AMMONIA PROBLEM IN MY 125 GAL

I have a 125 gal with 2 trimac 1 midas 1 black belt 1 red tiger mota 1 flowerhorn my filtration is 1 magnum 350 with bio balls in it with bio wheel attachment rena xp3 with sponge carbon bio balls filter floss rena xp4 with all bio in it. Ive been having ammonia problems for a while now anyone know why?

Is this a new or established tank?

If new, then you haven't completed a cycle.

If established, you're likely having a mini-cycle. This could be caused by many things; cleaning the filter media and destroying the beneficial bacteria, a change in the fish population, possibly sudden overfeeding or a fish or other matter decaying in the tank.

Take out the floss. It can capture foods and other material that can rot in the filters.
Add a sponge pre-filter, to help capture large to small waste; thus not entering the filters.
Reduce feedings, immediately.
Re plan the filter media setup.
Use better bio media.

I have some Bio-bale left for sale, if your interested.

*How long has this tank been up and running ?? Just curious if it's fully cycled..
*Also water changes, how often and how much are you changing would be helpful too..
*I'd choose different bio media, I've used bio balls and basically they're useless.. I have probably 10-15 gallons of them i don't even use anymore..

Majision is actually my brother (he lives in Seattle, I live in Silverdale).

I'm surprised his water problems haven't resolved. He's been having this problem for months now.

Were both experienced aquarists. Majision does a 30-40% water change AT LEAST once a week. The tank has been setup since January of 2010, and has still having cycling problems. We have tried turning off canisters at water changes, then adding Prime (dose for whole tank) letting it sit then turning filters back on (we thought chlorine was killing BB).

He bought that XP4 from icer about a month ago (if not more). It is full of bio-media (included the bio-bale, bio-ceramic stuff, pot scrubbers). Like he said, his Xp3 has a good amount of bio and his magnum 350 is filled with bio (carbon container) and it has a dual-bio-wheel attachment.


It's been stumping me for a while. He previously had his tank setup in Silverdale, but has had this problem ever since moving to Seattle (U_Dist).
If anyone has any ideas, plz share.

Thanks!!!!!

was the substrate removed and re-used? Was it cleaned before putting it into the tank? stirring up the substrate, especially if it was deep will stir up a lot of detritus and cause ammoia problems. There may not be enough bacteria to manage it. Is there anyone in the area that has a FW tank with an extra sponge filter in there established tank they can loan you? I would add a couple established sponge filters or get some stress zyme or Cycle Biological Water Conditioner. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I would suction the substrate as good as possible too.
blow off as much detritus from the decor as possible and do a large water change. Make sure your fresh water is not contaminated. Treat the fresh water with stress guard and do daily water changes I think you need to get more bacteria in the system.
Thats just what I would do.

I agree, but he's been fighting this for ALMOST 1 year (Since January 2010).

I thought just give it time and do water changes and provide more bio-media for BB to cultivate.

Now I have no idea!

Have you used more than one test kit to double-check accuracy?

Have you tried testing the water out of the tap?

Is there any nitrite reading?

Are you using Prime or any other ammonia detoxifying additive? (I've heard those can give false positive readings for ammonia.)

id start, all over.
meaning, wash every thing out well...may be bomb the whole setup in peroxide.

Oh, I thought he just moved recently.
Well, I say the problem is, hes in the UW area! jk

Yeah, I would check all levels with new test kits. Not strips. There has to be a source somewhere. Something is being or has been trapped somewhere. If there really is an ammonia problem, maybe what protocl said. completely dismantle and clean everything. See if someone can hold the livestock for a few weeks and start fresh.

He uses Prime for water changes.
Don't know what the parameters are from the tap.
Don't know about nitrite, but there are nitrates.

He had old testing kit, but I gave him my new API liquid testing kit (as before it said his ammonia was zero, now it registers).

I'll tell him to clean all his filters. Thanks for the input guys!