If your ammonia spikes are .25 PPM, stop changing water. You are slowing the growth of the nitrifying bacteria.
Measure nitrite religiously, and if *that* moves beyond barely detectable, then change water. Nitrite is toxic at low levels; ammonia is much less so. Some invertebrates can be more ammonia-sensitive, but that only kicks in at .5 ppm or above, and is strongly limited by pH in a home aquarium.
Ammonia in a tank with nitrifying bacteria should spike with increased bio load; the spike should be relatively low and relatively short without a corresponding nitrite spike. That indicates your tank is adapting.
Hi all, i started a planted tank in January did a fish-in cycle with a betta. Last weekend I added 10 baby ramshorn snails and 10 shrimp, now I’m getting daily Ammonia spikes (.25 ppm) and doing about a 15% water change daily.
I plan to rehome a few snails and 2 shrimp died (one for sure due to failed molt, unsure of the cause of death of the other) and were removed. Am I overstocked and that’s causing the ammonia spikes? Do I just keep testing, water changes, and wait it out? Would love any advice!
arcadeliar6 
If your ammonia spikes are .25 PPM, stop changing water. You are slowing the growth of the nitrifying bacteria.
Measure nitrite religiously, and if *that* moves beyond barely detectable, then change water. Nitrite is toxic at low levels; ammonia is much less so. Some invertebrates can be more ammonia-sensitive, but that only kicks in at .5 ppm or above, and is strongly limited by pH in a home aquarium.
The Australian government has a handy guide [https://www.waterquality.gov.au/anz-guidelines/guideline-values/default/water-quality-toxicants/toxicants/ammonia-2000](https://www.waterquality.gov.au/anz-guidelines/guideline-values/default/water-quality-toxicants/toxicants/ammonia-2000)] that has a table; quick conversions from micrograms per liter has their recommended “action” stage for ammonia at 2.0 ppm (just over) for pH of 7.
Ammonia in a tank with nitrifying bacteria should spike with increased bio load; the spike should be relatively low and relatively short without a corresponding nitrite spike. That indicates your tank is adapting.
Hi all, i started a planted tank in January did a fish-in cycle with a betta. Last weekend I added 10 baby ramshorn snails and 10 shrimp, now I’m getting daily Ammonia spikes (.25 ppm) and doing about a 15% water change daily.
I plan to rehome a few snails and 2 shrimp died (one for sure due to failed molt, unsure of the cause of death of the other) and were removed. Am I overstocked and that’s causing the ammonia spikes? Do I just keep testing, water changes, and wait it out? Would love any advice!