a fish tank move

Question
Hi,
Hoping you can help me with a fish tank move, I don't know if we did the right thing.

My  neighbor, Jack, is moving away, and he had a 12-gallon established tank with 2 tetras, a molly, and an algae eater. At the same time, my son and I were trying to establish a 20-gallon tank to which we were adding ammonia, waiting for the nitrites to change. This didn't happen in time for the move, so I had to think quickly.

What we did was this: we took about 2 cups of the gravel from Jack's tank, along with a big fake rock and put that into the 20-gallon tank. Then we drained 90% of the water and put as much of Jack's water in as we could get in the move. We then had to add about 50% new treated water to the 20-gallon tank. I hoped this would allow Jack's fish to survive in the new tank, but I'm not comfortable with the ammonia readings I'm still getting in the 20-gallon tank. I added Ammo-Lock - should I keep adding it? Will it interfere with what the tank has to do?

Thanks for any advice you have,
Maria  

Answer
Dear Maria,
I'm glad you took in those fish!
Ammonia is always a very bad thing to have in your tank. It's normal though in your newly setup 20gal. The best thing to do when ammonia reads above safe bounds is a 50% water change. Making sure the replacement water is dechlorinated and equal in temperature to that of your aquarium of course.
By far, Water changes will get you through most all problems during cycling. If you still see ammonia readings after a 50% water change. You may need to do another change. It may be so concentrated that just one water change isn't enough to dilute it.

Remember some ammonia neutralizers like ammo-lock can often give false ammonia readings on your test kit so be sure and check ammo-lock's label carefully to see if it is compatible with the reagent in your current test kit. Fortunately most ammonia neutralizers say which reagents they are and are not compatible with.

Water changes are your best defence here. Doing many water changes won't harm your new tetras, molly and algae eater. As long as the replacement water is dechlorintated properly and is equal in temperature than it is entirely safe.

I really hope this helps!
Best wishes to you and your new rescued fish!
Karen~