Ammonia spike question

homer1475 · 06/27/2015, 06:29 PM

So after reading quite a bit about ammonia spikes here and there, I got to thinking, my tank will be fallow for 72 days(ich outbreak). With no fish producing waste, just my CUC and many corals, when I put my fish back in the tank, will it spike? I do feed my corals, but other then excess food, there is no more huge bioload like when the fish were in there.

Just want to know what to expect when I put my fish back in. I know some of the bacteria will die off with nothing for them to do, just not sure if I should expect an ammonia spike or not?

pyithar · 06/27/2015, 07:52 PM

you could add the fish back in only a couple at a time instead of adding them all at once. it's like giving the bacteria some time to populate.

rt67ghy · 06/28/2015, 02:05 AM

I would add the hardiest/smallest fish you have, feed it and watch it for a couple of days. If it seems fine then add the next smallest and so on.

tennesseebob · 06/28/2015, 03:44 AM

I agree, you probably want to build the filter capacity back up gradually.

thegrun · 06/28/2015, 08:15 AM

Bacteria will show very little decline over a 72 day period, tests have shown them to last over a year without feeding. If you are concerned, add a pinch of dry flake fish food every other day. Reintroducing two or three fish at a time waiting a week between introductions is the safest but I do not think it is necessary.

06/27/2015, 06:29 PM	#1
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Ammonia spike question So after reading quite a bit about ammonia spikes here and there, I got to thinking, my tank will be fallow for 72 days(ich outbreak). With no fish producing waste, just my CUC and many corals, when I put my fish back in the tank, will it spike? I do feed my corals, but other then excess food, there is no more huge bioload like when the fish were in there. Just want to know what to expect when I put my fish back in. I know some of the bacteria will die off with nothing for them to do, just not sure if I should expect an ammonia spike or not? __________________ 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"

06/27/2015, 07:52 PM	#2
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	you could add the fish back in only a couple at a time instead of adding them all at once. it's like giving the bacteria some time to populate. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

06/28/2015, 03:44 AM	#4
tennesseebob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 423	I agree, you probably want to build the filter capacity back up gradually. __________________ 150g tall D/T (48x24x30), 40b Sump 2 Arctic t247 LEDs 2 Jebao RW-8, 2 RW-4 Skimz Monzter SM201 Current Tank Info: 48",24",30" 150g tall

06/28/2015, 02:05 AM	#3
rt67ghy Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh Posts: 984	I would add the hardiest/smallest fish you have, feed it and watch it for a couple of days. If it seems fine then add the next smallest and so on.

06/28/2015, 08:15 AM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Bacteria will show very little decline over a 72 day period, tests have shown them to last over a year without feeding. If you are concerned, add a pinch of dry flake fish food every other day. Reintroducing two or three fish at a time waiting a week between introductions is the safest but I do not think it is necessary.