Should I do a water change?

[SakuraSky]

Background: just transported my 90g fully established tank (crushed coral and baserock) with fish about 4 days ago. We probably transported and added about 30 gallons of the original water from the tank along with fresh saltwater.
My ammonia is .5ppm and nitrates are 20ppm. The tank water is pretty smelly and of course I expect a mini cycle due to the move.
Is it too early to do a wc? Should I wait until the ammonia goes down to do a wc? How much of the water should I change if I need to?

 

[Gablami]

If there is livestock in the tank that you don’t want to die, then yes, do a big water change, add seachem prime if you’ve got it, or move livestock out to a cycled tank. Your cycle could get worse before it gets better as things start to die.

 

[sr2z]

I would perform a 20%-25% WC, just to bring the ammonia down slightly. As @Gablami said, it all depends on your livestock. You never know, the ammonia can start to rise suddenly and everything in the tank will be dead immediately.

 

[Tankkeepers]

I personally go against what most people do and I change the water durring the cycling prosses to help aliviate the end result being to high and I cycle with livestock which is basically what you doing so I would say yes I'd do at least 25 percent ever 3 days untill seeing good tests and then taper off untill you have stability then keep it right there untill you add or change somthing

 

[Tankkeepers]

If there is livestock in the tank that you don’t want to die, then yes, do a big water change, add seachem prime if you’ve got it, or move livestock out to a cycled tank. Your cycle could get worse before it gets better as things start to die.

I would perform a 20%-25% WC, just to bring the ammonia down slightly. As @Gablami said, it all depends on your livestock. You never know, the ammonia can start to rise suddenly and everything in the tank will be dead immediately.

Ahhh I guess I'm not going against you all glad to see others doing the same under similar circumstances

 

[SakuraSky]

If there is livestock in the tank that you don’t want to die, then yes, do a big water change, add seachem prime if you’ve got it, or move livestock out to a cycled tank. Your cycle could get worse before it gets better as things start to die.

I've been adding prime since day 1, just did my 2nd 48hr dose of it. How much water should I change?

 

[Andreas' Reef]

Background: just transported my 90g fully established tank (crushed coral and baserock) with fish about 4 days ago. We probably transported and added about 30 gallons of the original water from the tank along with fresh saltwater.
My ammonia is .5ppm and nitrates are 20ppm. The tank water is pretty smelly and of course I expect a mini cycle due to the move.
Is it too early to do a wc? Should I wait until the ammonia goes down to do a wc? How much of the water should I change if I need to?

I definitley would do a water change right now!

 

[Gablami]

I've been adding prime since day 1, just did my 2nd 48hr dose of it. How much water should I change?

Prime does not neutralize ammonia indefinitely. After 48 hours it releases it. If your biofilter is not able to process it all, it will spike the ammonia.

I would do the largest water change you can. It will buy you more time to make more water. I’m guessing you’ll be doing multiple large water changes and dosing prime until you notice the tank pull through with your testing. If you can get an ammonia badge it makes your life a little easier.

 

[SakuraSky]

I'll do a 25% change today, and every 3 days until I see a drop

 

[SakuraSky]

Prime does not neutralize ammonia indefinitely. After 48 hours it releases it. If your biofilter is not able to process it all, it will spike the ammonia.

I would do the largest water change you can. It will buy you more time to make more water. I’m guessing you’ll be doing multiple large water changes and dosing prime until you notice the tank pull through with your testing. If you can get an ammonia badge it makes your life a little easier.

Well that's why I did the 2nd dose of prime, because I know it releases it after 48hrs. I'll start with a 25% change and if I need to do a bigger one I will. Been testing every day and keeping an eye on things. Thanks for the advise!

 

[Gablami]

Well that's why I did the 2nd dose of prime, because I know it releases it after 48hrs. I'll start with a 25% change and if I need to do a bigger one I will. Been testing every day and keeping an eye on things. Thanks for the advise!

No problem! Like you say, don’t set the water change to a schedule. Do it as frequently as you need to keep ammonia below 0.5. At 0.5 it’s at toxic levels. Good luck!

 

[SakuraSky]

We did a 25g water change just now the water is sooo yellow and gross smelling i cant wait to have good water for these fish. Will repeat in 2 or 3 days

 

[SakuraSky]

Fish are not happy with the wc and I'm actually starting to worry. Foxface is loosing slime coat after the water change (salinity, temp and ph are the same) ammonia is still the same. My bird wrasse didn't eat tonight either. Could just be coincidence that foxface is loosing the slime coat cause of ammonia even though I have prime in there. Anything else I can/should do for them?

 

[Andreas' Reef]

Fish are not happy with the wc and I'm actually starting to worry. Foxface is loosing slime coat after the water change (salinity, temp and ph are the same) ammonia is still the same. My bird wrasse didn't eat tonight either. Could just be coincidence that foxface is loosing the slime coat cause of ammonia even though I have prime in there. Anything else I can/should do for them?

api stress coat. It's pretty good to help with the slime coat. Any water conditioners with aloe vera additives are pretty good aswell.

 

[SakuraSky]

api stress coat. It's pretty good to help with the slime coat. Any water conditioners with aloe vera additives are pretty good aswell.

I'm going to the store tomorrow, I personally don't own any water conditioners (because I don't need them) so ill have to get something. Also getting more bacteria

 

[sr2z]

I don´t really think that a WC could cause a fish to loose slime coating (just in the case that the parameters changed rapidly). It may be because the fish is in stress OR the foxface is shedding (foxfaces tend to do that quite often, sometimes even daily). I wouldn´t worry about him too much unless he shows some other signs of illness or stress (odd swimming and such).

 

[SakuraSky]

I don´t really think that a WC could cause a fish to loose slime coating (just in the case that the parameters changed rapidly). It may be because the fish is in stress OR the foxface is shedding (foxfaces tend to do that quite often, sometimes even daily). I wouldn´t worry about him too much unless he shows some other signs of illness or stress (odd swimming and such).

Phew thanks for the info! Honestly there's not too much info out there on the slime coats of sw fish. This is my first time dealing with large fish in my home aquarium

 

[Gablami]

I would concerned that the ammonia is unchanged at 0.5 and you did a 25% water change. If your fish looked stressed or sick it’s from the ammonia, not the water change.

 

[SakuraSky]

I would concerned that the ammonia is unchanged at 0.5 and you did a 25% water change. If your fish looked stressed or sick it’s from the ammonia, not the water change.

Today the fish all seem good, everyone ate and is active. So thats good. Ammonia still unchanged this morning. Nitrates are down by 10ppm roughly. (Was 20 now 10ish) ugg

 

[Andreas' Reef]

I'm going to the store tomorrow, I personally don't own any water conditioners (because I don't need them) so ill have to get something. Also getting more bacteria

Good idea. API marine stress coat is good to have on hand if you ever have the same problem.