Ammonia toxic to corals?

cwschoon · 07/10/2021, 11:34 AM

Simple questions: Can you cycle a tank with corals? Is ammonia toxic to corals? I maintain not but am curious if any have differing opinions.

Sk8r · 07/10/2021, 03:52 PM

In minuscule amounts---very---some corals will tolerate it. I had bubble, xenia, sponge and a wealth of inverts survive a shallow cycle and go on to grow in a working tank. I cycle simply with fishfood. Drop into saltwater/ro/di about 1 flake per 20 gallons, daily, until you see ammonia and keep at it for five days after you don't see it. It's a fairly gentle method and I was using rock from a broken-up tank, which had all sorts of life in it. No dieoff to speak of.

cwschoon · 07/11/2021, 08:37 AM

Thank you. I cycle with live rock and fish food.

Timfish · 07/12/2021, 06:39 AM

To answer the thread title, ammonia, along with organic forms of urea and amino acids are corals preferred forms of nitrogen over nitrates.

cwschoon · 07/12/2021, 09:10 AM

Ok. But do you recommend cycling the tank with coral, is the question.

Sk8r · 07/12/2021, 04:43 PM

I really don't. And the reason is that a new tank is unstable---right along with the owner's skills, which may not be all they WILL be --- yet. You can get coral before you get fish --- you can run a coral and invert tank quite successfully. But they're too pricey (some) or too invasive (the really easy tough ones) ---and you may want to think selectively about your reef and figure out your lighting (a critical issue) before you go too far with purchases.

cwschoon · 07/12/2021, 10:55 PM

Thank you for your reply.

07/10/2021, 11:34 AM	#1
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Ammonia toxic to corals? Simple questions: Can you cycle a tank with corals? Is ammonia toxic to corals? I maintain not but am curious if any have differing opinions.

07/10/2021, 03:52 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	In minuscule amounts---very---some corals will tolerate it. I had bubble, xenia, sponge and a wealth of inverts survive a shallow cycle and go on to grow in a working tank. I cycle simply with fishfood. Drop into saltwater/ro/di about 1 flake per 20 gallons, daily, until you see ammonia and keep at it for five days after you don't see it. It's a fairly gentle method and I was using rock from a broken-up tank, which had all sorts of life in it. No dieoff to speak of. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/12/2021, 06:39 AM	#4
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	To answer the thread title, ammonia, along with organic forms of urea and amino acids are corals preferred forms of nitrogen over nitrates. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

07/12/2021, 04:43 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I really don't. And the reason is that a new tank is unstable---right along with the owner's skills, which may not be all they WILL be --- yet. You can get coral before you get fish --- you can run a coral and invert tank quite successfully. But they're too pricey (some) or too invasive (the really easy tough ones) ---and you may want to think selectively about your reef and figure out your lighting (a critical issue) before you go too far with purchases. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/11/2021, 08:37 AM	#3
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Thank you. I cycle with live rock and fish food.

07/12/2021, 09:10 AM	#5
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Ok. But do you recommend cycling the tank with coral, is the question.

07/12/2021, 10:55 PM	#7
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Thank you for your reply.