Cant keep ammonia down in QT

[coralgazer]

This is my first QT. 10 gallon, only have 1 firefish and 1 royal gramma in there, small fish. Every 2-3 days the ammonia goes from almost zero (after water change) to .125 to .25. So then I panic and do a water change, 25-50%

Doing water changes like that 2-3x a week is getting so old, I am tempted to let them out early (14 days). This defeats the whole QT process, but I feel like I am torturing them. My DT has awesome numbers, no ammonia for many weeks.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Squishie89]

Did the QT cycle first?

 

[Aquaph8]

Did you seed a sponge in your display to use in the QT

 

[always reefin]

You need to cycle with bacteria and/or at least use a bacteria seeded sponge. Are you using any bacteria? Is tank cycled? If not you will always have the problem. Ammonia can kill fish

 

[vamaro]

Amquil will help between water changes. I tried the temporary qt tanks and had the same problem. Now I keep a fully cycled QT tank at all times. It's a lot less stressful on the fish.

 

[Squishie89]

AI tried the temporary qt tanks and had the same problem. Now I keep a fully cycled QT tank at all times. It's a lot less stressful on the fish.

I was going to do a just-when-needed set up, but seems like a lot more work. Easy as pie to keep a tank with nothing in it stable.

 

[MBG75]

Always keep a sponge in the Dt. Takes about 4 weeks to seed it. I keep mine between a baffle. Then when I need to start a qt, pop it in the aqua clear and good to go.

 

[coralgazer]

I had my QT up for 2 months before I put fish in. I did use a seeded sponge from my DT, I also used Seachem Stability. maybe I let it go too long without fish and the bio filter died?

 

[miyags]

Will copper kill the bacteria in the sponge if you use copper? Or will hypo salinity kill the bacteria on a sponge or piece of live rock? I've always done massive water changes, and it takes a lot of time/effort and salt for a 6 to 8 week treatment.

 

[MBG75]

I had my QT up for 2 months before I put fish in. I did use a seeded sponge from my DT, I also used Seachem Stability. maybe I let it go too long without fish and the bio filter died?

Possibly. With no fish. You would still have to put some food in to keep it going.

 

[MBG75]

Will copper kill the bacteria in the sponge if you use copper? Or will hypo salinity kill the bacteria on a sponge or piece of live rock? I've always done massive water changes, and it takes a lot of time/effort and salt for a 6 to 8 week treatment.

Copper does NOT kill the bacteria on the sponge.

 

[bluwinghawk]

do you have a filter on QT have you taken water from DT to top off QT is it possible to seed the filter on DT than move to QT and put a couple rocks, sponge even sand to jump start with and if planning on getting more fish what about turning QT into temp feeder tank to help keep cycle going after these guys are put into DT just a thought or two good luck
and happy new year

 

[RandysReef]

+1.

 

[coralgazer]

I was going to do a just-when-needed set up, but seems like a lot more work. Easy as pie to keep a tank with nothing in it stable.

What procedure do you use to keep a bare QT with sponge filter and no fish fully cycled? Thanks.

 

[Mike&Terry]

I had my QT up for 2 months before I put fish in. I did use a seeded sponge from my DT, I also used Seachem Stability. maybe I let it go too long without fish and the bio filter died?

2 months w/no fish or added food source for the good bacteria is too long. Adding beneficial bacteria directly to your sponge (MB7, Special Blend, Stability, etc...) will help. As others have suggested, seeding and keeping a sponge in your DT as a spare will help as well.