Ammonia: how high is too high

[Brakaan]

I have a 16g biocube. Just started 6 weeks ago. Tank cycled 4 weeks ago and I added two clowns. Got a pretty a bad algae bloom a few weeks ago so last week I added 3 turbo snails, 1 cerith and a bicolor blenny. Tank looks 100x better now but I have two problems:

All that algae is being turned into poop: snail poop and blenny poop. It’s so dense it just sinks to the bottom and rests on the sand. Twice this week I’ve siphoned up as much as I can.

The other problem is ammonia has started to rise. It’s at .25 ppm. I assume it’s because of all the poop. I’m not too worried right now because I’m sure the bacteria will multiply to compensate.

Just curious about how high and how long ammonia can be present before fish are in danger?

 

[Marc2952]

Tbh from my understanding is that if its readable in a test kit its too high.

 

[JimG1966]

I am new here to but been in the hobby for awhile. I have always been told not to clean the sand with vacuum as it will cause the amonia to raise.

 

[JimG1966]

someone correct me if i am wrong...

 

[Dragon52]

What Test Kit are you using, API is known to show .25 even when there isn't any in the tank. Multiple Thrads about this which you can search for and read

 

[Brakaan]

Tbh from my understanding is that if its readable in a test kit its too high.

But is there a way to reduce ammonia quickly? My understanding is the bacteria just have to catch up.

If there’s no way to reduce ammonia quickly how do I protect the fish? I suppose I could remove the snails...

 

[Brakaan]

What Test Kit are you using, API is known to show .25 even when there isn't any in the tank. Multiple Thrads about this which you can search for and read

I’m using API but the kit has read “0” every week I’ve checked it since it cycled.

Re: existing threads, that’s the catch-22 about forums isn’t it? Virtually everything that can be said has probably already been said. I could search (and often do) but I was kind of looking for some conversation on the topic.

 

[W1ngz]

The answer sort of depends on a bunch of nuanced thing like free vs total ammonia bound to other stuff. Some tests just test total.

Also, if you are testing with API they almost always give false positives on the low end of the test.

I wouldn't lose my mind for .25, buy would watch it very carefully and test daily, or get an ammonia alert badge for now.

 

[tankstudy]

I have a 16g biocube. Just started 6 weeks ago. Tank cycled 4 weeks ago and I added two clowns. Got a pretty a bad algae bloom a few weeks ago so last week I added 3 turbo snails, 1 cerith and a bicolor blenny. Tank looks 100x better now but I have two problems:

All that algae is being turned into poop: snail poop and blenny poop. It’s so dense it just sinks to the bottom and rests on the sand. Twice this week I’ve siphoned up as much as I can.

The other problem is ammonia has started to rise. It’s at .25 ppm. I assume it’s because of all the poop. I’m not too worried right now because I’m sure the bacteria will multiply to compensate.

Just curious about how high and how long ammonia can be present before fish are in danger?

@ 0.25 ppm, your inhabitants shouldn't kick the bucket over night and should survive for some time but like you stated your bacteria should compensate for it in time.

 

[Dragon52]

Seachem Prime will get rid of Ammonia. Water changes will also help. You may have just added to much to soon for the amount of Bacteria needed to help keep the process stable.

 

[Brakaan]

A related question then: what do you do when ammonia does spike? What chemicals to dose? Remove fish? But to where? Frequent partial water changes?

I’m not so worried right now but I want to be prepared in the event ammonia does spike for some time.

What do you all do to lower ammonia quickly?

 

[Brakaan]

Seachem Prime will get rid of Ammonia. Water changes will also help. You may have just added to much to soon for the amount of Bacteria needed to help keep the process stable.

Thanks, you just answered my last reply.

To be honest, I never thought snails could produce so much waste! I mean, look at all that poop!

 

[Dragon52]

A related question then: what do you do when ammonia does spike? What chemicals to dose? Remove fish? But to where? Frequent partial water changes?

I’m not so worried right now but I want to be prepared in the event ammonia does spike for some time.

What do you all do to lower ammonia quickly?

Look at my last post. They may have had babies.

 

[Brakaan]

As the algae gets under control should I expect to see the poop volume decrease? Or should I plan on removing a snail or two?

 

[Dragon52]

As the algae gets under control should I expect to see the poop volume decrease? Or should I plan on removing a snail or two?

I would think so but I have a lot more snails then you do & never see any poop in my tank but I also have snails that eat the detritus (fish poop) so they may eat the snail stuff as well.

 

[Marc2952]

But is there a way to reduce ammonia quickly? My understanding is the bacteria just have to catch up.

If there’s no way to reduce ammonia quickly how do I protect the fish? I suppose I could remove the snails...

I had that happen to me now that i got two clowns in quarantine. I added a whole bottle of bio spira to my 20 gallon and by yesterday the ammonia was unreadable.

 

[Brakaan]

I would think so but I have a lot more snails then you do & never see any poop in my tank but I also have snails that eat the detritus (fish poop) so they may eat the snail stuff as well.

Which snails eat poop? Crazy that I need snails to eat algae and then more snails to eat snail algae poop. Lol

 

[Dragon52]

Which snails eat poop? Crazy that I need snails to eat algae and then more snails to eat snail algae poop. Lol

Here's a good list from LA, just click on the links to see more info about them. You can also search Google for more info.

https://www.liveaquaria.com/category/526/snails?c=497+526&r=

 

[Malifry97]

@brandon429

 

[brandon429]

We should use the collective power of the chem forum to prove or deny the possibility of sustained .25 ammonia in reefing

Why does it matter if reef tanks can have stuck cycles? Because when you move homes you don't want to lose animals, cycling science needs precision and predictability in order to protect our tanks. perhaps an emergency setup is needed, no wait time permitted or If you are invited to show...

www.reef2reef.com

I would respond with that thread, this tank here is zero ammonia for those reasons above, yes the waste you are seeing compiling does need to be removed, it adds up to algae fuel for sure.

the #1 thing we wouldnt do is buy bottle bac here. its cycled, and zero ammonia.