I have a BioCube 32G tank. I've had it established for several years now. Until recently, I've been noticing high ammonia levels (.25 ppm). I am using the Salifert test kit. My PH is at 8.1. During about the first week, I did 2-3 water changes (about 8 gallons each time). I talked with my LFS, and they told me that water changes could be causing this, to stop doing them, and use good bacteria. So I purchased Nite Out II, and have been dosing 3 TSP each day, for 4 days now. My ammonia levels still seem to remain the same. I did swap out 2 of my filter medias before all this. I've also been stirring up about 1/3 of my very dirty sand to clean it out during those water changes. I believe it started when I tested out my auto feeder, and it dumped too much food into the tank. There's a great amount of algae? on the live rock. I am at a loss for what else could be causing ammonia levels to remain the same.... I know my tank isn't over stocked. I have chateo in my tank, and I made sure to keep a few filter medias in there since I know they host good bacteria. How should I proceed from here? I know there are products that bind to ammonia, and remove it. Would that be an option? I guess it's still an issue with, where is this ammonia coming from, or why is it not being removed/broken down?
managing high ammonia levels
- Thread starter droidus
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EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal
Just another girl who likes fish
Personally, I like Salifert, but sometimes even good test kits go bad. Especially if the reagent was opened quite a while ago (even if the kit has not expired).
But I agree that, unless you have a reason to believe you're having a mini cycle, there's no reason to test ammo (or nitrite) after the tank has cycled. And if you DO suspect a mini cycle, adding some nitrifying bacteria is the best way to go, to boost the biofilter.
sixty_reefer
5000 Club Member
Only ammonia is unreliable everything else is good except api ammonia test kit that has a tendency to give false results to.
I’m not sure if you can get hold of jbl they are accurate for ammonia.
I have snails, hermit crabs, a pencil urchin, bubble tip anemone, pistol shrimp, blenny, two peppermint shrimp and two clown fish.
I thought to check it because my anemone was closed up for some time, and couldn't tell if it was loosing color or not, so I wanted to check the water paramteters.
I've purchased the Red Sea Ammonia test kit.
cmoore806
Active Member
Anemone are uncooperative members of our reef tanks. They do what they want.
I’d watch nitrate and phos and increase water change until those are behaving
SlugSnorter
2500 Club Member
quite a few move around a bunch or are pretty sensitive
