Really need ammonia help!

[Tuffyyyyy]

Hi everyone,

I had a 20 gallon that I ran without a hitch for about 6 months. I upgraded to a 40 gallon a few weeks ago and seem have moved too soon.

I was under the impression that I could transfer the live rock from the old tank and would have a nearly instant cycle. I let it sit for a week and then added my 2 clowns and a shrimp. I added my coral and anemones a week later. Everything was great for a week or so but I noticed a few days ago that everything was closed up. API test kit showed ammonia but normal everything else. I figured that the shrimp had died so I went and got the fluval quick-cycle thing and added it to try and get rid of the ammonia. I ran another test today and had the following:

Ammonia: 0.5ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 5.0ppm
Alk: 9
Calcium: 410

I'm still thinking that the shrimp is decomposing somewhere in there but can't find him. I've done 9 gallons of water changes the past couple days and the ammonia has gone down from about 2ppm but the nitrite has gone up which really concerns me. It leads me to believe that I'm in the midst of a cycle and added everything too soon. I'm freaking out. I'm not sure what to do. Help please!

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

 

[CarrieB]

I would also have said you wouldn't have a problem moving live rock between tanks. There must have been some organics that have decayed somehow, either something died or some old detritus was disturbed,

What about the sand? Did you move old sand or add new? Was the rock out if the water for a long time?

I would suggest adding some Prime as necessary to get you through until the tank catches up.

Also, I understand that the nitrite won't hurt fish in a SW tank, so you just need to get through the ammonia cycle.

 

[Maritimer]

+1

Prime as needed, water changes (which you're already on top of, go you!) and time _should_ get you through this, the bottled bacteria seems to have helped as well ... but let's get some extra eyes on your situation . . . #reefsquad.

~Bruce

 

[ebushrow]

If the rock was out of the water for a period of time, you may have lost some of the bacteria on it....thus causing a mini-cycle. If you used the old sand, this could have also caused it....if you used new sand, the sand is being colonized using the same mini-cycle. Adding the bacteria will help, however, if you detoxify the ammonia (using an ammonia lock product) it will just prolong the cycle. Could you post what you did to changeover the tank....use old sand, new sand, "alive" sand, washed rock with RODI and how long it was out of the tank just for some background...we may be able to help better with this info.

 

[ahiggins]

I went through the exact same thing when I moved my 20 to a 40. The only thing I can think of was that the surfaces on the glass/sand that didnt go into the new tank had a lot of the bacteria that you needed.
Logically you wouldnt think it would be an issue but I feel your pain. I thought the same thing and I lost a few frags due to stress/disease.
Good luck, just give it time. It stabilized after about 2 months and now everything is growing wonderfully

 

[Brew12]

Keep in mind that a product like Prime will only bind the ammonia for a day or 2. I would add a cycling bacteria product like Biospira, Dr Tims, or Stability to boost your nitrifying bacteria count.

 

[ahiggins]

Keep in mind that a product like Prime will only bind the ammonia for a day or 2. I would add a cycling bacteria product like Biospira, Dr Tims, or Stability to boost your nitrifying bacteria count.

oh I love Dr Tims

 

[Brew12]

I missed that you added the Fluval product already. I'm not familiar with it but I tend to not trust any nitrifying bacteria product that recommends regular dosing.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Woah. Thanks a lot for the responses everyone! Sand was a new bag of live sand. I think I set up the sand and dry rock, added water, then added my live rock.

 

[Brew12]

Woah. Thanks a lot for the responses everyone! Sand was a new bag of live sand. I think I set up the sand and dry rock, added water, then added my live rock.

Sounds like you did everything right but salt water aquariums are fickle things. Things that work great for one person will crash the system of another. We have people on here that have multiple tanks that can't even use the same products in all of them.
Digging into the Fluval bacteria product you added, it holds the bacteria in a cyst form to allow for long term storage. It can take a few days to really be effective. Stability is the same way. Dr Tims and Biospira are live bacteria so they tend to work more quickly.

 

[Diesel]

Solid advice already.
Stick to that advice and you'll be through that cycle in no time.

 

[jsker]

Myself, in the past I have run carbon to get the ammonia out of the system. Run the carbon for 2 day change it run the fresh carbon for a couple of more days to see where you are at.