Is My Tank Having Too Much Free Ammonia?, Not sure about levels tolerated by goldfish Options

[2goldfish]

I have a new tub setup, roughly 70cm(L)x52cm(W)x30cm(D). It has been running for 11 days, 1st four days no fish, then a few small GFs(3) when I thought the cycling had completed (using old tank water).

I added in 3 more (1-1.5inch GFs) as I thought tub should be able to handle?

Two days ago, I bought some anti-ammonia rock (zeolites?) as my Seachem indicator has been reading green since day one. Changed water after 1 week and put it in but no reduction in ammonia as its still at the 'green' colour level (0.05mg/l) free ammonia.

Today, after I put in those 3 layered (coarse, charcoal, fine) combo media with ceramic rings sandwiched inside, the water was getting very cloudy after I repositioned the zeolite, threw out the old OHF filter media but kept the ceramic rings.

I STILL have been getting the same reading...but water has turned clearer by this evening. However, few days ago, the fish were all huddled together at the bottom of tub and occasionally dart here and there. This evening as water got clearer, they seem more lively.

Q: Is there a long term risk to expose them at these rates or should I reduce NH4 to below 0.05mg/l?
Going by HappyBuddha's post about NH4 toxicity levels, it should be ok? RG experts, please enlighten me.

Nitrite reading last taken 1 hr ago: 0.3mg/l
PH: 7.5-7.7
KH: 5-6 dkh

[CP]

Ammonia level of 0.05ppm is OK. Just perform weekly water changes with your current stock level.

[2goldfish]

Ammonia level of 0.05ppm is OK. Just perform weekly water changes with your current stock level.

The weird thing is that the indicator sometimes reads 'grey' no such colour on the four colour scale? I'm not sure if the Seachem thing really works even though sometimes I remove it from water and it goes back to yellow. So far fishes don't seem affected and water is a slightly greenish yellow so as you said, hopefully weekly water changes should be sufficient to prevent harm.

This post has been edited by 2goldfish: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 1:44 pm

[2goldfish]

Just some updates, fish is ok so far and the ammonia has come down to almost zero as as SEACHEM shows 'YELLOW'.

However, my nitrites seem to have shot up to 1.6mg/l as part of the Nitrogen cycle?

Dear experts, how long can fishies tahan (bear) the higher nitrites? I change 50% water, reduced feeding to two times per day still get the same bloody reading!