When to start testing for ammonia?

FishFolk · 03/17/2009, 02:10 PM

Greetings!
I just put my live rock into my tank, when should i first start testing for an ammonia spike??

1DeR9_3Hy · 03/17/2009, 02:23 PM

I would test as often as you want, up too every day. If your tests are accurate, you should be able to chart it out and actually "see" the climb, then the peak, then the decline of the ammonia.

Expect this all to take about a month.

FishFolk · 03/17/2009, 02:27 PM

alright, what about throwing raw shrimp in?

woodycb · 03/17/2009, 03:02 PM

it will help speed up the process

jim.l · 03/17/2009, 03:15 PM

It will smell like a rotten shrimp, not a good thing. What you want/need is bacteria to develop. Best is to put in a piece of live rock. You could also ask for a cup of sand/gravel from a populated tank.

thegrun · 03/17/2009, 04:42 PM

I wouldn't waste my time testing for at least a week, and then maybe once every three days, unless you "just gotsta know" to steal a quote from "Dirty Harry"

tims28gnano · 03/17/2009, 04:47 PM

To Reef Central

do not throw in raw shrimp, test for ammonia daily and have patience.

as long as you have a good amount of live rock and live sand you will be good!

do not try to speed up nature, good things come to those who wait!

PRDubois · 03/17/2009, 05:03 PM

Throw in 3 raw shrimp and you will be sure to have a good cycle

bradbmbj · 03/17/2009, 08:50 PM

I have never used shrimp, I feel that the shrimp will induce a large bacterial growth that will die off when you remove it and add only one fish which wont produce as much ammonia, just feed the tank daily as if there was one fish in there, then when you do add the fish the waste load will match a lot closer.

03/17/2009, 02:10 PM	#1
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	When to start testing for ammonia? Greetings! I just put my live rock into my tank, when should i first start testing for an ammonia spike??

03/17/2009, 02:23 PM	#2
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	I would test as often as you want, up too every day. If your tests are accurate, you should be able to chart it out and actually "see" the climb, then the peak, then the decline of the ammonia. Expect this all to take about a month. __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

03/17/2009, 03:02 PM	#4
woodycb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 785	it will help speed up the process __________________ We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART Current Tank Info: 75 gallon

03/17/2009, 03:15 PM	#5
jim.l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SE. Florida Posts: 608	It will smell like a rotten shrimp, not a good thing. What you want/need is bacteria to develop. Best is to put in a piece of live rock. You could also ask for a cup of sand/gravel from a populated tank. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 150 reef, soft, hard, SPS

03/17/2009, 05:03 PM	#8
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Throw in 3 raw shrimp and you will be sure to have a good cycle __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

03/17/2009, 02:27 PM	#3
FishFolk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 155	alright, what about throwing raw shrimp in?

03/17/2009, 04:42 PM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I wouldn't waste my time testing for at least a week, and then maybe once every three days, unless you "just gotsta know" to steal a quote from "Dirty Harry"

03/17/2009, 04:47 PM	#7
tims28gnano Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Jones Beach Posts: 343	*To Reef Central* do not throw in raw shrimp, test for ammonia daily and have patience. as long as you have a good amount of live rock and live sand you will be good! do not try to speed up nature, good things come to those who wait!

03/17/2009, 08:50 PM	#9
bradbmbj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Orleans Posts: 554	I have never used shrimp, I feel that the shrimp will induce a large bacterial growth that will die off when you remove it and add only one fish which wont produce as much ammonia, just feed the tank daily as if there was one fish in there, then when you do add the fish the waste load will match a lot closer.