Ammonia in new tank

[JamesThomas]

Hey all, Ive posted this in the newbie area, because Im feeling like one now! Ive filled my 100g tank and 50g sump a month ago. salty water and damsel, and two bags of caribe live sand.
soooooo, tested the ammonia and its at 8.ppm What gives? this seems crazy high. back before the internet I wouldve already had pricey fish in there. Heck I didnt even know what a cycle was.....

 

[Sod Buster]

You need some more bacteria in the tank. Get it down to 3-4ppm with a water change and dump in some fritz 900 or dr Tim's bottled bacteria.

 

[Iván Olalla]

Hey all, Ive posted this in the newbie area, because Im feeling like one now! Ive filled my 100g tank and 50g sump a month ago. salty water and damsel, and two bags of caribe live sand.
soooooo, tested the ammonia and its at 8.ppm What gives? this seems crazy high. back before the internet I wouldve already had pricey fish in there. Heck I didnt even know what a cycle was.....

What kind of rock you put in there? If it wasnt reseted there´s always some rests of organics that can rise ammonia. Which test was used? In a cycling tank the ammonia spikes and kickstarts the nitrogen cycle: nitrite, then nitrate. You seeded with bacteria? There´s no need but using some bacteria can speed up the cycle via creating a larger colony that manages ammonia into nitrite and nitrate.
Dont stress, be patient and test, there will be a moment when ammonia is undetectable and you see an increase in nitrate which is a very good indicator that your bacteri culture and bioload are working.

sorry for the broken english, not native speaker here

 

[JamesThomas]

Thanks Sod and Ivan. I only have the live sand in there now. no rock. I can pick up a bottle of bacteria. Im surprised my damsel is alive! Im using the API testing kit

 

[bluprntguy]

Did you mistype .8 as 8?

 

[Iván Olalla]

Thanks Sod and Ivan. I only have the live sand in there now. no rock. I can pick up a bottle of bacteria. Im surprised my damsel is alive! Im using the API testing kit

API tends to test high on ammonia with low levels. If you only have substrate and not much flow the bacterial colony can only process the laminar flow over the substrate, not much more. If you want to keep clean and minimal the DT i suggest you put at least some media in the sump that bacteria can live in eg. biobricks, rock rubble, etc

 

[Sod Buster]

8ppm should be gasping or dead. If the fish acts normal, the test kit garbage. The ammonia badge works ok. You need to get some rock in the tank or a media block in the sump for the bacteria to have a home and multiply.

 

[JamesThomas]

the API ammonia kit is reading dark green. its 8.0 ppm by the chart. I stopped at the local and the owner is great. said I should wait before adding the Fritz because it will just raise ammonia even more at first. He couldve taken my $20, but is always upfront. says the live sand kicked things off.

 

[JamesThomas]

I can fill the refuge area with rock.

 

[Paul Sands]

the API ammonia kit is reading dark green. its 8.0 ppm by the chart. I stopped at the local and the owner is great. said I should wait before adding the Fritz because it will just raise ammonia even more at first. He couldve taken my $20, but is always upfront. says the live sand kicked things off.

Fritz does not raise ammonia. Did you tell the owner that your ammonia is at 8? Because the fish would be dead if it really was. Is your test kit expired? Something isn’t right.

 

[JamesThomas]

I told him my ammonia was "raging" The exp. on the kit is 2022. I went back and read the instructions again. let me try only the refug area where the damsel is. I designed this whole tank and sump so maybe theres a circulation flaw.

 

[alton]

Use Fritz turbo 900, nothing like it

 

[JamesThomas]

just tested the refuge section and got the same. fishboy has been eating and swimming fine. not sure Im missing

 

[Dale_M]

Adding bacteria in a bottle (like Fritz 900 or Dr. Tim's) will NOT raise your ammonia level.
On the contrary, it should start working almost immediately. Get the largest bottle they make and dump entire contents.
Test again in 12 hours and every 12 hours after that.
Feed that damsel a few morsels every other day and your cycle should progress normally.
Adding live rock could kick off an ammonia spike, but should settle quickly with enough bacteria.

 

[JamesThomas]

darn it. had the bottle in my hand too. okay, you guys are a bit more versed Im sure.

 

[shred5]

Something is wrong with the test kit it seems.

I have heard of API showing ammonia when there is none before.

Mix up some fresh saltwater and test it for ammonia with the test kit. If it shows some there you know it is the kit.

If you have actual live sand with only one fish their should be none especially after a month?

How much, what kind and where did you get the sand?

 

[TheGreatWave]

Can yo a water change before you go or when you get back?, see if it lowers the API kit result even just for curiosity if you don't think think there is ammonia in there.

 

[count krunk]

yeah fish would be dying, or struggling, with that much ammonia in the water. If there really is that much.

 

[Dale_M]

I suspect that without any nitrifying bacteria to start the nitrogen cycle the live sand may be the cause of the ammonia reading.
However, as stated above make sure the test kit itself is not in question.
Test some newly made saltwater that has not been in your tank/sump. If it is still reading 8ppm ammonia then there is either a faulty test kit OR
your source water is where the ammonia is coming from.

 

[BeejReef]

What is your water source?