My ammonia and Nitrate levels were very high a week ago. I lowered them to normal and checked it again and it came back high. I did a water change and added chemicals to lower the ammonia and nitrates. I don't know why they keep spiking. He hasn't eaten in several days and I don't know what else to do... Them stuff pets-mart recommended to lower the ammonia and nitrates seems to work but it takes awhile. What should I do..? help please

OK Hun, I need those exact water readings for Ammonia, NitRITE, nitRATE, and PH..
How big is your tank? and what filter are you running?

I would also do a 30% water change in the mean time!

Okay, we are going to need some more information from you before we can really help. You will need to test your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrates and PH and temperature of the water. Please post the results as soon as possible.

Also,please tell us how big your tank is, what sort of filter you are using, and what fish you are keeping?


There are various reasons why a fish may gasp for air, high toxins in the water, stress,& low oxygen.

If you are reading high nitrates then that would indicate a fairly good biological filter. Having high ammonia could be caused by various reasons. Have you been cleaning out your filter at all? How much food you put in the water? How long has the tank being set up?

As for chemicals, which ones have you been using? A lot of people on here use prime. This acts as both a water conditioner plus it removes chlorine, and neutralises ammonia and nitrite.

Get back to us with some more information and I'm sure we can help you

maby it is stressed

TigerOscar99 wrote:


Stress is often related to poor water conditions. What many people don't realise is that stress is a killer so people shouldn't underestimate the dangers of fish being stressed out

OKAY. so Ammonia and nitrates along with nitrites come back at 1.0. I have done a 30% water change already and have taken the fish out of the tank for the time being putting him in a bucket with air and clean water with no ammonia or nitrates. I am letting the tank warm back up and Ill be testing the water every so often the rest of the day. PH is around 6-6.3. Temp before the water change was between 78-80. I dont know what else to do. The fish is constantly laying on its side. He has not eaten in several days. He also still has the fungus on him. I just found a lot of tiny white strings floating in the tank that look kind of like worms. I have no idea what to do now.

Right, what type of testing kits have you got. You've got to be a little bit more specific with the details of your water test. Give us the exact reading for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. If your pH is very low and your ammonia is 1.0 then there really isn't going to be a lot of toxicity in the water (quite complicated which is why I won't go into great detail) What test kits are you using?

I don't think leaving your fish in a bucket of water over a particularly good idea, for half an hour or an hour it would be okay, but for any period of time, this will only stress how toxins will build up quickly even though the fish is not eating. Have you turned your filter off on your main tank, or have you left it running all the time? You really should be putting your fish back into the aquarium, leave your filters running all the time, test the water every day and carry out water changes when need be. Please get back to us with some more information because you have not given us much to go on. You really really want to help you but we can't do it unless you give us the information we require.

I am using API Ammonia NH3/NH4 test kit. and it came back with a slightly green color showing .50 I put the oscar and pleco back in the tank and the Oscar fell to the bottom and is just lying there. The pleco is fine. PH is still around 6.0. I dont know what else to do. I don't know how long the fish can go without eating but its been several days.

I also notices a hole in one of his fins.

okey, let me clarify things. when you said putting fishes in a bucket
during water change= are you removing all water? i assume you also
shut off the filtering system? please clarify!

no i did about a 50% water change. I was trying to get him in good clean water with no ammonia of nitrates but it didnt help.. there back in the tank but hes still laying at the bottom of the tank as he has been for the last 3 hours.

netting the fish will stress them extremely. there are times when
trying to scape (splashing hard) there will be blood oozing from
the gill plate. it is not an injury but extreme stress.

I didnt net him I got him in a large Tupperware bowl and switched him. The water is coming back fine no ammonia and not NH Temp is 78 steady. Hes laying on the bottom of the tank with his gills expanding constantly. I don't know if I should just go buy some clove oil or jump keep waiting it out. I'm at a loss of what else I can do. I dont want him to suffer.