KP Live Rock, seeing some ammonia

[zdrc]

It's been 48 hours since I've put 10lbs of KP live rock in my 12 gallon aquapod.

I haven't don any water changes. I tested my water today. The relevant organics are

Ammonia: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 5-10 ppm
Phosphate: <0.03 ppm

I understand some ammonia is normal during the curing process. Should I do a water change here or should I wait it out and let it cycle?

 

[Miami Reef]

How are you testing ammonia? KP rocks can have some die off depending on how it was shipped, but I think you are just having false positives with the ammonia test kit.

Water changes will be good during the curing process in either case.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

It's been 48 hours since I've put 10lbs of KP live rock in my 12 gallon aquapod.

I haven't don any water changes. I tested my water today. The relevant organics are

Ammonia: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 5-10 ppm
Phosphate: <0.03 ppm

I understand some ammonia is normal during the curing process. Should I do a water change here or should I wait it out and let it cycle?

been trying to get some myself but they are always out of stock. I'd leave it alone and let the tank cycle with it in there. I'd do a %50 WC after its completed.

 

[JGT]

been trying to get some myself but they are always out of stock. I'd leave it alone and let the tank cycle with it in there. I'd do a %50 WC after its completed.

Tip: don't trust the website. It usually says out of stock. Contact Philip via email. If you are willing to do the ship via freight with water, your odds are even greater. They don't want to deal with with small orders via Fedex/UPS but a decent sized one via air freight is something that makes sense for them. I did just this with 300+ pounds and got my rock the following week.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Tip: don't trust the website. It usually says out of stock. Contact Philip via email. If you are willing to do the ship via freight with water, your odds are even greater. They don't want to deal with with small orders via Fedex/UPS but a decent sized one via air freight is something that makes sense for them. I did just this with 300+ pounds and got my rock the following week.

thanks for the tip! I do want the rock delivered next day with water to minimize die off.

 

[Tamberav]

I did water changes on mine when ammonia got above 0.5. I did this to preserve life on the rock.

 

[Bucs20fan]

.5 ammonia is getting to the area where your life on the rock will start to suffer. Id recommend a water change.

 

[zdrc]

30% water change it is then. I haven't seen any of the macro life that came on the rock alive since I put it in. I hope some of it's still alive! (not the crabs though)

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

been trying to get some myself but they are always out of stock. I'd leave it alone and let the tank cycle with it in there. I'd do a %50 WC after its completed.

You will wait forever if you wait for them to show in stock on the website. Call or email. Philip will take care of you.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

How are you testing For ammonia?

 

[zdrc]

How are you testing For ammonia?

API, I know API gets a bad rap, but I've used it a LOT. I've cycled many tanks with it. I have a really good intuition for the colors. It's definitely 0.5 ppm. The test kits are not expired.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

API, I know API gets a bad rap, but I've used it a LOT. I've cycled many tanks with it. I have a really good intuition for the colors. It's definitely 0.5 ppm. The test kits are not expired.

I don't doubt your ability to read colors. I doubt API is ability to give an accurate color representing the actual test results. Anytime I have side by side tested, They were not accurate.

A water change won't hurt anything for sure on the live rock.

Did you get anything cool with yours??

I'm cooking in a 32 biocube while trying to get the last pistol shrimp out.

 

[zdrc]

I don't doubt your ability to read colors. I doubt API is ability to give an accurate color representing the actual test results. Anytime I have side by side tested, They were not accurate.

A water change won't hurt anything for sure on the live rock.

Did you get anything cool with yours??

I'm cooking in a 32 biocube while trying to get the last pistol shrimp out.

Nice looking rock, is that the premium? I got the starter rock. I got two crabs, a pistol shrimp, a brittle star, at least 3 spaghetti worms, and a bunch of filter feeders. Also, possibly a tiny pincushion urchin or some kind of anemone. I haven't seen the crabs, shrimp, or star since I put the rock in. I should've pulled the crabs then, but I was too stoked on all the life I got. I hope some of that stuff makes it! I'd like to keep as much as possible.

