switched from cannaster to sump after a year

[jonathan.d]

ok so I recent switched from a canister filter to a 20 gallon sump with refugium for a1 year old 53 gallon salt water aquarium, i just had 2 fish die I check my parameters and now I have hi ammonia and high nitrites , the filter media was taken out of my cannister and placed in the sump ,the sump has been active for about a month , ive been checking my parameters the whole time today is the only day ive had high ammonias and nitrites but ive also been feeding alot this week, am I under filtering or is it just because of over feeding?

tank has 4 fish now
1 yellow tang
1 clownfish
2 chromis
1 peppermint shrimp
2 zoas
1 purple condy anemone
substrate on bottom
tons of live rock

sump has bio balls
porcelain rings
carbon bag
and a mesh sponge in between baffles
small amount of chateo algae in refugium

usually parameters are
8.2 ph
0.25-0 ammonia
0 nitrite
0-.50 nitrates
1021 salinity

 

[blaxsun]

I'm curious what your phosphates are. I mean, it's some filtration. The mesh sponge between baffles is mostly an anti-snail/debris barrier to prevent anything large enough to potentially damage something being passed between chambers. It doesn't sound like you have any basic filtration like filter socks, so I would probably look at that as an upgrade. 0.50ppm nitrates isn't high - unless you mean 50ppm nitrates.

 

[jonathan.d]

yea sorry i also have a filter sock ive been changing weekly the phosphates we're in between 2.0 and 4.0 according the the api test kit which is why i switched to the sump for the refugium in the first place, the only other thing i was thinking it could be was today was the day i had to do my monthly gravel vacuum and i usually have very low nitrates with no ammonia and no nitrites

 

[jonathan.d]

but i've just added an anemone and 2 softies so ive been feeding those frozen coral food and frozen brine for the anemone couldve been the reason for the high ammonia in the first place , and this week ive been feeding everyday because i have a clown that was staying on the bottom of the tank so i wanted to make sure he was eating alot

 

[jonathan.d]

i just did a 20% water change and vacuumed the gravel bed and now everyone seems to be more lively ill have to wait 4 hours and check my parameters again

 

[neo1738]

i just did a 20% water change and vacuumed the gravel bed and now everyone seems to be more lively ill have to wait 4 hours and check my parameters again

Keep PRIME or something similar to absorb ammonia quickly around just in case. Even older tanks can have a death or something spike ammonia. I keep PRIME and ammonia pellets in cabinet near my tanks for just this type of issue.