Never ending tank problems

Question
QUESTION: Heya,
Where do I start haha,
We got a 54lt about 3 months ago, (juwell brand). We cycled it (just water, a plane and pump/filter) for 2 weeks as instructed and all the water levels were right on. We introduced 10 neon tetras, 4 plants (real ones) everything went fine.  week 4, ammonia went to a 2, did a 50% water change, 2 plants died. from there on we have had a consistant ammonia of 2 sometimes to a 4, all the fish kept on going fine. One tetra got pregnant and died when eggs showed up. Shop guy said ammonia got in when it dropped the eggs.We then got rid of the plants because 1) snails and 2) elimanating why ammonia could be up.  Over next couple weeks kept up with 15% water changes every other day until shop guy said we might be keeping the tank to clean and not establishing enough so we stopped that and didnt do a water change for just about 2 weeks. None of the levels changed, forgot to mention, all other tests have been fine throughout the whole process(PH 7.2, Nitrate 5.0ppm, Nitrite 0.0ppm) so that was a good thing.About 4 weeks ago we were instructed to add a nitra-zorb to the filter, didnt make any change aswell and triple dosing with a biological supplement. We added 6 black widows 3 weeks ago and still the levels stayed exactly the same. Over this weekend we added some carbon to the filter, now 1 black widow died today and the others are swimming around the top of the tank, lack of oxygen from what i have just read online?? We have tried anything and everything to get the ammonia down but it just wont.. Any thoughts???? Any questions please ask.....
Thanks
Cindy

ANSWER: Hi Cindy,
I think this is a simple matter of lack of proper information from the petstore.

When you first setup a tank. It -will not- cycle unless there is a food source for the good bacteria to feed on. This means ammonia. Whether it be introduced by fish waste or 'feeding' the tank as if there were fish in it. The decaying food produces ammonia and cycles the tank as if there were fish in it. Its a lot safer for the fish and is known as 'fishless' cycling. Some people just add straight ammonia into the tank..But you have to make sure the ammonia has no other chemicals added.

So the simple problem here is... Your tank (even though it was setup for 2 weeks) never tried to cycle until you added fish. The resulting ammonia spike is a common process when fish are first added. Big water changes in the 50-75% range are necessary to combat high ammonia levels and help the fish through until the bacteria get established.
*I should note that water changes will not make a tank 'too clean' and cause it to not cycle. Your aquarium will cycle just fine even with large water changes done regularly on it.

Most aquariums take about 4-6 weeks to establish fully even with bacterial supplements.

~Also, test your tap water for ammonia... After you have used water conditioner. Some conditioners will just remove chlorine and break the chloramine bond...but leave ammonia behind. Which could be the source if your problem. There are water conditioners like PRIME and Amquel which neutralize ammonia as well.

Time, patience and water changes are the keys here to getting your tank back to normal and eventually being able to enjoy your fish once more.

Good luck! I hope this helps!
Susan~
 

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Heya again
should this be going.on after 3 months tho? And could it be a problem with the filter and pump, i have noticed it is very weak. we do condition the water for 30 minutes before i put it into the tank. We have the tap water checked  nd that was .25 with ammonia but i would of thought the conditioner would help that????
So keep up water changes? How often and how much?
You have been a huge help.
Thank you
cindy

Answer
Hi there Cindy,
Its possible your aquarium's biofilter has been disrupted by something. Weird things can happen. Make sure the water conditioner you use does say it neutralizes ammonia. And remember some test kits will give false readings when an ammonia neutralizer is used. Some will tell you which reagents are compatible on the label.

I wonder... Since your tap does have some ammonia...If this is purely the source of your problem. Using a water conditioner that neutralizes ammonia as well as chlorine and chloramine should be do the trick in solving the current problem. And remember your test kit could be giving you false readings.

So I'm thinking, if this is the problem.. Big frequent water changes may not be necessary... Although water changes are great for fish!!

A good water conditioner should be all that you need.

Good luck!
Susan~