Ammonia levels

MikeLipyeat · Jul 3, 2013

Hi guys. My tank has been running for 2 weeks now and under the advice of my lfs i started usi denitrol to cycle the tank on thursday, then added 2 clownfish and a couple of snails shrimps and crabs on sat. Now my ammonia levels are 0,5 accord9ng to my test kit. Is this just tye tank cycling? And will it harm my fish and shrimp?

My sal8nity is normal, nitrate and nitrite 0 and ph8.0 and kh normal
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glb · Jul 3, 2013

If you don't have any nitrites or nitrates yet, the tank hasn't cycled so the ammonia will harm the fish. The tank is very young and I wouldn't want you to lose your fish! Could the lfs hold them for you while the tank finishes cycling? You could also buy some beneficial bacteria to help things along. Good luck!

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

MikeLipyeat · Jul 3, 2013

My lfs told me to use denitrol daily for 10 days which is tye beneficial bacteria i think? I havent put it in yet today. Do u think that may help?
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MikeLipyeat · Jul 3, 2013

Upon redoing the tests i have 0.1 nitrate and nitrite

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glb · Jul 3, 2013

That's good news! It's still in the middle of cycling so I'd keep a lot of beneficial bacteria in there to speed it up. I've used Biospira in the past too. You can add Seachem Prime to the tank to detoxify the ammonia without stalling the cycle. It will protect the fish. You'll still get ammonia/nitrite/nitrate readings but fish will be safer. Good luck!

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

MikeLipyeat · Jul 3, 2013

How long will the ammonia spike last? Ive added extra denitrol to lower the ammonia

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glb · Jul 3, 2013

It depends. Do you have live rock in the tank? That really speeds things up. If not, I'd expect several weeks on its own or less if you use a lot of the beneficial bacteria. You'll need to test daily with the fish in there. Can you tell me more about the tank?

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

MikeLipyeat · Jul 3, 2013

Yes i hAve live rock. Its 40 gallons with 2 filters powerhead etc..... i hage 2 clowns. 2 shrimp. 2 snails and 2 crabs. Im using denitrol by jbl daily which is benificial bacteria...... i think i may be overfeeding my fish tbh. Gonna try cuttin down to 1 feed a day instead if 2-3. My lfs sa8d this should help

Reefing Madness · Jul 3, 2013

I'd stop using that stuff. Its not helping anything. Your fish started teh Ammonia cycle, now you need to keep up with the water changes so the ammonia doesn't kill them. You'll need to keep a watchful eye on the fish and the parameters for another 4-6 weeks.

MikeLipyeat · Jul 3, 2013

Should the bacteria start to form on its own to turn the ammonia into nitrite? Or should i give it a helping hand. My lfs said to not do a water xhange as it will slow the cyxling and my clowns may be stressed but they will survive?

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jduck · Jul 3, 2013

MikeLipyeat said:
Should the bacteria start to form on its own to turn the ammonia into nitrite? Or should i give it a helping hand. My lfs said to not do a water xhange as it will slow the cyxling and my clowns may be stressed but they will survive?

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The bacteria will colonize on their own. You are correct, normally you don't want to do a water change when cycling a tank. But seeing as you have added livestock before the tank was ready it will now be more work for you and take longer for tank to be fully ready. You will need to monitor ammonia and change the water so fish are not harmed.

MikeLipyeat · Jul 3, 2013

I might be wrong but a lot of people i know have used hardy fish such as clowns to cycle their tank and it has been much more effective than fishless cycling due to another cycle starting when you first add livestock. Ive been told to watch my levels do no water changes and hope the fish ride it out. Which in a lot of peoples opinion 90% will survive
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glb · Jul 3, 2013

It's true that changing the water will slow down the cycle but you'll have to to keep the fish alive. Fishless cycles became popular because the bacterias that cause cycling can be added without stressing the fish. I've done it with all my tanks and didn't have another cycle when I added the fish because I did it very slowly. The cycling process does stress the fish. It sounds like you've gotten some good advice. And yes, the bacteria is naturally in the tank. Adding more just speeds up the cycle. Good luck!

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

Reefing Madness · Jul 3, 2013

MikeLipyeat said:
I might be wrong but a lot of people i know have used hardy fish such as clowns to cycle their tank and it has been much more effective than fishless cycling due to another cycle starting when you first add livestock. Ive been told to watch my levels do no water changes and hope the fish ride it out. Which in a lot of peoples opinion 90% will survive
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This is a dismal way of looking at a living creature. Hoping they will survive the Ammonia and Trites in a cycling tank. We have no idea what they go through while getting Ammonia Poisoning.

MikeLipyeat · Jul 4, 2013

My ammonia levels this morning are at 1.0. Im going to do a 25%water change as soon as the store opens in 1 hour. Will this help? And will this stop my tank cycling?

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glb · Jul 4, 2013

MikeLipyeat said:
My ammonia levels this morning are at 1.0. Im going to do a 25%water change as soon as the store opens in 1 hour. Will this help? And will this stop my tank cycling?

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It will help your fish, but it will slow down the cycling. But if you're keeping the fish in the tank, I think it's the right move. I'd keep adding beneficial bacteria to speed things up. And use Prime to detoxify the ammonia without stalling the cycle. Good luck!

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

MikeLipyeat · Jul 4, 2013

I am so ****** off right now. Ive been worrying about my fish for 2 days and it turns out my ammonia levels arent 1.0ppm. They are 0.3ppm.... i took a water sample to my lfs who confirmed the test kit i own is ********

So never ever buy any products made by "tropic marin"

glb · Jul 4, 2013

MikeLipyeat said:
I am so ****** off right now. Ive been worrying about my fish for 2 days and it turns out my ammonia levels arent 1.0ppm. They are 0.3ppm.... i took a water sample to my lfs who confirmed the test kit i own is ********

So never ever buy any products made by "tropic marin"

Well at least it's good news for your fisb!

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

MikeLipyeat · Jul 4, 2013

Thats true .... my test kit also showed no nitrites..... but the lfs one showed 0.4 ppm.... does this mean my cycle is happening?

glb · Jul 4, 2013

MikeLipyeat said:
Thats true .... my test kit also showed no nitrites..... but the lfs one showed 0.4 ppm.... does this mean my cycle is happening?

If it's accurate yes. I've read that tests are usually good for a year. Someone with more experience please correct me if I'm wrong but I've seen that a few times.

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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.