Ammonia levels 8+ppm! Need help!!

[Tannar bradley]

my tank is fairly new, I did not let it fully cycle(my mistake) but now my zebra eel is not eating since I got him 3 weeks ago! My water parameters are ammonia-8+, ph-8 but does keep dropping, nitrites-0, nitrates-10-20ppm, what do I do to fix this, if I can't find solution asap I will rehome the eel. Though I do not want to

 

[Fishhands]

water change

 

[Big G]

Welcome to R2R! Water changes are you best attack. 25% at a shot and keep testing. Couldn't hurt to add some Bio-Spira or similar too.

 

[Tannar bradley]

water change

I have been doing 50% water changes but even after the readings still go straight back

 

[Slayvoff]

What about Prime? Or will that poison the eel?

 

[Big G]

What testing kit are you using?

 

[Big G]

Tell us about your tank: size, how long it's been up and running, filtration, live rock/dry, sand/barebottom, feeding practices

 

[Tannar bradley]

I am using the API saltwater kit

 

[Tannar bradley]

And I do have prime but haven't used it in a while, and no I don't believe it will poison him, my question is my tanks cycle just completely crashed and do I need to get rid of him and start completely over?

 

[Tannar bradley]

Tank is a 30 it's been up and running for about a month and a half now, I have 2 hob filters, 2 air stones, have about 36lbs of live rock, and have a gravel substrate as i was going to do freshWater initially but changed my mind and I'm trying to feed him silversides, clams, and squid with tongs to his face, and even left food in there for hour maximum to see if he'd smell it and take it but never does

 

[Salty Carlo]

I would start with Seachem AMGuard to neutralize the ammonia and use some kind of media to aid with the nitrates.

 

[Tannar bradley]

I also have a 125 gallon tank that I purchased but I'm waiting to set it up until I move here in a couple weeks

 

[Big G]

API test kits have been known to give inaccurate readings. Can you get a Seachem ammonia badge placed into the tank asap?

 

[Big G]

Tank is a 30 it's been up and running for about a month and a half now, I have 2 hob filters, 2 air stones, have about 36lbs of live rock, and have a gravel substrate as i was going to do freshWater initially but changed my mind and I'm trying to feed him silversides, clams, and squid with tongs to his face, and even left food in there for hour maximum to see if he'd smell it and take it but never does

Eels sometimes don't eat for quite awhile when placed into a new tank. Some won't eat for weeks. Most eels are nocturnal feeders. Have you tried feeding him when the lights are out or if you have it the moonlight setting is on?

 

[Tannar bradley]

Eels sometimes don't eat for quite awhile when placed into a new tank. Some won't eat for weeks. Most eels are nocturnal feeders. Have you tried feeding him when the lights are out or if you have it the moonlight setting is on?

I have tried feeding him with lights out, but the water quality and the ph is so messed up I think he's just suffocating and really wanting to eat or move at all

 

[Big G]

Your gravel bottom could be contributing to the ammonia problem; lots of food particles falling in between the gravel gets trapped, rots and ammonia results. You could siphon out as much gravel as possible just like doing a water change and then using something like a cake icing tube or something tube like to drop some "live sand" in there. The plus is the HOB filters you have would rapidly filter the tank.

 

[Tannar bradley]

Your gravel bottom could be contributing to the ammonia problem; lots of food particles falling in between the gravel gets trapped, rots and ammonia results. You could siphon out as much gravel as possible just like doing a water change and then using something like a cake icing tube or something tube like to drop some "live sand" in there. The plus is the HOB filters you have would rapidly filter the tank.

That's what I have thought about doing and going with sand, also under the gravel is some fertilizer that I put in for some plants I had at first but they were dying so I pulled them out, but I'm thinking that taking the gravel and fertilizer out and replacing with sand would be a good start I just wasn't to sure if that's what I should so

 

[Tannar bradley]

Your gravel bottom could be contributing to the ammonia problem; lots of food particles falling in between the gravel gets trapped, rots and ammonia results. You could siphon out as much gravel as possible just like doing a water change and then using something like a cake icing tube or something tube like to drop some "live sand" in there. The plus is the HOB filters you have would rapidly filter the tank.

That's what I have thought about doing and going with sand, also under the gravel is some fertilizer that I put in for some plants I had at first but they were dying so I pulled them out, but I'm thinking that taking the gravel and fertilizer out and replacing with sand would be a good start I just wasn't to sure if that's what I should do

 

[Big G]

I've had many, many planted tanks over the years (old as dirt) and I used miracle grow mulch under my gravel for freshwater planted tanks. I would be worried about the particulate matter that would be swirling around the tank if you did try to remove it while the eel was still in there. A sudden release of chemicals from the mulch/fertilizer could be fatal for the eel.

 

[Dsnakes]

Fertilizer in a reef? Definately needs to come out asap.