Help with ammonia

[Mrod91]

Hey guys,
Im running a 13.5 Fluval sea, 2 months in.
I added new sand a few days ago, but I noticed my green star polyps and my clove polyps closed. Haven’t opened since.
I didn’t mix the current sand with the old sand.
I tested for some parameters, all were fine except ammonia: it reads at .25
I do have some small bubbles on my live rock.
Im nervous, is there anything I should be looking out for? Or what can I do to lower that

 

[andrewey]

If you currently have an ammonia spike in a running tank, I would first start by adding some prime to help bind the ammonia until your bacteria can catch up and process it. How much sand did you add and when you say new, was it coming out of another person's tank, a bag, dry sand, etc?

 

[Mrod91]

A bag, live sand. I added around 5-6lbs of it.

 

[PSU4ME]

What kind of test kit? I know the api ones can give a false reading like that. Try testing newly mixed water to see if it reads zero for you.

but yeah, prime or a WC are immediate step options.

 

[Mrod91]

What kind of test kit? I know the api ones can give a false reading like that. Try testing newly mixed water to see if it reads zero for you.

but yeah, prime or a WC are immediate step options.

yeah i used API, it’s the only test kit I have.
Water change around how much? I did a 10% today.

 

[PSU4ME]

Test your newly mixed water. I’ve experienced API results like that before.

AS for the WC, one good 3-5 gallon change should really dent it. Just make surethe water is matched as it’s a big change on a small tank.

 

[Mrod91]

Is this why my polyps are not opening?

 

[andrewey]

They could not be opening up because of the ammonia, a lowered oxygen concentration from the new bacterial growth, being disturbed by sand residue, something we'll never figure out, or a new contaminant in the water. I would take care of the mini cycle you created and the zoas will respond favorably if you manage your ammonia/oxygen levels.

 

[mike550]

Is this why my polyps are not opening?

Don’t worry. Probably just a change to the tank that it didn't like. Maybe from when you added the sand or the ammonia spike. I would use a turkey blaster or something to gently clear off the polyps in case there’s debris from the sand. Then just wait. My GSP is temperamental but always comes back.