Help please

Jacquot · 07/18/2014, 03:13 PM

I decided to go ahead and buy a peppermint shrimp and a blue legged hermit crab. Which probably wasnt the best idea cause i also grabed a api saltwater test kit and im a little concered about the results

High range ph 8.0
Ammonia between .25 and .50ppm
Nitrite (no2-) 5.0!!!ppm
Nitrate (no3-) 40ppm

Plan on doing a 10% water change this weekend
Any other ideas will the shrimp and crab start to bringing the lvls down? Over time of course. The tank had been setup for months but the filter died so had to buy new one, is it starting the recycle or something?

jamiepm · 07/18/2014, 03:25 PM

API test kits aren't always the most accurate, but I would still be concerned about the ammonia and nitrite being present. Have your LFS test your water to double check. You will need to do more than 10% water change to make a dent in the parameters.

reepher315 · 07/18/2014, 04:21 PM

^ for sure. Crabs and shrimp wont alter the levels either. Did you keep all other equipment running while the filter was off? Why filter if no tank residents?

Jacquot · 07/18/2014, 04:41 PM

Sorry i forgot to mention i also have 2 clown fish and About 5lbs of live rock which i plan on adding more of the dry base rock. I had the heater and circulating pump going when the filter stopped. I have the old filter can i somehow get some of the beneficial bacteria off it?What about buying seachem stability I also used half a cap full of seachem prime today. I know it doesnt change test results but how do i know if im using enough? Ill bring in a some water for my lps to test but they use strips so wouldnt the api saltwater master test kit be more accurate?

JoelA7 · 07/18/2014, 09:00 PM

Based on you're posts the tank is not fully cycled and it would be better to get the fish and inverts out until it is. NH3 needs to be 0 and process a 2ppm concentration back to 0 in 24 hours AND NO2 needs to be zero. Then do water changes to get NO3 below 40 (at least - below 20 better) before you slowly slowly add some inverts fish and hardy soft coral.

Pife · 07/18/2014, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoelA7

Based on you're posts the tank is not fully cycled and it would be better to get the fish and inverts out until it is. NH3 needs to be 0 and process a 2ppm concentration back to 0 in 24 hours AND NO2 needs to be zero. Then do water changes to get NO3 below 40 (at least - below 20 better) before you slowly slowly add some inverts fish and hardy soft coral.

Nicely said. Also if you keep adding dry rock your tank is going to keep cycling.

maddmaxx · 07/18/2014, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoelA7

Based on you're posts the tank is not fully cycled and it would be better to get the fish and inverts out until it is. NH3 needs to be 0 and process a 2ppm concentration back to 0 in 24 hours AND NO2 needs to be zero. Then do water changes to get NO3 below 40 (at least - below 20 better) before you slowly slowly add some inverts fish and hardy soft coral.

agreed. tank isnt near ready. and you are most likely doin harm to the clown fish. also that is not nearly enough rock, and adding dry rock will only prolong the cycle. you should add all rock to start with so everything is cured at same time...

Waarrpped · 07/18/2014, 09:07 PM

Make a larger water change. Consider 40% and then 20% every other day. It will bring down the levels fast!

apstreck · 07/18/2014, 09:08 PM

in my own experience, and also in the advice of a (very) trusted LFS owner, the API kit always shows just a tinge of green for ammonia. Test some fresh saltwater and compare it against your tank. Also nitrite is not very toxic in a marine aquarium according to Randy. Just a thought.

07/18/2014, 03:13 PM	#1
Jacquot Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 11	Help please I decided to go ahead and buy a peppermint shrimp and a blue legged hermit crab. Which probably wasnt the best idea cause i also grabed a api saltwater test kit and im a little concered about the results High range ph 8.0 Ammonia between .25 and .50ppm Nitrite (no2-) 5.0!!!ppm Nitrate (no3-) 40ppm Plan on doing a 10% water change this weekend Any other ideas will the shrimp and crab start to bringing the lvls down? Over time of course. The tank had been setup for months but the filter died so had to buy new one, is it starting the recycle or something?

07/18/2014, 09:00 PM	#5
JoelA7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,056	Based on you're posts the tank is not fully cycled and it would be better to get the fish and inverts out until it is. NH3 needs to be 0 and process a 2ppm concentration back to 0 in 24 hours AND NO2 needs to be zero. Then do water changes to get NO3 below 40 (at least - below 20 better) before you slowly slowly add some inverts fish and hardy soft coral. __________________ New 48x24x26.25 w Precision Marine R30 sump, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, 2@Vertex 1.5L reactors for carbon & phosban, GEO Ca reactor w Aquarium Plants regulator. 2 MP40's 2@Radions. #120 live rock & #12

07/18/2014, 03:25 PM	#2
jamiepm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 52	API test kits aren't always the most accurate, but I would still be concerned about the ammonia and nitrite being present. Have your LFS test your water to double check. You will need to do more than 10% water change to make a dent in the parameters.

07/18/2014, 04:21 PM	#3
reepher315 Humble Student Join Date: May 2014 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 816	^ for sure. Crabs and shrimp wont alter the levels either. Did you keep all other equipment running while the filter was off? Why filter if no tank residents?

07/18/2014, 04:41 PM	#4
Jacquot Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 11	Sorry i forgot to mention i also have 2 clown fish and About 5lbs of live rock which i plan on adding more of the dry base rock. I had the heater and circulating pump going when the filter stopped. I have the old filter can i somehow get some of the beneficial bacteria off it?What about buying seachem stability I also used half a cap full of seachem prime today. I know it doesnt change test results but how do i know if im using enough? Ill bring in a some water for my lps to test but they use strips so wouldnt the api saltwater master test kit be more accurate?

07/18/2014, 09:07 PM	#8
Waarrpped Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 5	Make a larger water change. Consider 40% and then 20% every other day. It will bring down the levels fast!

07/18/2014, 09:08 PM	#9
apstreck Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 173	in my own experience, and also in the advice of a (very) trusted LFS owner, the API kit always shows just a tinge of green for ammonia. Test some fresh saltwater and compare it against your tank. Also nitrite is not very toxic in a marine aquarium according to Randy. Just a thought.