Ammonia spike

[AdamG280]

My chiller died 2 days ago and the tank is running at like 84 degrees. Consequently I have an ammonia spike to 0.25 ppm. The new chiller gets here tomorrow. I put in some stress coat which it says turns the ammonia into ammonium. I have two small clowns coming early next week and then some zoanthids very soon after. Any advice? It’s probably the temp spike right?

 

[KrisReef]

Probably API test kits, or do you have Senye monitor?

 

[AdamG280]

Probably API test kits, or do you have Senye monitor?

Yes. I’m using test kits. The Seneye monitor is a little pricy.

 

[KrisReef]

Yes. I’m using test kits. The Seneye monitor is a little pricy.

Your ammonia may not be real, but inproving in tank circulation, put a ziplock bag with ice to cool the water, and pray the chiller arrives timely.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Why not use Prime or Do water change ?

 

[Troylee]

84 is fine and shouldn’t cause a ammonia spike.. I’d guess a faulty test..

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

My chiller died 2 days ago and the tank is running at like 84 degrees. Consequently I have an ammonia spike to 0.25 ppm. The new chiller gets here tomorrow. I put in some stress coat which it says turns the ammonia into ammonium. I have two small clowns coming early next week and then some zoanthids very soon after. Any advice? It’s probably the temp spike right?

What type of livestock do you have in your tank at this time ? 84-F is not too high, lower would be better. I would not worry about the ammonia unless this is a new system.

Probably happens !

 

[AdamG280]

Why not use Prime or Do water change ?

Definitely doing a water change. I just don’t want to go through all the motions and have it spike right back up again. I’m gonna do a 25% change as soon as the chiller gets here tomorrow and hope that settles everything back down. Since the tank has finally cycled, I just turned on the leds. Maybe that contributed to the spike a bit as well.

 

[Garf]

A tiny ammonia reading of say 0.25 is nothing to worry about in itself, even if it is a real reading and not a misread or faulty kit, whatever. I doubt stress coat will do anything for ammonia, anyway.

Why not use Prime or Do water change ?

Prime can neutralize chlorine but little else.

as the chiller gets here tomorrow a

youll be fine then

 

[exnisstech]

If the tank is cycled I wouldn't even bother testing ammonia any longer. I don't even test ammonia when cycling. Kits are not very accurate anyway.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes. I’m using test kits. The Seneye monitor is a little pricy.

On top of possible false readings, spikes can happen when water gets this warm and O2 levels drop slightly

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

Definitely doing a water change. I just don’t want to go through all the motions and have it spike right back up again. I’m gonna do a 25% change as soon as the chiller gets here tomorrow and hope that settles everything back down. Since the tank has finally cycled, I just turned on the leds. Maybe that contributed to the spike a bit as well.

Trying to lower ammonia in a tank that is not fully cycled with water changes is a fruitless effort. Most water changes for parameter corrections are a waste of salt water IMO.

"Mr. Spock: Then, I will try to make the best 'guess' I can! "

Probably happens !

 

[brandon429]

this tank is fully cycled (see post history for the tank) the ammonia reading is searchable and reads that way for over a million fully stocked and running reef tanks, it's the classic api reading anyone would expect. ammonia= a non issue here, don't test for it in display reefs, or this is what you'll get...pure doubt and unfounded fear. retire the kit. the water change helps nothing regarding ammonia.

 

[AdamG280]

this tank is fully cycled (see post history for the tank) the ammonia reading is searchable and reads that way for over a million fully stocked and running reef tanks, it's the classic api reading anyone would expect. ammonia= a non issue here, don't test for it in display reefs, or this is what you'll get...pure doubt and unfounded fear. retire the kit. the water change helps nothing regarding ammonia.

Thanks Brandon. That puts my mind at ease. Ready to get these coral and get started.

 

[brandon429]

its very understandable why that was a concern: all training material published in the last 20 years says if ammonia isn't zero the cycle is 'broken' it took a gaggle of nerds here to discern that wasn't the case and then begin the arduous task of undoing those statements. those statements have sold about two million unneeded extra bottles of bacteria per year/just my guesstimate/which is why I think bottle bac sellers must love the old cycling ruleset.

 

[AdamG280]

Update: Ammonia is going back down. Maybe it was from finally cleaning the film off of the inside of the glass for the first time. Anyway, it’s working itself out.

 

[AdamG280]

2nd update: The chiller got here this afternoon. In this heatwave and with the reef lights, flow pumps, etc. that water was 89 degrees. 90 degrees and all the beneficial bacteria starts to die. I narrowly avoided having to start from scratch. This new chiller has a one year warranty, but I think I should get another in case it fails. Even with a warranty, it would probably takes weeks for them to replace it. Thank God I have no coral or fish.

 

[Garf]

2nd update: The chiller got here this afternoon. In this heatwave and with the reef lights, flow pumps, etc. that water was 89 degrees. 90 degrees and all the beneficial bacteria starts to die. I narrowly avoided having to start from scratch. This new chiller has a one year warranty, but I think I should get another in case it fails. Even with a warranty, it would probably takes weeks for them to replace it. Thank God I have no coral or fish.

Sounds like you need a backup plan.