Bad ammonia and dead coral

patrickpernell · 09/14/2017, 07:57 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?

karimwassef · 09/14/2017, 08:13 PM

Water changes, carbon, live rock, protein skimmer + time

bertoni · 09/14/2017, 10:43 PM

More water changes and keep the Prime going. Some carbon might help, but it's water changes and Prime that will do the most.

The live rock and sand will be fine. I might add some small animal cultures, in case too many species were lost, but I doubt you'll need to do anything more. Right now, it's mostly a waiting game.

09/14/2017, 07:57 PM	#1
patrickpernell Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 40	Bad ammonia and dead coral 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?

09/14/2017, 08:13 PM	#2
karimwassef Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 11,033	Water changes, carbon, live rock, protein skimmer + time __________________ Failure isn't an option It's a requirement. 660g 380inwall+280smp/surge S/L/Soft/Maxima/RBTA/Clown/Chromis/Anthias/Tang/Mandarin/Jawfish/Goby/Wrasse/D'back. DIY 12' Skimmer ActuatedSurge ConcreteScape

09/14/2017, 10:43 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	More water changes and keep the Prime going. Some carbon might help, but it's water changes and Prime that will do the most. The live rock and sand will be fine. I might add some small animal cultures, in case too many species were lost, but I doubt you'll need to do anything more. Right now, it's mostly a waiting game. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni