to water change or not to water change?

Beloufish · 02/14/2010, 12:44 PM

Hi,
our 12 gallon nano has been set up since 1/9/2010. We have 12.5lbs of live rock and added our CUC 14 days ago and are finally seeing a small spike in ammonia (0.50 ppm) but nitrites (0 ppm) and nitrates (5-10 ppm) are the same as always. We have 5 scarlett hermits and 3 margarita snails.

Should we do a water change yet? If yes, how much? If no, when?

Thanks!
Ashley

bertoni · 02/14/2010, 05:02 PM

I would do a change now. It's best to avoid exposing animals to ammonia at all. I might do 2-3 20% changes, up to two per day, although those animals are fairly cheap and hopefully comparatively hardy. Some Amquel or Prime might help.

Pufferpunk · 02/14/2010, 11:10 PM

You NEVER want to see any ammonia in a tank.

Korrine · 02/14/2010, 11:13 PM

Water changes are like taking a breath of fresh air to us. Give'em some good clean water

iamwrasseman · 02/14/2010, 11:16 PM

yup give them some water changes and it will never hurt and 20% is perfect .

wooden_reefer · 02/15/2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beloufish

Hi,
our 12 gallon nano has been set up since 1/9/2010. We have 12.5lbs of live rock and added our CUC 14 days ago and are finally seeing a small spike in ammonia (0.50 ppm) but nitrites (0 ppm) and nitrates (5-10 ppm) are the same as always. We have 5 scarlett hermits and 3 margarita snails.

Should we do a water change yet? If yes, how much? If no, when?

Thanks!
Ashley

You got it backward. You should never have livestock before a medium is cycled.

This is now 2010, you never never need to use the ammonia from death of or excretion from livestock to get the ammonia for cycling. If you consider hitchhikers on LR as livestock, you should have cycled the medium first

It is needly waste of effort to do water change during a cycle; and when you remove ammonia during cycling thru WC, you also decrease the robustness of the cycle.

Now, I say you do not change water until the ammonia level exceeds 1 ppm and let the CUC to their fate. The livestock that comes later is more important.

iamwrasseman · 02/15/2010, 04:17 PM

i agree and also apologize i didn't take into consideration the age of the tank

lordofthereef · 02/15/2010, 04:28 PM

It sounds like you didn't have any sort of cycle before this? Where did you get the live rock? There should have been some sort of cycle if it wasn't cured. If it was cured you really shouldn't be seeing any ammonia at all currently.

02/14/2010, 12:44 PM	#1
Beloufish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 26	to water change or not to water change? Hi, our 12 gallon nano has been set up since 1/9/2010. We have 12.5lbs of live rock and added our CUC 14 days ago and are finally seeing a small spike in ammonia (0.50 ppm) but nitrites (0 ppm) and nitrates (5-10 ppm) are the same as always. We have 5 scarlett hermits and 3 margarita snails. Should we do a water change yet? If yes, how much? If no, when? Thanks! Ashley

02/14/2010, 05:02 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would do a change now. It's best to avoid exposing animals to ammonia at all. I might do 2-3 20% changes, up to two per day, although those animals are fairly cheap and hopefully comparatively hardy. Some Amquel or Prime might help. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/14/2010, 11:13 PM	#4
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	Water changes are like taking a breath of fresh air to us. Give'em some good clean water __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

02/14/2010, 11:16 PM	#5
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	yup give them some water changes and it will never hurt and 20% is perfect . __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

02/15/2010, 04:17 PM	#7
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	i agree and also apologize i didn't take into consideration the age of the tank __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

02/14/2010, 11:10 PM	#3
Pufferpunk Moved On Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 21,027	You NEVER want to see any ammonia in a tank.

02/15/2010, 04:28 PM	#8
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	It sounds like you didn't have any sort of cycle before this? Where did you get the live rock? There should have been some sort of cycle if it wasn't cured. If it was cured you really shouldn't be seeing any ammonia at all currently. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!