Ammock, when to dose?

[DebraLV]

Hi, I started my tank on Aug 5th. My parameters were barely moving so I purchased a bottle of API Ammolock today which I have not used until I get advice from you guys.

It was frustrating as nothing was moving so I did a full WC yesterday with conditioned salt spring water. I was told in the forum it's ok to do as I treated with Dr Tims OaO for a week and all bacteria took hold of the base rock and live sand by now.

Today I did a water test and my results decreased by half from yesterday. I've attached my results for your advice.

My question is.....should I wait another week to see if it completes the cycle or should I start the Ammolock tonight? I'm reading up on this and I'm hearing it just neutralizes the ammonia but will still show when I test. Thanks in advance for any advice. Forgive my error in the thread title. I couldn't figure out how to edit to Ammolock.

 

[Uncle99]

If you added a bacteria and have been running since Aug 5, then your certainly cycled.
API test kits not overly accurate, your ammonia shows .5ppm and nitrites .5ppm with a nitrate of 20ppm, looks normal for a month old tank to me.
If you want to add lock it’s fine too.
Ready for first fishy friends.

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

the ammolock will only bind free ammonia, your API test kit tests total ammonia so without knowing if you have free ammonia or not, it's a waste to dose it in my opinion. the best test for free ammonia is the SeaChem Alert badge, a worth while investment, they last about a year and by then you'll likely not need another one.

 

[vtecintegra]

Ammolock killed a large percent of my live stock. I would never add it to my tank again.

 

[DebraLV]

the ammolock will only bind free ammonia, your API test kit tests total ammonia so without knowing if you have free ammonia or not, it's a waste to dose it in my opinion. the best test for free ammonia is the SeaChem Alert badge, a worth while investment, they last about a year and by then you'll likely not need another one.

You know, I actually have that in my Amazon cart. I saw that on another thread. I shall hit the BUY NOW Button now. Thanks!

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

You know, I actually have that in my Amazon cart. I saw that on another thread. I shall hit the BUY NOW Button now. Thanks!

glad to help.

 

[DebraLV]

You know, I actually have that in my Amazon cart. I saw that gadget on another thread. I shall hit the BUY NOW Button now. Thanks!

 

[DebraLV]

glad to help.

So, I went to my LFS today. He had two small clowns paired up. I tested my water today. According to my calculations:
Salinity - 1.025
Ammonia - .25 ppm
Nitrite - .25
Nitrate - 20
Ph - 8.2 (I used a test strip on that)
I used my API SW kit and attached my results also. I tested in natural light with flash off.

The jist of it is....He would gladly sell me the pair of clowns as they are hardy and will most like survive, to make the 50.00 sale, but..... he would not recommend.

I might add he has beautiful stock. He didn't test my water as he also tests with API. He doesn't use Hanna checkers, just a refractometer for salinity. I guess because he has been around since the stone age and can tell by sight.

He said wait until ammonia and nitrates is, -0- which should happen in a week. I'm sure all you guys in the forum would agree, I guess I just wanted to hear "so, say, you" so I don't have to bug you guys for a year until I upgrade.

Also, lastly is it going to be really hard to keep my parameters in check with such a small tank? I was planning on just 2 clowns for about 6 months then upgrade. I only have 20 lbs of live sand and 6 lbs of base rock. I figure 7 gallons of water volume on an 8.5 tank. I Really, really appreciate your help. The LFS was so crowded today and I did not get a chance to discuss that. Everyone's setting up tanks and buying fish with all their extra stimulus $$ lol.

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

sounds like you have a fairly decent LFS there, most will try to push a sale on new folks just to make the sale, i'm glad to see there are still a few decent ones left in the world.

 

[DebraLV]

sounds like you have a fairly decent LFS there, most will try to push a sale on new folks just to make the sale, i'm glad to see there are still a few decent ones left in the world.

Yes, believe it or not KC, even Petco will discourage it. Apparently they are now Petco Health & Wellness.
I went last week to get a Pleco for my 10 gallon tropical. The gal was like, I discourage selling as you need at LEAST a 20 gallon. I'm sure she was just a regular employee making minimum wage in aquatics but I'm thinking Petco is training them well before they go on the floor to assist.
Petco is really paying attention to the game now

 

[FishyFishFish]

Petco is not 'health and wellness'. That might be their advertising but, as a company, it is just not true from my experience. I have seen a lot of livestock in my local Petco that is neither healthy nor well.

It appears some are better than others and it sounds like you might have a good one, but that is not universal.

 

[DebraLV]

I get that Fishy. I did notice that whenever I buy something the employees have basic knowledge, whether it be fish or simply a dog bone...there employees are on it to instruct and it bugs me as I already know most of what they tell me.

I hate that. I know what works for my fish or my dogs. But I can only think that they are minimum wage workers who have no clue about fish or dogs as they probably went through training for a week before Petco put them on the floor to assist.

It's just marketing tactic for Petco to say they really care about animals. They probably make them go through an 8 hours training before they put them on the floor.

But I will say..I have looked at saltwater fish at Petco, They are in 20 gallon tanks and are beautiful. However, when I ask an employee to test my salt water...she comes out with a basic strip test.

 

[KC's CNC Creations]

PetCo WAS bought out by Live Aquaria, but they have recently parted ways............. and i know all PetCo's are different, i don't have a local one (or a LFS period), but do have 2 PetCo within a 2hr drive and a 3rd that's another 45min drive from one of the other two. the farthest one has two 'marine specialist employees' and their saltwater systems are very well kept for a chain store, the senior marine specialist has his own reef tank on display in the store. it's actually one place where they don't talk like they know everything and talk down to customers, i've seen them spend a lot of time talking to customers who had zero intentions of ever owning a marine tank and asked dozens of stupid questions and they responded very politely.......something i have a hard time doing myself

the best thing about PetCo is their sale every 90 days on tanks from 10-75 gallon size and i've set up quiet a few, especially the 40 breeders for people. their price on aragonite sand is cheaper then anyone else and it ships for 5.99 regardless of how much you order. needless to say there's been many times my UPS driver wasn't happy about the boxes i've gotten. i've also lucked out catching sales where i can get IO Reef Crystals 160g buckets for 20 bucks each shipped.

 

[FishyFishFish]

PetCo WAS bought out by Live Aquaria, but they have recently parted ways.............

Not quite. Live Aquaria was bought out by Petco, but is not owned by them any more.