Ammonia

JakeTheNoob · 08/28/2006, 06:27 PM

Hello,
My friend, who knows everything about reeftanks, has moved to Amsterdam and has left me with a great aquarium... I did a bit of reading and figured out that new tanks are especially suseptible to xyz. I though that maybe since I already had lots of liverock and the tank wasnt really new, only the water was, that I would not have to worry about high ammonia levels... I tested the water and it seems like its above .8
This worries me although the fish seem very happy and are eating everything and the sea star seems ok too.
I know that there are products that I can buy and that I can do a partial water change but I have no salt left over and none of the products... anyone have any ideas?
Also, the test kit might have expired. Would that do it?
I got the tank 3 days ago.

kraze3 · 08/28/2006, 06:46 PM

To Reef Central

First I would get the water tested, either buy a new kit or bring it to the LFS for testing. Second buy some more salt and do a water change. You should be doing weekly, biweekly, or at least monthly water changes anyways so the salt will not go to waste. I understand this hobby can be pricey but you should always have sait in case of emergencies and you deff need a test kit. They should be fine at .08 if you cant do either tonight but I would do asap tomorrow.

demonsp · 08/28/2006, 07:02 PM

is there any live rock ? what kind of substrate ? if none of both mb just feeding a little to much . also what kind of filter and does it have a protien skimmer ?

bertoni · 08/28/2006, 07:33 PM

I would get a good test kit before doing much. I suspect the number you got is bogus. Ammonia test kits seem prone to this problem, from the posts I've read. Water changes are good maintenance practice, though, so if you haven't started, one might be a fine idea.

JakeTheNoob · 08/28/2006, 07:39 PM

You should read my initial post with more care... I did a test, and I do own a complete test kit. The level is not at .08, its at .8, which is the highest level in the test kit. There is lots of live rock, mora than half the tank is live rock. I think Ill do a water change, but Im not sure how much water needs to be taken out. What is the normal amount as a fraction? I have a protein skimmer and a regular filter with carbon in a bag.

bertoni · 08/28/2006, 07:45 PM

I wouldn't go higher than 20-25% for a water change. Some people go with 10% weekly or 10% every other week. I do 20-25% once a month, which is a bit skimpy, I think.

yeame · 08/28/2006, 09:59 PM

throw a little amquil plus in with water changes it will take out all ammonia and nitrates

BurntOutReefer · 08/28/2006, 10:00 PM

IMO..........and look for something dead...wait,....just read with "more care"....
do you just get the tank? i.e. was it moved to your house?...i.e. there was no water when it was ...?
if so...then its cycling agin.
Change water 10~20% every week.
try Prime....
BTW....next time ,,,give us a hint

JakeTheNoob · 08/29/2006, 04:54 PM

The reason I said read with more care was that they both asked questions to which the answers were in my initial post. But lets not get into an argument. The reason I posted this is because my situation is a bit different seeing as there was a complete water change but all the elements of a 7 year old tank are still present. Lots of live rock, filters the works...
Anyway thanks for the answers...
I think my ammonia test it is a bit crappy and so Im just going to wait a while. The fish seem happy and my tang is eating and has her fins spread out which I think is a good thing.

bertoni · 08/29/2006, 05:00 PM

I agree that the ammonia kit is likely the problem. I've personally had an ammonia test kit go bad and measure ammonia everywhere. I don't think the fish would be very happy with 0.8 ppm ammonia.

08/28/2006, 06:27 PM	#1
JakeTheNoob Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6	Ammonia Hello, My friend, who knows everything about reeftanks, has moved to Amsterdam and has left me with a great aquarium... I did a bit of reading and figured out that new tanks are especially suseptible to xyz. I though that maybe since I already had lots of liverock and the tank wasnt really new, only the water was, that I would not have to worry about high ammonia levels... I tested the water and it seems like its above .8 This worries me although the fish seem very happy and are eating everything and the sea star seems ok too. I know that there are products that I can buy and that I can do a partial water change but I have no salt left over and none of the products... anyone have any ideas? Also, the test kit might have expired. Would that do it? I got the tank 3 days ago.

08/28/2006, 07:33 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would get a good test kit before doing much. I suspect the number you got is bogus. Ammonia test kits seem prone to this problem, from the posts I've read. Water changes are good maintenance practice, though, so if you haven't started, one might be a fine idea. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/28/2006, 07:45 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't go higher than 20-25% for a water change. Some people go with 10% weekly or 10% every other week. I do 20-25% once a month, which is a bit skimpy, I think. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/29/2006, 05:00 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that the ammonia kit is likely the problem. I've personally had an ammonia test kit go bad and measure ammonia everywhere. I don't think the fish would be very happy with 0.8 ppm ammonia. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/28/2006, 06:46 PM	#2
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	*To Reef Central* First I would get the water tested, either buy a new kit or bring it to the LFS for testing. Second buy some more salt and do a water change. You should be doing weekly, biweekly, or at least monthly water changes anyways so the salt will not go to waste. I understand this hobby can be pricey but you should always have sait in case of emergencies and you deff need a test kit. They should be fine at .08 if you cant do either tonight but I would do asap tomorrow.

08/28/2006, 07:02 PM	#3
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	is there any live rock ? what kind of substrate ? if none of both mb just feeding a little to much . also what kind of filter and does it have a protien skimmer ?

08/28/2006, 07:39 PM	#5
JakeTheNoob Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6	You should read my initial post with more care... I did a test, and I do own a complete test kit. The level is not at .08, its at .8, which is the highest level in the test kit. There is lots of live rock, mora than half the tank is live rock. I think Ill do a water change, but Im not sure how much water needs to be taken out. What is the normal amount as a fraction? I have a protein skimmer and a regular filter with carbon in a bag.

08/28/2006, 09:59 PM	#7
yeame Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: maine Posts: 488	throw a little amquil plus in with water changes it will take out all ammonia and nitrates

08/28/2006, 10:00 PM	#8
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	IMO..........and look for something dead...wait,....just read with "more care".... do you just get the tank? i.e. was it moved to your house?...i.e. there was no water when it was ...? if so...then its cycling agin. Change water 10~20% every week. try Prime.... BTW....next time ,,,give us a hint

08/29/2006, 04:54 PM	#9
JakeTheNoob Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6	The reason I said read with more care was that they both asked questions to which the answers were in my initial post. But lets not get into an argument. The reason I posted this is because my situation is a bit different seeing as there was a complete water change but all the elements of a 7 year old tank are still present. Lots of live rock, filters the works... Anyway thanks for the answers... I think my ammonia test it is a bit crappy and so Im just going to wait a while. The fish seem happy and my tang is eating and has her fins spread out which I think is a good thing.