Thu May 27, 2004 at 05:16:08 PM PST

I have also always heard that the rule of thumb is that one can put one 1 inch fish per one gallon. However, I aggree with Guppyaddict. I wouldn't follow that rule. In my opinion, that would be overstocking the tank. I have a 10 gallon tank and only have 5 guppies in there. I would say 3 would be enough for a 5 gallon tank. I used to have the exact same problem with Amonia and also Nitrite. In the end my only solution was to redo the entire tank. Nothing else helped. That is a drastic measurement however. First, I would try to get the amonia down with regular water changes and put some real plants in there. I always heard that the real plants help a lot in filtering Amonia and Nitrite out of the water, and I must say, it worked for me. Good luck!

Re: ammonia (none / 1) (#7)
by Angelee on Thu May 27, 2004 at 09:06:28 AM PST

Water changes are always the best medicine for ammonia and nitrate fix. In the meantime, does your tank have any live plants? Water sprite is a wonderful natural antioxidant type plant, just don't get lazy on the water change regimen. We've all let our tanks get funky on a couple of occasions, but as a rule wouldn't recommend it. :)
"The Rocky Mountain Gupster" ANGELEE

Re: ammonia (none / 1) (#2)
by GuppyAdict on Mon May 24, 2004 at 11:08:26 PM PST

I would have to agree with you US. Any product that claims to remove or neutralize ammonia and nitrites should never be used. Save your money.

The best way to minimize your ammonia is to do water changes. IMO, water changes is the best cure all for your tank.

Besides from my experience, those products only mask your true problem and will give you inaccurate readings when testing your water.

I don't know about never. :) (none / 2) (#6)
by unclescott on Tue May 25, 2004 at 10:14:17 AM PST

Once in a while we are stuck with tap water which is needed in a tank and we know there are chloramines in it. (Yeah, a carbon filter on a slow flowing drinking quality hose would be best, but how many of us have that just lying around in the garage?)

Or a tank is getting really funky, our schedule is suddenly intense and we don't want to lose old friends in a tank.

An expensive quick fix in a tank with too much ammonia in it is to buy the very expensive Polyfilter and (cut to size) insert it in your power (or other) filter. When it turns dark brown from it's almost white, it is used up. (I keep them as algae scrubbers when tearing down and cleaning a tank outside.)

I believe there are other ammonia ion exchangers in bags and crystals. I'm sure your LFS people could tell your more.

Those Polyfilters are even chemically active just sitting there. They have always stored well in the bag they are sold in. However I picked up one in a fishbag at an auction. The price was right and it looked new and ready to go.

My mistake was leaving it in the semi-permeable fish bag. (They do allow some oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange through the plastic.) In time the polyfilter in the fish bag turned brown. The fish room sure smelled even nicer though! ;)

[ Parent ]

Re: ammonia (none / 2) (#3)
by Geo3383 on Tue May 25, 2004 at 03:39:36 AM PST

Everything i have read subjests a max of 1 inch of fish per gallon so for your 5 gal, about 5 gups should be good, with water changes you could prolly get away with a bit more...

[ Parent ]

Re: ammonia (none / 2) (#4)
by GuppyAdict on Tue May 25, 2004 at 07:37:36 AM PST

Actually, I don't think that 1 inch per gallon should be used. 5 fish in a 5 gallon in my opinion is too many guppies. I started off with a 10 gallon guppy tank and I only put 7 good sized guppies in it and I think that is pushing it too. Just to give you an idea, I have a single betta in a 5 gallon tank and they are very low waste produces versus 5 guppies. It's only me, but I would not put more then 3 good size males in your tank.

Your ammonia problem is a sign of either, overstocking and/or over feeding. Like I said before, the only safe way to remove ammonia is water changes.

[ Parent ]

And can you imagine how much more (none / 1) (#5)
by unclescott on Tue May 25, 2004 at 09:57:17 AM PST

a five inch goldfish will mass than five one inch guppies! :)

[ Parent ]

If you are looking for a med to eliminate (none / 2) (#1)
by unclescott on Mon May 24, 2004 at 09:29:42 PM PST

ammonia, don't put any fish in the tank and you will not have an ammonia problem. Poop and urine happen.

You are wise in being skeptical of chemicals (Ammolock, Amquel, Prime, etc.) which merely "lock" the ammonia in a chemical bond for a bit. You will have to establish a nitrogen cycle. (Search for nitrogen cycle, see also the cloudy water log on the front page.)

You will also have to remove the end products of that cycle, usually through partial water changes, before they too get toxic.

If somebody offers you a product which eliminates water changes, write them and ask if they also sell stock in the Brooklyn Bridge.

Excuse me now, I've gotta make some more water changes. ;)

ammonia | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

create account | faq | search