newer to the hobby can use help

[anttyler453]

hi my name is anthony iv been in the hobby around a year now a few months ago i upgraded my 55 to a 120 recently i added corals to the tank zoas to be specific they have been there around a month and havent opened but are alive i was using a api test kit it said everything was ok i got a red sea test kit yesterday
my tank
ammonia is .2 to .4
nitrites is .0
nitrates is 20 to 30
alk is 9 dkh
salt is 1.022

 

[Roy 9121]

hi my name is anthony iv been in the hobby around a year now a few months ago i upgraded my 55 to a 120 recently i added corals to the tank zoas to be specific they have been there around a month and havent opened but are alive i was using a api test kit it said everything was ok i got a red sea test kit yesterday
my tank
ammonia is .2 to .4
nitrites is .0
nitrates is 20 to 30
alk is 9 dkh
salt is 1.022

Salt is low, i like to keep mine between 1.024-1.025

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Salt is low, i like to keep mine between 1.024-1.025

Agreed. You shouldn't have any ammonia either. It's possible you strews something up but that should have passed bey now. Prob need to look for the source.
Do you have any bottled bacteria? It'll knock it out.

1.026 is where you want to be.

 

[anttyler453]

roy i was doing alot of water changes recently and didnt keep up with right got low to 1.018 yesterdaY and just started to riase it slowly

 

[Kershaw]

Salt is low and ammonia should be .000000000000000000000000000 and one more 0

 

[anttyler453]

today i went out and got some live bacteria put half the bottle in the tank maybe i should put it all in lol ? can to much hurt

 

[jeff williams]

One thing you mentioned was you were doing a lot of water changes. This can affect the bio filter it's possible this is the reason for your ammonia

 

[anttyler453]

Jeff thats possible I was doing them cus my nitrates where crazy high like around 50

 

[Bob Escher]

Welcome to REEFTOREEF and I would agree no ammonia and need to wTch those nitrates as well

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

today i went out and got some live bacteria put half the bottle in the tank maybe i should put it all in lol ? can to much hurt

lol. rule of thumb. follow the directions. I know I know Im a man too. Ill read directions on the bottle now but I WILL NOT STOP TO ASK DIRECTIONS>>>>

 

[anttyler453]

Lol yea i have my wife read everything and tell me what to do so i dont **** up stuff

 

[anttyler453]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Lol yea i have my wife read everything and tell me what to do so i dont **** up stuff

Good plan.

 

[anttyler453]

So I added live bacteria in my tank do i take the filter sock out or leave it

 

[jeff williams]

So I added live bacteria in my tank do i take the filter sock out or leave it

Every company might have a different opinion but the dr Tims bacteria they recommend uv and ozone off Protien skimmer off and filter sock out for at least 48 hrs

 

[Betty1964]

Hey, welcome Anttyler453! It is possible that the test kit is giving a false reading. Are your fish having any distress? Zoas not opening would be more likely someone picking on them, or as others have pointed out, too low of salinity. If everything else in your tank looks healthy, I would question the accuracy of the test kit. Can you borrow a test kit from a friend or take a sample to your local reef store? If it is accurate, overfeeding or a hidden corpse is the likely culprit. Be prepared to move your fish to another tank until your ammonia is back to zero if they show the any signs of distress. Some people have great success with Prime, others not so much.

 

[anttyler453]

Betty my test is a red sea test kit my lfs uses a api my fish all look ok but maybe there use to it ? The zoas are starting to grow green algea maybe my tangs are around it

 

[Betty1964]

Betty my test is a red sea test kit my lfs uses a api my fish all look ok but maybe there use to it ? The zoas are starting to grow green algea maybe my tangs are around it

Unfortunately for fish, they are far more sensitive to ammonia than corals. It has been my experience that ammonia makes fish gasp for breath and be visibly stressed. Hmmm..green algae on the zoos...how old are your lightbulbs? How much flow do you have?

 

[anttyler453]

The lights are t5 bulbs are maybe 2 3 months old

 

[Betty1964]

So they should be good. Hmm...I am guessing your tangs are nibbling.