Ammonia spike

drud0616 · Sep 5, 2014

Hey guys. I started a reef tank about 2 months ago. Completed my cycle around 1 month ago (with the help of bio-spira). First I added some CUCs and then steadily added two clowns, one yellow tang, two Corals. My water parameters have been relatively normal aside from a steadily elevates nitrate level of approx 30ppm. Things were going fairly well in the tank, however I made the mistake of purchasing 2 camel shrimp which we're making short work of my coral. Unfortunately, I was forced I breaks tank down (removing my rock and placing it into a container) so I could get those suckers out. Happy to say they are no longer a problem, but now I'm facing an even worse one. My ammonia level is steadily increasing (today it is at about 2ppm). pH 8.2 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate 0-5. Basically, I think I am experiencing "die-off" from the tank breakdown and now my tank is re-cycling. To complicate my situation I received an order of 7 coral which I purchased prior to breaking down my tank. Just wondering what advice you guys can give me regarding this issue.
Should I keep my live stock in my tank and monitor my ammonia levels, hoping they will drop?
Should I get a quarantine tank and do water changes until my display tank finishes it's cycle?
Should I use use an ammonia chelation to bind the free ammonia in the tank?

Here's some info on my tank
55. Gallon hex tank
40lbs rock
RO/DI water with instant ocean mix

Live stock:
FISH TANK:

CUCs:
6 blue leg hermit crabs
8 nassarius snails
1 turbo snail
1 Scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
1 Brittle Starfish
1 emerald crab
1 Red starfish

Fish:
2 pecula clown
1 yellow tang

Coral:
1 polyp
1 Kenya tree
Hammer Coral
Star Polyp Green
Paly
Candy Cane
Frogspawn
Torch Coral
Brain Coral

Thanx!!

mike007 · Sep 5, 2014

Keep doing your water changes to bring the levels down. Be careful at this time with your feeding until levels get stabile.

fishroomlady · Sep 6, 2014

with your fish in there, I'd use some prime

cope413 · Sep 6, 2014

Get a bottle of Dr Tim's one and only. That will help reestablish your bacteria to get your cycle going again. Don't overreact. Ammonia can be controlled fairly easily. But you can just as easily stress out your livestock and kill it all. Toss some Purigen and chemipure into your filter. Use Dr Tim's. Test every day for a week and if your fish are showing signs of stress, do a big water change - 30-50%.