The Ammonia That Wont DIE!!

new2u · 04/12/2006, 05:19 PM

Hey guys. Three weeks ago I transported my new 120 tank, and you probably saw me asking some questions, but I have a bigger one now. Lets start from the begining, while i was waiting for plumbing supplies ect. ect. and left an inch of sand (about 1" deep and 8 months old) over the water, and my 'fuge circulating. It went a week like that, then i added some new sand and stirred up the old stuff (by accident, but my jawfish was going to do it later...). The next day I got all the water out, and put in 90 gallons of RODI Saltwater along with 40lbs of LR that had been in a tub with a powerhead for a week, and 15lbs of new cured rock. Now, its been two weeks and I still have an obstinant .25 ppm of ammonia! Its been stuck there since about a week and a half ago, since it dropped from .75. What can i do to expediate this process, or do i need to just wait longer.

REEFKEEPA · 04/12/2006, 05:59 PM

Wait.
It will Cycle

EricBrian · 04/12/2006, 06:19 PM

Mine took a while and then I switched to Salifert. I then tested with Salifert and it was 0. Waited a couple of days and tested again... 0 again.

Could your test kit be bad?

cyclist1 · 04/12/2006, 06:28 PM

You are most likely going through a small cycle. Just give it some time.

Scuba_Dave · 04/12/2006, 06:31 PM

A cycle can last 4-6 weeks, your tank needs to regain it's balance

new2u · 04/12/2006, 07:14 PM

Unfortunatly, the kits are new, even though they are Red Sea, but I was afraid of that answer. I was thinking with established stuff, i'd get less of a cycle

Dan Thrash · 04/12/2006, 07:23 PM

i have the same problem you are having...and i use Red Sea test kits too. the ammonia and nitrites spiked, then dropped....it has been 4 weeks total and for the last week and a half ammonia has been 0.25 and nitrites have been 0.05, and they havent budged.

i was thinking of going and buying the Salifert kit because in the back of my head i'm picturing the same scenario as EricBrian mentioned

EricBrian · 04/12/2006, 07:24 PM

Yeah, I was using Red Sea, too.

new2u · 04/12/2006, 07:31 PM

I'll go and test my nitrites, and if they come up as .05 I'll let you know, i guess I'll have to spring for a salifert test sooner or later, but I'll go by my LFS tommorrow and see if he gets the same readings I am. Another excuse to go to the fish store

jim293 · 04/13/2006, 05:20 PM

I had a bad test kit recently. Switched it and everything was fine. Never thought those things would go bad. But I was wrong.

reeformadness · 04/13/2006, 05:33 PM

How old was the test kit???

EricBrian · 04/13/2006, 05:34 PM

Well, one has to also watch out that one doesn't contaminate the chemicals. If so, then the test is kaputt.

Nu2SW · 04/13/2006, 05:36 PM

Im having same issue, My amo is 0.25 nitrites are 0 and nitrates .15ppm

Its been a pain getting them down also....even with water changes about 5 weeks now is how old my tank is.

new2u · 04/13/2006, 06:53 PM

Well, I got the results checked with my LFS owner and its unfortunatly true. The ammonia is still a spike. Any suggestions to down it? More new LR?

Nu2SW · 04/13/2006, 07:05 PM

you could use API ammo lock, which the bio filtration will take it out... But someetimes what they say is " less is more"

Partial water changes , small ones everyday

How big is your tank maybe start with a 20% and then after each day do a 5%,

new2u · 04/13/2006, 07:09 PM

Problem is, the tank is massive, well atleast to me 120 gallons, and I'd perfer not to have to waste much cash on salt and RO water

Nu2SW · 04/13/2006, 07:20 PM

have you thought of getting a RO/DI filtering unit?

you could test your faucet water and see how it comes out" high in nitrates"

Well I wouldn't look at it was a waste of cash... We all know that this hobby aint cheap.... I mean crap I have a 50g with a 20g refugium and I spent like almost 2,000$.

Look at it as an investment....

Dan Thrash · 04/13/2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nu2SW
Look at it as an investment....

in that case...SELL SELL SELL!!! it's a crappy investment...

Nu2SW · 04/13/2006, 07:27 PM

How could you say such a thing.....

