Ammonia roblem Continues

Question
QUESTION: Hi Joe,
I hope you remember me, driving yoou nuts with my ammonia problem. Well I have tried everyting, better filter meida, water changes frequently, Bio spira twice and it is unchanged. Ammonia 8.0, nitrites neg, nitrates 5.
I have written to you several times before and I still cant get rid of the ammonia, which is at 8.0 ppm, still. I have used Bio Spira twice and many other products, the tank will not cycle! My question for you is, That
There must be some acidic substance that I could use in the tank to neutralize the ammonia, so the cycle will continue. I mean something other than products made exclusively for aquariums. what about putting in a couple of aspirin or something. There must be some data somewhere about what may neutralize it? The Bio Spira has made no change after two separate water changes. we are in week 9, no change, no fish, no bacteria I assume., and ammonia level incombatable with life.
Gail




ANSWER: Hi Gail...
I have to re-ask some questions, OK?
You do have ammonia in your tap still, or was that corrected?
If it was corrected, and you have no fish, where is the ammonia coming from?
Bio-Spira is used when you have fish and are trying to cycle a tank.
If you put Bio-Spira in an empty tank, the Bio-Spira will die off.
At this point I would take a water sample to the pet store and let them give you an ammonia reading.
I can't imagine ammonia at 8ppm.
I haven't heard of that in 40 years.
No fish, no ammonia. There has to be something in your home or in the tank producing ammonia.
Ammonia is fish waste. No fish, no ammonia.
Did you replace your carbon with ammo chips?
Have you tried ammo lock?


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

QUESTION: Hi Joe,

I just thought I would drop you a line and  let you know that I think things are starting to improve. On tuesday I did about a 75% water change, then I tried the product Cycle, at the same time I put 5 fairly good sized gold fish. This is Saturday night and they are still alive! Unbelieveable! However the tank went from cystal clear to very cloudy, but I am not going to worry about that for now. The ammonia is 0.25! So it is going away/. HOw long should I wait to change the filter media? I don't want to upset the bacteria?

Thanks again for all your help!

Answer
Hi Gail...
I am happy that things are better.
Cycle will cloud the water. It is part of the bacteria growing.
.25 ammonia isn't too bad either :-)
Keep up the water changes weekly, and don't touch the filter media for at least 2 weeks, and when you change it, what exactly will you be changing?
Don't change eveything all at once.
If you have ammo carb and foam, just change one thing one week, then the other the next