What did you compare the API too? Are you sure it was the API that was incorrect? The only way to know for sure would be to compare to a proper lab test. A head to head comparison between test kits and proper lab testing showed that API is surprisingly good. It seemed to out-perform Red Sea in most of the tests. Of course, they didn't do an ammonia test.

 

[Bucs20fan]

Make sure that the nem isnt an aiptasia, It probably is, theyre very common on rock from the gulf. Post a pic or do your research and take care of it accordingly. dont want to make the same mistake I did, and accidentally damage it, and it spreads like wildfire.

 

[zdrc]

Make sure that the nem isnt an aiptasia, It probably is, theyre very common on rock from the gulf. Post a pic or do your research and take care of it accordingly. dont want to make the same mistake I did, and accidentally damage it, and it spreads like wildfire.

It walked away and I can't find it anymore. It really didn't look like aiptasia. It was very tiny. Anyway, the gulf aiptasia is supposed to be less invasive than the normal variety. I'm not worried about it yet.

I found another head to head testing comparison that seemed to indicate that the API ammonia might be one of the more accurate tests on the market?

 

[Bucs20fan]

You are correct, If it is an aiptasia from the gulf, they dont spread like wildfire on their own. It would require it to be damaged or improperly removed somehow. While curing live rock go buy a seachem ammonia Alert. That is very reliable. I use API test kits and have had no issues but I understand the dislike of them.

 

[bnord]

Tip: don't trust the website. It usually says out of stock. Contact Philip via email. If you are willing to do the ship via freight with water, your odds are even greater. They don't want to deal with with small orders via Fedex/UPS but a decent sized one via air freight is something that makes sense for them. I did just this with 300+ pounds and got my rock the following week.

“That’s a fact Jack”. B Murray

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Make sure that the nem isnt an aiptasia, It probably is, theyre very common on rock from the gulf. Post a pic or do your research and take care of it accordingly. dont want to make the same mistake I did, and accidentally damage it, and it spreads like wildfire.

This rock doesn't come from the Gulf, it's from the keys and is not prone to Aptasia, although a possibility.

Nice looking rock, is that the premium? I got the starter rock. I got two crabs, a pistol shrimp, a brittle star, at least 3 spaghetti worms, and a bunch of filter feeders. Also, possibly a tiny pincushion urchin or some kind of anemone. I haven't seen the crabs, shrimp, or star since I put the rock in. I should've pulled the crabs then, but I was too stoked on all the life I got. I hope some of that stuff makes it! I'd like to keep as much as possible.

What did you compare the API too? Are you sure it was the API that was incorrect? The only way to know for sure would be to compare to a proper lab test. A head to head comparison between test kits and proper lab testing showed that API is surprisingly good. It seemed to out-perform Red Sea in most of the tests. Of course, they didn't do an ammonia test.

Yes it's the premo. I had a gang of serpent stars, Eunice worms, What appeared to be porcelain crabs and half a dozen pistol shrimp.

 

[Duncan62]

It's been 48 hours since I've put 10lbs of KP live rock in my 12 gallon aquapod.

I haven't don any water changes. I tested my water today. The relevant organics are

Ammonia: 0.5 ppm
Nitrate: 5-10 ppm
Phosphate: <0.03 ppm

I understand some ammonia is normal during the curing process. Should I do a water change here or should I wait it out and let it cycle?

Do nothing. Let the cycle continue. It won't be long with kp rock. Enjoy that rock. Your going to find some cool creatures in the next few months.

 

[Duncan62]

This rock doesn't come from the Gulf, it's from the keys and is not prone to Aptasia, although a possibility.

Yes it's the premo. I had a gang of serpent stars, Eunice worms, What appeared to be porcelain crabs and half a dozen pistol shrimp.

I've given aiptasia to my kp rocks. Not the other way around. Good stuff.