Bad water levels in qt tank

[donnieb07]

Fish have only been in qt tank for approx. 36 hours. Lost my foxface overnight last night and tested water levels this morning and ammonia nitrites and nitrates are pretty bad. Assuming 100% water change, but just wondering if I should acclimate fish to the new water. Sorry only 3 months into this and already dealing with ich :/ TIA MUCH APPRECIATED

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I'm sorry that happened.

Do you mean, you will do 100% water change? you still have fish in the tank, and you are asking if you should acclimate the fish to the water? I'm sorry if I misunderstand your question.

If you still have fish in the tank, then you can only do about 90% water change, in that case, its fine - no acclimation needed - but its very important to match the salinity and temperature perfectly.

Again sorry if I misunderstood your question.

 

[donnieb07]

I was just assuming I should do a 100% water change. (And if I did should I acclimate) So I guess yeah that was also a question. But sounds good I’ll do the 90% thank you so much!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fish have only been in qt tank for approx. 36 hours. Lost my foxface overnight last night and tested water levels this morning and ammonia nitrites and nitrates are pretty bad. Assuming 100% water change, but just wondering if I should acclimate fish to the new water. Sorry only 3 months into this and already dealing with ich :/ TIA MUCH APPRECIATED

Did you by chance use top water or previous tank water to set this up?

 

[donnieb07]

Did you by chance use top water or previous tank water to set this up?

Previous tank water which I tested before I did so, everything was perfect. I just assumed it was because the foxface sat in there for a couple hours before I got home and saw he was dead

 

[vetteguy53081]

Previous tank water which I tested before I did so, everything was perfect. I just assumed it was because the foxface sat in there for a couple hours before I got home and saw he was dead

That’s the reason I asked as previous tank water under a different filtration can at times be an issue. The other issue would be oxygen levels and mineral break down with previous water. I would suggest a new batch of water and restarting

 

[donnieb07]

That’s the reason I asked as previous tank water under a different filtration can at times be an issue. The other issue would be oxygen levels and mineral break down with previous water. I would suggest a new batch of water and restarting

Thank you sir!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Fish have only been in qt tank for approx. 36 hours. Lost my foxface overnight last night and tested water levels this morning and ammonia nitrites and nitrates are pretty bad. Assuming 100% water change, but just wondering if I should acclimate fish to the new water. Sorry only 3 months into this and already dealing with ich :/ TIA MUCH APPRECIATED

Nitrite and Nitrate levels won't cause acute issues (sudden death) in marine fish - what is the actual ammonia level, and how did you test for that? Does the tank have good aeration?

If the ammonia level is high (greater than 0.5 ppm) you can quickly reduce that with a water change (say 80%) as long as the new water has the same specific gravity and temperature as the existing water. However, the ammonia level will just climb again overnight.

 

[donnieb07]

Nitrite and Nitrate levels won't cause acute issues (sudden death) in marine fish - what is the actual ammonia level, and how did you test for that? Does the tank have good aeration?

If the ammonia level is high (greater than 0.5 ppm) you can quickly reduce that with a water change (say 80%) as long as the new water has the same specific gravity and temperature as the existing water. However, the ammonia level will just climb again overnight.

the actual ammonia level was .5ppm using api’s test kit tank has great aeration, so how am I supposed to keep the ammonia level down if it’s just gonna come back overnight? I’m not sure exactly what caused the foxface to die he ate fine in the morning and I came back about 14 hours later and he was dead so not sure how long he sat in there dead if that would’ve caused the spike maybe? Pic below for aeration. Temp is at 80 salinity was 1.022

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

the actual ammonia level was .5ppm using api’s test kit tank has great aeration, so how am I supposed to keep the ammonia level down if it’s just gonna come back overnight? I’m not sure exactly what caused the foxface to die he ate fine in the morning and I came back about 14 hours later and he was dead so not sure how long he sat in there dead if that would’ve caused the spike maybe? Pic below for aeration. Temp is at 80 salinity was 1.022

For a dead fish to produce ammonia, it first needs to be decomposed by heterotrophic bacteria. I don't think that there would be appreciable ammonia from a dead fish until closer to 24 hours.

API ammonia tests are tough to read. I always suggest people use a second test type, like Seachems ammonia badge to confirm ammonia issues. 0.50 ammonia is borderline toxic, more toxic if the pH of the water is above 8.2

Can you add bacterial culture from an established tank, or a bottled product?

 

[donnieb07]

For a dead fish to produce ammonia, it first needs to be decomposed by heterotrophic bacteria. I don't think that there would be appreciable ammonia from a dead fish until closer to 24 hours.

API ammonia tests are tough to read. I always suggest people use a second test type, like Seachems ammonia badge to confirm ammonia issues. 0.50 ammonia is borderline toxic, more toxic if the pH of the water is above 8.2

Can you add bacterial culture from an established tank, or a bottled product?

Cool I’ll go pick one up today. Also yeah I pulled some of the foam pad from one of my other tanks and put it in the hob filter in the qt tank, I added microbe nite out 2 and special blend. Is there another brand you recommend?
the tank was only up for 36 hours at that point with water I pulled from the tank I pulled the fish out of, which I tested before hand and everything was perfect so I’m not really sure how all of the water levels changed so dramatically in that short of time.

Going to be home shortly will test again and put the ammonia badge in and will post what results are