I've been cycling my 29gal tank I have live rock added dry rock constantly having water tested at my lps every few days reading on different threads stated that I needed to add snails hermits crabs aka cleaning crew water levels tested still good then was told to add live stock for the bacteria I added 6 damsels befor doing so had water tested levels were good... Now ammonia reading was 8.2 nitrate and nitrite was high also... What to do what happened HELP PLEASE
CYCLING LEVELS CONFUSING....
- Thread starter Minime
- Start date
- Tagged users None
JPSika08
Always Learning
Please don't keep adding more livestock, if possible remove them all asap, that level of ammonia will kill everything.
If not possible to remove the livestock make a quick 50% water change to lower the ammonia as quickly as possible.
That tank is not cycled and with all that livestock you forced cycled it probably due to all the waste generated.
With an aquarium that size, having 6 fishes is waayyy too much.
If not possible to remove the livestock make a quick 50% water change to lower the ammonia as quickly as possible.
That tank is not cycled and with all that livestock you forced cycled it probably due to all the waste generated.
With an aquarium that size, having 6 fishes is waayyy too much.
Myka
Valuable Member
Which test kit are you using for ammonia? The level was 8.2 ppm for ammonia? Could you post a picture of the test tube color? 8.2 ppm is CRITICALLY high, and unusually high even. The fish need to be removed from the tank if that is an accurate reading. They will not survive that high level of ammonia.
Also, 6 Damsels at once in a 29-gallon tank is way too many at once, and would surely cause an ammonia spike. Damsels in a tank that size will just kill each other anyway. They shouldn't be a nano tank.
Also, 6 Damsels at once in a 29-gallon tank is way too many at once, and would surely cause an ammonia spike. Damsels in a tank that size will just kill each other anyway. They shouldn't be a nano tank.
I'm not even sure if the guy who "tested" my water actually stayed with the test because it was crowded one guy took my water to be sampled another one brought it back with a paper approx 15 mins later then yried selling me some live bacteria... In a PANIC rushing home I stop at the nearest pet store and had it retested the ammonia reading wasn't that high but a tidbit off I put in the ULTRA CLEAR saltwater bacteria now I'm in route to a more reputable LPs now to have water retested and purchase a testing kit... Will post test results shortly
JPSika08
Always Learning
Indeed seems that the 8.2 ammonia reading was off the charts, good.
I would recommend to get a good reputable test kit, this is a good one used by many http://www.amazon.com/API-Saltwater-Master-Test-Kit/dp/B001EUE808
If possible, remove the fish, I don't think your tank is well cycled. You know when the cycle has finished when you add 1 - 2ppm of ammonia and it will turn to 0 overnight with no signs of nitrite as well. Until this moment is safe to add livestock.
I would recommend to get a good reputable test kit, this is a good one used by many http://www.amazon.com/API-Saltwater-Master-Test-Kit/dp/B001EUE808
If possible, remove the fish, I don't think your tank is well cycled. You know when the cycle has finished when you add 1 - 2ppm of ammonia and it will turn to 0 overnight with no signs of nitrite as well. Until this moment is safe to add livestock.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Myka
Valuable Member
If you aren't already going to a dedicated saltwater store rather than a "pet store" or even a "fish store". Those test strips aren't particularly accurate. The SeaChem Ammonia Alert badges are about the same cost, and they last a year. They change colors with the ammonia level in the tank. I don't find the actual reading on the badges is very accurate, but it does accurately alert you to the presence of ammonia in the water. SeaChem Prime is compatible with the Ammonia Alert, as is the API Ammonia test kit. Most test kits are NOT compatible with Prime, and will give you a false ammonia reading where there is no toxic ammonia present. I'd suggest you get some Prime and an Ammonia Alert. Keep the alert in the tank, and dose the Prime when needed. If there are fish in there now, as there is, Prime needs to be dosed until there is no toxic ammonia detected on the Alert. Keep in mind that when you dose the Prime it may take up to 4 hours for the color to change back to "zero", but when ammonia is detect it is almost instantaneous color change.