TISK TISK

BLAHHHHHHHHHH

new2u · 04/13/2006, 07:51 PM

Yeah, my B-Day is tommorrow, and I'm looking at getting some $$$, then i can consider some RO-DI machines and buy one, but i'd rather not interfere while its so early in the game. I like to let nature take its course, but its a little too long here. Any thoughts on bacteria in a bottle? BTW, my 58 has sucked up at least 3K, and the new system w/o LR or corals or fish or anything WAS 2K. All the currenet water in there is RODI salt...

Nu2SW · 04/13/2006, 08:22 PM

you can speed up the cycle by tuning up the temp of the heater.

when you cure rock you probably also want it to sit in a tub for about atleast a month.

fgarvine · 04/13/2006, 08:47 PM

wait

new2u · 04/13/2006, 08:51 PM

81 not high enough? The rock is already cured

REEFKEEPA · 04/13/2006, 09:24 PM

Forget about it man! just let it take it's course!
If you are in a hurry, Get a grip. This stuff takes MONTHS not days to develop.You set-up is fine leave it alone for a week.

REEFKEEPA · 04/13/2006, 09:26 PM

Please excuse my new laptop keyboard. You have to type HARD to get a byte!

04/12/2006, 05:19 PM	#1
new2u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta / DFW Posts: 861	The Ammonia That Wont DIE!! Hey guys. Three weeks ago I transported my new 120 tank, and you probably saw me asking some questions, but I have a bigger one now. Lets start from the begining, while i was waiting for plumbing supplies ect. ect. and left an inch of sand (about 1" deep and 8 months old) over the water, and my 'fuge circulating. It went a week like that, then i added some new sand and stirred up the old stuff (by accident, but my jawfish was going to do it later...). The next day I got all the water out, and put in 90 gallons of RODI Saltwater along with 40lbs of LR that had been in a tub with a powerhead for a week, and 15lbs of new cured rock. Now, its been two weeks and I still have an obstinant .25 ppm of ammonia! Its been stuck there since about a week and a half ago, since it dropped from .75. What can i do to expediate this process, or do i need to just wait longer. __________________ Whats the use of Aqua man anyways. There isn't really that much water based crime... Current Tank Info: Reefer 850 XXL - LPS/Zoa Dominant mixed reef

04/12/2006, 05:59 PM	#2
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	Wait. It will Cycle __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps

04/12/2006, 07:14 PM	#6
new2u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta / DFW Posts: 861	Unfortunatly, the kits are new, even though they are Red Sea, but I was afraid of that answer. I was thinking with established stuff, i'd get less of a cycle __________________ Whats the use of Aqua man anyways. There isn't really that much water based crime... Current Tank Info: Reefer 850 XXL - LPS/Zoa Dominant mixed reef

04/12/2006, 07:31 PM	#9
new2u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta / DFW Posts: 861	I'll go and test my nitrites, and if they come up as .05 I'll let you know, i guess I'll have to spring for a salifert test sooner or later, but I'll go by my LFS tommorrow and see if he gets the same readings I am. Another excuse to go to the fish store __________________ Whats the use of Aqua man anyways. There isn't really that much water based crime... Current Tank Info: Reefer 850 XXL - LPS/Zoa Dominant mixed reef

04/13/2006, 05:20 PM	#10
jim293 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 169	I had a bad test kit recently. Switched it and everything was fine. Never thought those things would go bad. But I was wrong. __________________ Jim293 110 gallon reef tank Current Tank Info: 72 Gallon bow front/ 110 Gallon Reef Tanks

04/12/2006, 06:19 PM	#3
EricBrian Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DC Posts: 679	Mine took a while and then I switched to Salifert. I then tested with Salifert and it was 0. Waited a couple of days and tested again... 0 again. Could your test kit be bad?

04/12/2006, 06:28 PM	#4
cyclist1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 123	You are most likely going through a small cycle. Just give it some time.

04/12/2006, 06:31 PM	#5
Scuba_Dave EMERTXE YID Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Asylum, South of Boston, MA Posts: 10,362	A cycle can last 4-6 weeks, your tank needs to regain it's balance

04/12/2006, 07:23 PM	#7
Dan Thrash Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 578	i have the same problem you are having...and i use Red Sea test kits too. the ammonia and nitrites spiked, then dropped....it has been 4 weeks total and for the last week and a half ammonia has been 0.25 and nitrites have been 0.05, and they havent budged. i was thinking of going and buying the Salifert kit because in the back of my head i'm picturing the same scenario as EricBrian mentioned

04/12/2006, 07:24 PM	#8
EricBrian Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DC Posts: 679	Yeah, I was using Red Sea, too.

