Ammonia Spike

[Chri]

Hey I need some help please. I’m checking my water parameters and for any reason the ammonia still in high levels. This is my set up:
20GL long aquarium
AquaMaxx 1.5 skimmer hob
Caribean white Live sand
Live rock about 25 pounds
2 lamps 30W Hypatgero led aquarium
Marine land penguin 350 bio wheel filter
2 Hydor koralya nano 240 circulation pump
External refugion hob whit chateo algae and Hayi Gracilaria Red Bush Macro Algae Saltwater Plant
2 clownfishes
2 Chromis
2 Damsels
1 yellow tang
1 bubble anemone and a bunch of snails
And I tried tu set up a media reactor but came broke (is necessary have a reactor?)

I changed the water every Saturday and my ammonia still dangerous. I don’t know what else need to control it before lost the fishes

 

[virtual reality]

How long have you had the tank set up?

 

[EmdeReef]

What are your nitrites and nitrates? And what level ammonia do you test?

Have you used any ammonia detoxifier?

 

[Dom]

Reasons for elevated ammonia:

1. Tank is new had has not been given ample time to cycle.

2. Too many fish in the tank too quickly.

3. Something has died in the tank and has gone undetected.

 

[Chri]

How long have you had the tank set up?

It’s been set up for 5 months or maybe more and Ive been loosing many fishes and almost to give up

 

[GatorScott]

Honestly that’s just way too many fish for that small tank. You should rehome everything except the clownfish. 2 fish tops for a 20g in my opinion.

Basically too many fish producing ammonia for that little of water volume.

 

[Chri]

What are your nitrites and nitrates? And what level ammonia do you test?

Have you used any ammonia detoxifier?

Last Sunday my parameters was
Ammonia 0
Ph 8.1
Nitrate 5.0

Nitrite 0.2

And yesterday ammonia was to the top very dangerous (didn’t take notes)

Change water and went down but not to 0

 

[Chri]

Reasons for elevated ammonia:

1. Tank is new had has not been given ample time to cycle.

2. Too many fish in the tank too quickly.

3. Something has died in the tank and has gone undetected.

I don’t see two small bubble tip anemone that I just to have in the tank. Can be that the reason?

 

[Chri]

Honestly that’s just way too many fish for that small tank. You should rehome everything except the clownfish. 2 fish tops for a 20g in my opinion.

Basically too many fish producing ammonia for that little of water volume.

Thank you but now what should I do?? I don’t wanna get fishes uncontrollably and I do not have another tank. Should I get then back to my fish store??

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Use dr tims one and only.
Grab an Ammona alert badge.
Look for dead things. Yes even snails.

 

[Dom]

I don’t see two small bubble tip anemone that I just to have in the tank. Can be that the reason?

If you had something, and now it's gone, it may be dead in the tank. As it decomposes, it will result in ammonia spike.

 

[Chri]

I just change water I hope he better

 

[Jekyl]

Too many fish. The tang should be in a 100gal tank anyway

 

[Crustaceon]

Too many fish and no way to efficiently process all of that fish pee. For perspective, that tank could be considered “well stocked” with just the clowns and anemone.

Also, something is probably dead and decaying somewhere in the tank, causing even more ammonia generation.

 

[Chri]

Too many fish and no way to efficiently process all of that fish pee. For perspective, that tank could be considered “well stocked” with just the clowns and anemone.

Also, something is probably dead and decaying somewhere in the tank, causing even more ammonia generation.

Thank you I’ll be setting a small tank with the overstock !!