Ammonia up after dead fish

Geebs19 · Mar 6, 2022

So I transferred 2 clownfish from qt yesterday. Sadly one died sometime within about an 18 hour period. I checked ammonia tonight and it was at .2-.4, previous tests had all been 0. Tank has been running for about a month and half cycled. Should I do a large wc or let it ride? Have 4 other fish in this 73 gallon tank.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Mar 6, 2022

Do you have any Prime on hand? That will detoxify the current ammonia.

Sebastiancrab · Mar 6, 2022

Polyfilter will also.

Geebs19 · Mar 6, 2022

Erin1971Texas said:
Do you have any Prime on hand? That will detoxify the current ammonia.

I do have some prime. Didn’t think about that. Thanks!

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Mar 6, 2022

Geebs19 said:
I do have some prime. Didn’t think about that. Thanks!

A water change is definitely in order, but the Prime will be a bandaid until you get the overall chemistry back on track.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Mar 6, 2022

Remember that your test kit will still show ammonia present since Prime just binds it.
Also, it will bind ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates for up to 48 hours. If they are still present after that time frame, they are released back into the water, unless Prime is re-dosed accordingly.
So adding some Stability or other bacteria will also help.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Mar 6, 2022

You did remove the dead fish, correct?

Geebs19 · Mar 7, 2022

Erin1971Texas said:
You did remove the dead fish, correct?

I did when I noticed it. I just doses some prime. Will check levels again in the morning. Thanks again.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 7, 2022

Erin1971Texas said:
Do you have any Prime on hand? That will detoxify the current ammonia.

Maybe it does, maybe it does nothing useful.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 7, 2022

Geebs19 said:
I did when I noticed it. I just doses some prime. Will check levels again in the morning. Thanks again.

If the fish is out, ammonia won't rise more and the level is not likely a big issue.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 7, 2022

What test kit are you using and when did you last test before fish loss?
Rise in ammonia after a fish dies would be normal as way back, one would place a piece of shrimp in the tank for cycling to allow ammonia to rise and then remove it to monitor a drop to determine tank ability to digest ammonia.
As for prime- I find it an alternative, not a solution. Like ammo Lock in FW, it will bind it, but it has to go somewhere. Its not going to just disappear from a liquid.
With prime, you can lock it but still do a water change, which is industry standard to lower ammonia and nitrate

Geebs19 · Mar 7, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
What test kit are you using and when did you last test before fish loss?
Rise in ammonia after a fish dies would be normal as way back, one would place a piece of shrimp in the tank for cycling to allow ammonia to rise and then remove it to monitor a drop to determine tank ability to digest ammonia.
As for prime- I find it an alternative, not a solution. Like ammo Lock in FW, it will bind it, but it has to go somewhere. Its not going to just disappear from a liquid.
With prime, you can lock it but still do a water change, which is industry standard to lower ammonia and nitrate

I use the Red Sea ammonia test. I tested again this morning and just a bit ago and we’re are at 0. Inwill just continue to keep an eye on it since it’s such a new tank.