04/13/2006, 05:33 PM	#11
reeformadness Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 650	How old was the test kit???

04/13/2006, 05:34 PM	#12
EricBrian Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DC Posts: 679	Well, one has to also watch out that one doesn't contaminate the chemicals. If so, then the test is kaputt.

04/13/2006, 05:36 PM	#13
Nu2SW Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arden Fair Posts: 1,772	Im having same issue, My amo is 0.25 nitrites are 0 and nitrates .15ppm Its been a pain getting them down also....even with water changes about 5 weeks now is how old my tank is.

04/13/2006, 06:53 PM	#14
new2u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta / DFW Posts: 861	Well, I got the results checked with my LFS owner and its unfortunatly true. The ammonia is still a spike. Any suggestions to down it? More new LR? __________________ Whats the use of Aqua man anyways. There isn't really that much water based crime... Current Tank Info: Reefer 850 XXL - LPS/Zoa Dominant mixed reef

04/13/2006, 07:05 PM	#15
Nu2SW Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arden Fair Posts: 1,772	you could use API ammo lock, which the bio filtration will take it out... But someetimes what they say is " less is more" Partial water changes , small ones everyday How big is your tank maybe start with a 20% and then after each day do a 5%,

04/13/2006, 07:09 PM	#16
new2u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta / DFW Posts: 861	Problem is, the tank is massive, well atleast to me 120 gallons, and I'd perfer not to have to waste much cash on salt and RO water __________________ Whats the use of Aqua man anyways. There isn't really that much water based crime... Current Tank Info: Reefer 850 XXL - LPS/Zoa Dominant mixed reef

04/13/2006, 07:20 PM	#17
Nu2SW Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arden Fair Posts: 1,772	have you thought of getting a RO/DI filtering unit? you could test your faucet water and see how it comes out" high in nitrates" Well I wouldn't look at it was a waste of cash... We all know that this hobby aint cheap.... I mean crap I have a 50g with a 20g refugium and I spent like almost 2,000$. Look at it as an investment....

04/13/2006, 07:27 PM	#19
Nu2SW Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arden Fair Posts: 1,772	How could you say such a thing..... TISK TISK BLAHHHHHHHHHH

04/13/2006, 07:51 PM	#20
new2u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta / DFW Posts: 861	Yeah, my B-Day is tommorrow, and I'm looking at getting some $$$, then i can consider some RO-DI machines and buy one, but i'd rather not interfere while its so early in the game. I like to let nature take its course, but its a little too long here. Any thoughts on bacteria in a bottle? BTW, my 58 has sucked up at least 3K, and the new system w/o LR or corals or fish or anything WAS 2K. All the currenet water in there is RODI salt... __________________ Whats the use of Aqua man anyways. There isn't really that much water based crime... Current Tank Info: Reefer 850 XXL - LPS/Zoa Dominant mixed reef

04/13/2006, 08:22 PM	#21
Nu2SW Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arden Fair Posts: 1,772	you can speed up the cycle by tuning up the temp of the heater. when you cure rock you probably also want it to sit in a tub for about atleast a month.

04/13/2006, 08:47 PM	#22
fgarvine Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ky Posts: 126	wait

04/13/2006, 08:51 PM	#23
new2u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta / DFW Posts: 861	81 not high enough? The rock is already cured __________________ Whats the use of Aqua man anyways. There isn't really that much water based crime... Current Tank Info: Reefer 850 XXL - LPS/Zoa Dominant mixed reef

04/13/2006, 09:24 PM	#24
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	Forget about it man! just let it take it's course! If you are in a hurry, Get a grip. This stuff takes MONTHS not days to develop.You set-up is fine leave it alone for a week. __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps

04/13/2006, 09:26 PM	#25
REEFKEEPA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 494	Please excuse my new laptop keyboard. You have to type HARD to get a byte! __________________ WE ROCK!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 70 Gallon tub drilled, 120Lbs LR, 140Lbs LS, CPR CY194 Sump w/LR trickle, Mag Drive 9.5 return, 2 x Tunze6025 for flow, 2 x Ice Cap 660 running 6 x 95 W lamps