live rock

macci · May 12, 2014

[h=5]Hello guys may I ask for some help about 3 weeks ago I build a 62 ltrs nano tank last week I test the water and was all ok I put the live rock and a clown fish and the ammonia came up 5 mg no2 8mg and no3 around 50 I make 3 time water change and still the same is this normal? because I was told if you make water change no3 come down but never come down[/h]

Salt Creep · May 12, 2014

Was it actually live rock you put in there? or dry rock? If it was live rock and there was life on it, depending on how it was transferred and transported there could be substantial die off causing ammonia spikes.

Reefing Madness · May 12, 2014

The Live Rock needs to be put in at the beginning stages, not when you add fish. This is what boosted your Ammonia. Your going to have to throw in some Ammo Lok or keep doing a ton of water changes to keep the ammonia down.

KillerKlownFish · May 12, 2014

I just started my first tank last dec. I thought the cycle starts when you put the rock in? If you just put water and sand or coral it won't cycle. It's the bacteria from the rock that causes the spike correct? So you need to get that fish out of there cause it will most likely die if it doesn't that's pretty mean to the fish cause he's gonna suffer. Water/sand or coral/ rock... Cycle or add a piece of shrimp. Test water daily or every other day till all the params settle. Then add a few snails and crabs then add a fish. If I am wrong someone chime in please. This worked for me though...

Reefing Madness · May 13, 2014

Its not really wrong, but you can cycle the tank without rock, its just not a good idea to add it after the tank has been cycled, its liable to cycle it again, if its not FUlly Cured Live Rock.

macci · May 13, 2014

ok i will take clown fish out and tell my cousin to keep it for me.nitrate is normal that they no gow down even after water change at the cycle period?

Reefing Madness · May 13, 2014

Yea, they will go down again, because you have some bacteria already in the tank from its first cycle, this will help this second one along.

macci · May 13, 2014

thanks for the help so even the no3 (nitrate because i wa told that only can go with water changes) sry i am new to aquariums

macci · May 13, 2014

and i keep making water changes until is cycled or i stop until is all cycled please?

thanks

tyler1503 · May 13, 2014

macci said:
and i keep making water changes until is cycled or i stop until is all cycled please?

thanks

Personally I'd give your clown to your cousin and hold off on water changes until your ammonia and nitrite hold at 0 for a few days straight. Then use water changes to bring down nitrates. Nitrates can come down naturally, but it's a very slow process. The majority of the time they don't come down fast enough or before other nitrates are produced. That's one reason why we do water changes. Macro algae can help bring them down too.

macci · May 14, 2014

Reefing Madness said:
Yea, they will go down again, because you have some bacteria already in the tank from its first cycle, this will help this second one along.

Update; ammonia is till 0.5mg but no2 and no3 came down a little bit

is this means the cycle is getting better?