Ammonia Problems

patrickpernell · 09/14/2017, 07:42 PM

I have had a 29-gallon biocube for going on 4 years, so I'm not necessarily new to the hobby. I had a nutrient problem in my tank which raised the nitrates and phosphates in the tank and caused bad algae problems.

I got the nutrient problems fixed but all of a sudden my ammonia shot up like crazy. I mean SUPER high, around 1-2ppm. I have a sea anemone in the tank and it moved behind a rock so I hadn't seen it for a couple of days. I decided to move the rock and found it dead. TALK ABOUT THE SMELL!! So I assume the ammonia problems is a result of this.

I purchased a chemical called Prime, did a water change and of course sucked out the dead anemone from the tank. My fish do not look like they are going to make it.

If they do not make it, whats the best step to move forward? Should I start all over with new sand and new rock?

If they do make it, whats the best way to also move forward to get everything healthy again?

mcgyvr · 09/15/2017, 04:31 AM

Just do a few larger water changes..
Thats all you need..
absolutely no reason to start all over

homer1475 · 09/15/2017, 05:08 AM

Several large water changes, and dose prime immediately to lock up the ammonia so the rest of the livestock aren't suffering.

No need to reboot the entire tank.

schnebbles · 09/15/2017, 07:45 AM

I once had ammonia at 5-6ppm. I about died when I checked the level, I was being stupid and not doing water changes and probably over feeding the tank. I lost a couple fish being stupid and lazy and certainly won't do that again. My tank is fine now. My ammonia reading was off the charts!

09/14/2017, 07:42 PM	#1
patrickpernell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 40	Ammonia Problems I have had a 29-gallon biocube for going on 4 years, so I'm not necessarily new to the hobby. I had a nutrient problem in my tank which raised the nitrates and phosphates in the tank and caused bad algae problems. I got the nutrient problems fixed but all of a sudden my ammonia shot up like crazy. I mean SUPER high, around 1-2ppm. I have a sea anemone in the tank and it moved behind a rock so I hadn't seen it for a couple of days. I decided to move the rock and found it dead. TALK ABOUT THE SMELL!! So I assume the ammonia problems is a result of this. I purchased a chemical called Prime, did a water change and of course sucked out the dead anemone from the tank. My fish do not look like they are going to make it. If they do not make it, whats the best step to move forward? Should I start all over with new sand and new rock? If they do make it, whats the best way to also move forward to get everything healthy again?

09/15/2017, 04:31 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Just do a few larger water changes.. Thats all you need.. absolutely no reason to start all over __________________ Who me?

09/15/2017, 05:08 AM	#3
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Several large water changes, and dose prime immediately to lock up the ammonia so the rest of the livestock aren't suffering. No need to reboot the entire tank. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

09/15/2017, 07:45 AM	#4
schnebbles Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 475	I once had ammonia at 5-6ppm. I about died when I checked the level, I was being stupid and not doing water changes and probably over feeding the tank. I lost a couple fish being stupid and lazy and certainly won't do that again. My tank is fine now. My ammonia reading was off the charts!