High Amonia

SchmittyG · 01/04/2010, 11:45 AM

My amonia is pretty high, but the nitrate and nitrite seems about right... could this mean my protein skimmer isn't working properly? Seems like the cup on my skimmer should have more junk in it if the amonia is high... Im going to do a big water change, but any other ideas?

Chiefsurfer · 01/04/2010, 11:51 AM

how long has your tank been up? And by about right, what readings are you getting on nitrite and nitrate.

Has anything new and interesting happened in the tank?(like new intros of aggressive fish?) Fish secrete ammonia from poo and breathing. If you have some HEAVY breathing stressed out fish, you might just have a spike from the bacteria having to catch up. Seen anything die lately? How long was it there before it was removed? How long since your last water change, and do you syphon the sand?

SchmittyG · 01/04/2010, 12:01 PM

My clown fish recently had a growth on it's chin and then died, that probably had something to do with it. I dont syphon the sand, I have a goby that does that and that was another thing I thought might have spiked it...Ive done a 5g water change the last two days and my tank is 29g... probably try and do another today or tomorrow.

wooden_reefer · 01/04/2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchmittyG

My amonia is pretty high, but the nitrate and nitrite seems about right... could this mean my protein skimmer isn't working properly? Seems like the cup on my skimmer should have more junk in it if the amonia is high... Im going to do a big water change, but any other ideas?

In an established tank, ammonia should not be just low but just about nil.

What is the stage of your tank?

In theory, a formerly very efficient skimmer that fails can cause, in effect, the equilvance of a sudden increase in bioload. I doubt in practice this is really possible, however.

Ammonia surge in an establish tank is usually mechanical failure, such a clog, or a large livestock decaying unnoticed, or poisoning by drug of microbes.

SchmittyG · 01/04/2010, 12:14 PM

Wouldnt the protein skimmer cup be full if the tank was high on amonia?

jherrin215 · 01/04/2010, 12:40 PM

Your protein skimmer doesnt remove ammonia, it removes dissovled organic material from the water. Your high ammonia is a major problem. Has anything died lately that you didn't find? Has there been any chemicals around the tank lately that could have leaked inot the tank somehow? If your tank has completed the initial and the nitrifying bacteria are there then you should never have ammonia without a major occurence. I would start with a major 50% water change to see if you can get this ammonia gone. Also look for anything that may have died in the tank, check all pumps and filters for critters.

SchmittyG · 01/04/2010, 01:22 PM

when snails/crabs die, usually the crabs eat em... I lost a clown fish, but I removed it from the tank...Ill do a 50% change tomorrow. Damn!

ritter6788 · 01/04/2010, 02:03 PM

How long has the tank been set up?

Chiefsurfer · 01/04/2010, 03:20 PM

reading through the forums recently, I also saw that the OP has just gotten a sand-stirring goby that is throwing sand everywhere.

I have to bet BIG TIME that he is kicking up rotting detritus and thats the route of the ammonia. Do water changes until you get it below .50.

SchmittyG · 01/09/2010, 03:10 PM

I got it down, thanks for all the help. Just took three water changes. 5 gallon increments go a long way in a 29g tank. I think I may try another clown fish and hope he gets the anenome stoked.

01/04/2010, 11:45 AM	#1
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	High Amonia My amonia is pretty high, but the nitrate and nitrite seems about right... could this mean my protein skimmer isn't working properly? Seems like the cup on my skimmer should have more junk in it if the amonia is high... Im going to do a big water change, but any other ideas? __________________ Current Tank: 40G Nuvo from IM with MP10 and LED lighting(Kessil a360w); two large hairy green mushrooms, 2 tank raised percula clown fish, 2 Rose Anenome, 3 frogspawns, an Australian duncan, a birds Current Tank Info: 40 gallon Nuvo tank from IM

01/04/2010, 12:01 PM	#3
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	My clown fish recently had a growth on it's chin and then died, that probably had something to do with it. I dont syphon the sand, I have a goby that does that and that was another thing I thought might have spiked it...Ive done a 5g water change the last two days and my tank is 29g... probably try and do another today or tomorrow. __________________ Current Tank: 40G Nuvo from IM with MP10 and LED lighting(Kessil a360w); two large hairy green mushrooms, 2 tank raised percula clown fish, 2 Rose Anenome, 3 frogspawns, an Australian duncan, a birds Current Tank Info: 40 gallon Nuvo tank from IM

01/04/2010, 12:14 PM	#5
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	Wouldnt the protein skimmer cup be full if the tank was high on amonia? __________________ Current Tank: 40G Nuvo from IM with MP10 and LED lighting(Kessil a360w); two large hairy green mushrooms, 2 tank raised percula clown fish, 2 Rose Anenome, 3 frogspawns, an Australian duncan, a birds Current Tank Info: 40 gallon Nuvo tank from IM

01/04/2010, 01:22 PM	#7
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	when snails/crabs die, usually the crabs eat em... I lost a clown fish, but I removed it from the tank...Ill do a 50% change tomorrow. Damn! __________________ Current Tank: 40G Nuvo from IM with MP10 and LED lighting(Kessil a360w); two large hairy green mushrooms, 2 tank raised percula clown fish, 2 Rose Anenome, 3 frogspawns, an Australian duncan, a birds Current Tank Info: 40 gallon Nuvo tank from IM

01/09/2010, 03:10 PM	#10
SchmittyG Schmitty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 257	I got it down, thanks for all the help. Just took three water changes. 5 gallon increments go a long way in a 29g tank. I think I may try another clown fish and hope he gets the anenome stoked. __________________ Current Tank: 40G Nuvo from IM with MP10 and LED lighting(Kessil a360w); two large hairy green mushrooms, 2 tank raised percula clown fish, 2 Rose Anenome, 3 frogspawns, an Australian duncan, a birds Current Tank Info: 40 gallon Nuvo tank from IM

01/04/2010, 11:51 AM	#2
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	how long has your tank been up? And by about right, what readings are you getting on nitrite and nitrate. Has anything new and interesting happened in the tank?(like new intros of aggressive fish?) Fish secrete ammonia from poo and breathing. If you have some HEAVY breathing stressed out fish, you might just have a spike from the bacteria having to catch up. Seen anything die lately? How long was it there before it was removed? How long since your last water change, and do you syphon the sand?

01/04/2010, 12:40 PM	#6
jherrin215 GO COLTS!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 854	Your protein skimmer doesnt remove ammonia, it removes dissovled organic material from the water. Your high ammonia is a major problem. Has anything died lately that you didn't find? Has there been any chemicals around the tank lately that could have leaked inot the tank somehow? If your tank has completed the initial and the nitrifying bacteria are there then you should never have ammonia without a major occurence. I would start with a major 50% water change to see if you can get this ammonia gone. Also look for anything that may have died in the tank, check all pumps and filters for critters.

01/04/2010, 02:03 PM	#8
ritter6788 Say no to clove polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Marshall, TX Posts: 1,374	How long has the tank been set up?

01/04/2010, 03:20 PM	#9
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	reading through the forums recently, I also saw that the OP has just gotten a sand-stirring goby that is throwing sand everywhere. I have to bet BIG TIME that he is kicking up rotting detritus and thats the route of the ammonia. Do water changes until you get it below .50.