Ammonia spike after food spill

[Spkarim]

Hi

I posted yesterday after my feeder fell in and dumped some food in my 40g

Well it looks like I have ammonia spike to somewhere around 0.25-0.5 by API test. Royal gramma is acting funny, other fish look normal. Skimmer going like crazy.

I did 30% water change and added some Prime. Bottle said can do up to 5x dose in emergency.

Any other suggestions? Thanks

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi

I posted yesterday after my feeder fell in and dumped some food in my 40g

Well it looks like I have ammonia spike to somewhere around 0.25-0.5 by API test. Royal gramma is acting funny, other fish look normal. Skimmer going like crazy.

I did 30% water change and added some Prime. Bottle said can do up to 5x dose in emergency.

Any other suggestions? Thanks

Were you able to remove some of the food, all of the food that came out? Pellets, flake?

API test kits for ammonia are not accurate at low range.

 

[piranhaman00]

Do one large water change and add biospira with prime

 

[MERKEY]

Hi

I posted yesterday after my feeder fell in and dumped some food in my 40g

Well it looks like I have ammonia spike to somewhere around 0.25-0.5 by API test. Royal gramma is acting funny, other fish look normal. Skimmer going like crazy.

I did 30% water change and added some Prime. Bottle said can do up to 5x dose in emergency.

Any other suggestions? Thanks

API is notoriously bad at ammonia. I'm not saying it's not there but it's not as bad as you think or fish would already be dead.

If no fish are at the top gasping then they will be ok.

Do a water change and relax.

Adding prime just binds ammonia it doesnt remove it.

Water change is your best bet.

In an ammonia spike if you were going to have dead fish it would have already happened.

You can add bottle bac if you want to comfort your nerves

 

[Spkarim]

Thanks for replies

They were flakes, maybe about 1/2 cup. I managed to get most of it out I think.

Maybe I am panicking a bit, other tests seem ok with pH about 8, nitrites still at 0, nitrates 5-10. Repeat ammonia about 0.25 after water change. My Seachem ammonia badge hasn’t changed color, though, so maybe API is inaccurate as mentioned.

No fish gasping so hopefully will be ok.

Thank you again for replies.