Nirite is not toxic in saltwater aquariums like it is in freshwater aquariums, so don't even bother with a test kit. For nitrate, I suggest the Salifert test kit. It will cost more than you are used to paying for a test kit, but it is much better quality and it's a test kit you will use often. There is nothing worse than getting inaccurate test results and messing up your tank when everything was just fine.
For a fish only tank, you will just need the nitrate kit. If you want to have fish and soft corals then you should get the Salifert Nitrate and Alkalinity kits. If you want LPS or maybe even SPS corals too then you'll need the Salifert Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium, Nitrate, and Phosphate kits as well. You can buy them as you go. Salifert is a really good brand of kit to buy across the spectrum. There are others, but these are the cheapest ones I recommend.
I do not recommend the API Master test kit. They do not have expiry dates, and you have no way of knowing how old they are. It's also easy to forget when you start using them, so they can get very old and inaccurate without you being aware. I also find that several of their tests are not reliably accurate even from day 1. Their ammonia and nitrate kits are an exception. I write the date I open them on the package and throw them out when they are 1 year from opening. I don't use them anymore though, I use the Ammonia Alert and the Salifert Nitrate now as I've had more reliable testing.
Last edited:
JPSika08
Always Learning
Problem is that a water change is like trying to cover the sun with one finger, the problem will persist in the future if you don't tackle it now.
I don't think you have enough beneficia bacteria to handle fish waste within the tank. A water change will indeed help remove what is left of the ammonia but still, your bacteria colony is low and doing a water change will become lower.
Without a proper cycle, if anything dies in the tank at any given moment the ammonia spike will kill the rest of the inhabitants as the lack of bacteria will not be able to handle such load forcing the tank to go into a new cycle.
I don't think you have enough beneficia bacteria to handle fish waste within the tank. A water change will indeed help remove what is left of the ammonia but still, your bacteria colony is low and doing a water change will become lower.
Without a proper cycle, if anything dies in the tank at any given moment the ammonia spike will kill the rest of the inhabitants as the lack of bacteria will not be able to handle such load forcing the tank to go into a new cycle.
Last edited:
Jlobes
5000 Club Member
TBH, you need to do MUCH more research about keeping a reef tank and its inhabitants. All of the issues you are experiencing, is a result of too much too fast, which is an absolute no-no in this hobby. so to start, slow down. read and read some more.
As all the others have said, your tank is not cycled and not established enough for 6 damsels, aside from the fact that those 6 will soon become 1. Fishless cycling with pure ammonia is generally the more accepted and better/easier option. cycling with fish is possible(kinda old school), but isnt generally the best and can be quite stressful/deadly to a fish. adding bacteria is a great start, but will not take care of the current issue. If possible, im with the others, get those fish out and back to the store, where they belong. Continue to cycle your tank for the next month or so using ammonia chloride, and when the tank is cycled and only then add your fish/inhabitant.
Decide what you want in your tank, just dont add a fish...just to have a fish(ie Damsel). You may end up regretting this in the future...
Plan your tank and its inhabitants, take your time and know that this is a slow but rewarding hobby that has many, many intricacies involved. lastly, invest in some quality testing kits, you will need them many time to come in the future.
As all the others have said, your tank is not cycled and not established enough for 6 damsels, aside from the fact that those 6 will soon become 1. Fishless cycling with pure ammonia is generally the more accepted and better/easier option. cycling with fish is possible(kinda old school), but isnt generally the best and can be quite stressful/deadly to a fish. adding bacteria is a great start, but will not take care of the current issue. If possible, im with the others, get those fish out and back to the store, where they belong. Continue to cycle your tank for the next month or so using ammonia chloride, and when the tank is cycled and only then add your fish/inhabitant.
Decide what you want in your tank, just dont add a fish...just to have a fish(ie Damsel). You may end up regretting this in the future...
Plan your tank and its inhabitants, take your time and know that this is a slow but rewarding hobby that has many, many intricacies involved. lastly, invest in some quality testing kits, you will need them many time to come in the future.
@Myka I do have a reputable saltwater store I went to another "reputable" fish store that is very busy with a lot of customer service guys who helps 3-4 customers at a time so it could have been oversight possibly a mix up maybe I don't know... I will for now on get advise only from one but will continue to purchase from the other as well
