New tank, why no ammonia spike?

waterloomarc · 08/16/2007, 07:10 PM

I've finally started my 37 gallon tank...after far far too long building the stand (look for pictures when I'm not too lazy to take them off the camera).

I filled it 2 weeks ago and let it run for a week so I could get the heater and sailnity and equipment calibrated. I added 45lbs of live rock 7 days ago. The highest my ammonia has been was about 1.5mg/l on day 4. My nitrites have only ever registered .025

Today (day 7 with rock in the tank) the ammonia is down to .25 mg/l, with trites still at .025 and nitrates at 25ppm.

The live rock was ordered from LiveAquaria and was their "Fiji Premium Select" (or something to that effect) and was shipped overnight to me. When i opened the cooler/box it did not have a rotten odor to it...but still I'd think it would have signifcant die-off in a day's time wouldn't it?

Anyway, I'm confused and distrustful of my tests. I thought my ammonia and nitrites would be off the charts. Should I be showing a decrease in ammonia already, and should the level not have gone higher from live rock shipped across the country in 100 degree heat?

All tests are Sailfert, purchased a month ago. I'm running a Tunze reefpack which is basically a 9005 skimmer mated to a filter.

I've had tanks before but my ammonia spikes have always been bigger and didn't begin to decrease this early.

Should I junk my tests or is there a good chance they're right?

Sorry for the long post.

schoch79 · 08/16/2007, 11:38 PM

I would just give a a week or so more. Then test again. See what you get. Time will tell. It could just be that you are lucky with this one even though it does seem weird. Maybe in a week or two you won't see anything but nitrates. If that's the case I guess we know the tank has cycled and everything is good to go.

bertoni · 08/17/2007, 12:28 AM

Live rock is inherently unpredictable. I wouldn't worry. 1.5 mg/L ammonia is enough to indicate some biological action, in any case.

Drock169 · 08/17/2007, 12:33 AM

It sounds a lot like my tank (14g BC), only mined peaked at 0.8 ammonia, didnt see more than 0.2 nitrites and nitrates only peaked at 10. Because it was so low though I only add something to my tank every 2 weeks to give time.

der_wille_zur_macht · 08/17/2007, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
Live rock is inherently unpredictable. I wouldn't worry. 1.5 mg/L ammonia is enough to indicate some biological action, in any case.

Agreed.

Also, keep in mind that there are LOTS of things happening during the "cycle" process in a new tank, besides development of the bacteria that process nitrogen in it's various forms. Though that's the most measurable indication of cycling, you've also got all sorts of other bacterial colonies establishing themselves, as well as myriad forms of beneficial life spreading across the tank.

For instance - one thing that aquarists tend to get all worked up about is developing/supporting a large colony of 'pods in their tank. Guess what one of the best ways to accomplish that is? Let them breed like rabbits in a new tank, BEFORE adding predators (most fish and certain corals) to the mix!

Regardless of nitrogen-cycle testing results, I'd leave the tank empty for several more weeks to allow some of these other processes to set in.

waterloomarc · 08/17/2007, 08:01 AM

I don't plan on adding anything to the tank for a good while anyway...heck it's taken me a year to get this far! I'm just concerned that maybe the tests weren't functioning properly and that maybe I was killing everything and not noticing. There's a ton of crap still falling off the rocks so there definitely stuff in there to decay...

I'm heading on vacation in a couple of weeks, and part of the reason I put the rock in when I did (and sprang for the overnight shipping) was so the 'stinky' part of things would be overwith before I left and so I wouldn't come back home to a house that smells like rot. But so far, not even a hint of an odor. Oh well I guess I'll just relax and possibly even count myself lucky.

I appreciate the replies so far!

michaelaz · 08/17/2007, 08:16 AM

Im guessing you will get another bump when the crud falling off starts to decay, followed by a brown algea bloom

08/16/2007, 07:10 PM	#1
waterloomarc Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Trussville, AL Posts: 173	New tank, why no ammonia spike? I've finally started my 37 gallon tank...after far far too long building the stand (look for pictures when I'm not too lazy to take them off the camera). I filled it 2 weeks ago and let it run for a week so I could get the heater and sailnity and equipment calibrated. I added 45lbs of live rock 7 days ago. The highest my ammonia has been was about 1.5mg/l on day 4. My nitrites have only ever registered .025 Today (day 7 with rock in the tank) the ammonia is down to .25 mg/l, with trites still at .025 and nitrates at 25ppm. The live rock was ordered from LiveAquaria and was their "Fiji Premium Select" (or something to that effect) and was shipped overnight to me. When i opened the cooler/box it did not have a rotten odor to it...but still I'd think it would have signifcant die-off in a day's time wouldn't it? Anyway, I'm confused and distrustful of my tests. I thought my ammonia and nitrites would be off the charts. Should I be showing a decrease in ammonia already, and should the level not have gone higher from live rock shipped across the country in 100 degree heat? All tests are Sailfert, purchased a month ago. I'm running a Tunze reefpack which is basically a 9005 skimmer mated to a filter. I've had tanks before but my ammonia spikes have always been bigger and didn't begin to decrease this early. Should I junk my tests or is there a good chance they're right? Sorry for the long post. __________________ -Marc Current Tank Info: 37g Oceanic, Octopus 800s, MP-10, Tunze Nano 6025

08/16/2007, 11:38 PM	#2
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	I would just give a a week or so more. Then test again. See what you get. Time will tell. It could just be that you are lucky with this one even though it does seem weird. Maybe in a week or two you won't see anything but nitrates. If that's the case I guess we know the tank has cycled and everything is good to go. __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

08/17/2007, 12:28 AM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Live rock is inherently unpredictable. I wouldn't worry. 1.5 mg/L ammonia is enough to indicate some biological action, in any case. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/17/2007, 08:01 AM	#6
waterloomarc Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Trussville, AL Posts: 173	I don't plan on adding anything to the tank for a good while anyway...heck it's taken me a year to get this far! I'm just concerned that maybe the tests weren't functioning properly and that maybe I was killing everything and not noticing. There's a ton of crap still falling off the rocks so there definitely stuff in there to decay... I'm heading on vacation in a couple of weeks, and part of the reason I put the rock in when I did (and sprang for the overnight shipping) was so the 'stinky' part of things would be overwith before I left and so I wouldn't come back home to a house that smells like rot. But so far, not even a hint of an odor. Oh well I guess I'll just relax and possibly even count myself lucky. I appreciate the replies so far! __________________ -Marc Current Tank Info: 37g Oceanic, Octopus 800s, MP-10, Tunze Nano 6025

08/17/2007, 12:33 AM	#4
Drock169 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 318	It sounds a lot like my tank (14g BC), only mined peaked at 0.8 ammonia, didnt see more than 0.2 nitrites and nitrates only peaked at 10. Because it was so low though I only add something to my tank every 2 weeks to give time.

08/17/2007, 08:16 AM	#7
michaelaz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 275	Im guessing you will get another bump when the crud falling off starts to decay, followed by a brown algea bloom