Sustained Ammonia Levels...

gabegmonkey · 07/10/2006, 09:59 AM

My Total Ammonia just won't go away.

It has never had a huge spike but it just won't zero out.

My Nitrite has been at zero for weeks now but Ammonia just keeps on hovering somewhere below 0.2 (the .2 was my my "spike" which lasted 1 week (that was week 2-3)) week 4 it dropped to .1 but here on week 5 it went back to .15

I am using a Sea-Chem Kit which shows both Total & Free Ammonia.

The Free Ammonia has been at zero since week 2 and the Total has been as listed above. I am using the "More Accurate" method from the instruction Manual which waits for 30 Minutes before Reading. If I use the 15 Minute test (less accurate) it shows Zero Ammonia (Free & Total)

Isn't 5 weeks a relatively long Cycle? Should I Continue using the more accurate test? Or should I start Slowly Stocking the Tank?

Nu2SW · 07/10/2006, 10:18 AM

no 5 weeks isnt long.... Mine cycled for 8 weeks.... just let it go out, do some water changes and it should zero down

Nu2SW · 07/10/2006, 10:18 AM

also, sea chem kits arn't the greatest, you should look into gettin some salifert test kits.

pmeninger · 07/10/2006, 10:22 AM

What about red sea test kits?

gabegmonkey · 07/10/2006, 10:55 AM

I thought I wasn't supposed to do any water changes until after the ammonia zeroed out... Thought I read somewhere that it (doing water change) would prolong the cycle rather than speed it up... Maybe I'm not remembering correctly though...

mailoo · 07/10/2006, 11:01 AM

I would do a change, but opinions differ on this topic.

gabegmonkey · 07/10/2006, 10:33 PM

Does anyone have any differing opinions out there???? I'm trying to be patient but it seems like a long time has passed already...

bertoni · 07/10/2006, 11:27 PM

That ammonia level is low enough that the curing phase could be considered over, assuming the decimal point is in the right place. Some people think changing water during the cycle will slow the process, but I've never believed the logic behind that idea.

gabegmonkey · 07/11/2006, 08:43 AM

Bertoni, all the numbers I have listed are correct...

So maybe I should go ahead with a water change? Then add (or start adding) a cleaner crew?

bertoni · 07/11/2006, 01:06 PM

I'd do some water changes, and wait for three weeks of ammonia below 0.25 ppm.

don954 · 07/11/2006, 02:00 PM

don't worry, the cycle will happen. If you want to make sure you have the bacteria needed, go buy some live sand and put it in your tank if you haven't already. My 1st 30 gal tank had a 3 month cycle from all the die-off, i used sand from the ocean and didn't realize it had lots of critters that my tank couldn't support yet...

As they say, nothing happens fast good in this hobby...
BTW, some kits have a difficult time reading extremely low ranges from .0 to .2. You might want to try a different low range test kit just to verify that the kit you have is accurate.

gabegmonkey · 08/10/2006, 11:30 AM

Just an update:

Since the last time I posted my Ammonia readings went from 0.1 to 0.05 for about a week and for the last 2/3 weeks it has barely registered any Ammonia at all at 0.01

Is this level low enough to start adding cleaners?

I just did about 40% water change (first one for this tank) today too. How long should I wait (to get an accurate reading) before I test for Ammonia again?

gabegmonkey · 08/11/2006, 08:18 AM

Anyone have an opinion? I'll take a guess even...

kau_cinta_ku · 08/11/2006, 09:43 AM

as long as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are at 0 you should be fine to add a clean up crew

DamnDamsel · 08/11/2006, 10:28 AM

My feeling about a water change during a cycle is its a bad idea. My understanding of teh cycle is that ammonia is food for the bacteria that converts the ammonia to Nitrite.

So if you do a water change you are removing some of the ammonia (food) that the bacteria you are trying to grow need.

I think you would have a lower population of teh bacteria you are working for then if you let the ammonia do its thing.

bertoni · 08/11/2006, 12:23 PM

My view on water changes during the cycle is different. In general, I think that the amount of ammonia can be fair beyond what's needed to get an initial population of bacteria going. In addition, the ammonia can poison animals in the rock. If you're worried, the filtration can always be tested by adding a bit of fish food later on.

The bacterial population might or might not be lower. It's possible that the bacterial population becomes limited by habitant (rock surfaces, etc) rather than food.

gabegmonkey · 08/11/2006, 08:15 PM

I'm on week 8 of this tank and I'd really Like to add Critters soon but I want to be Safe too. I'd hate to have to start over at this point...

07/10/2006, 09:59 AM	#1
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	Sustained Ammonia Levels... My Total Ammonia just won't go away. It has never had a huge spike but it just won't zero out. My Nitrite has been at zero for weeks now but Ammonia just keeps on hovering somewhere below 0.2 (the .2 was my my "spike" which lasted 1 week (that was week 2-3)) week 4 it dropped to .1 but here on week 5 it went back to .15 I am using a Sea-Chem Kit which shows both Total & Free Ammonia. The Free Ammonia has been at zero since week 2 and the Total has been as listed above. I am using the "More Accurate" method from the instruction Manual which waits for 30 Minutes before Reading. If I use the 15 Minute test (less accurate) it shows Zero Ammonia (Free & Total) Isn't 5 weeks a relatively long Cycle? Should I Continue using the more accurate test? Or should I start Slowly Stocking the Tank?

07/10/2006, 10:18 AM	#2
Nu2SW Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arden Fair Posts: 1,772	no 5 weeks isnt long.... Mine cycled for 8 weeks.... just let it go out, do some water changes and it should zero down __________________ _____________________________ Its Only $100 Dollars dear.... ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Looking to get back in

07/10/2006, 10:18 AM	#3
Nu2SW Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arden Fair Posts: 1,772	also, sea chem kits arn't the greatest, you should look into gettin some salifert test kits. __________________ _____________________________ Its Only $100 Dollars dear.... ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Looking to get back in

07/10/2006, 11:01 AM	#6
mailoo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Thailand Posts: 153	I would do a change, but opinions differ on this topic. __________________ Mailoo Current Tank Info: none Right now

07/10/2006, 11:27 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That ammonia level is low enough that the curing phase could be considered over, assuming the decimal point is in the right place. Some people think changing water during the cycle will slow the process, but I've never believed the logic behind that idea. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/10/2006, 10:22 AM	#4
pmeninger Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Concord,Ca Posts: 127	What about red sea test kits?

07/10/2006, 10:55 AM	#5
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	I thought I wasn't supposed to do any water changes until after the ammonia zeroed out... Thought I read somewhere that it (doing water change) would prolong the cycle rather than speed it up... Maybe I'm not remembering correctly though...

07/10/2006, 10:33 PM	#7
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	Does anyone have any differing opinions out there???? I'm trying to be patient but it seems like a long time has passed already...

07/11/2006, 08:43 AM	#9
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	Bertoni, all the numbers I have listed are correct... So maybe I should go ahead with a water change? Then add (or start adding) a cleaner crew?

07/11/2006, 01:06 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd do some water changes, and wait for three weeks of ammonia below 0.25 ppm. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/11/2006, 02:00 PM	#11
don954 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 258	don't worry, the cycle will happen. If you want to make sure you have the bacteria needed, go buy some live sand and put it in your tank if you haven't already. My 1st 30 gal tank had a 3 month cycle from all the die-off, i used sand from the ocean and didn't realize it had lots of critters that my tank couldn't support yet... As they say, nothing happens fast good in this hobby... BTW, some kits have a difficult time reading extremely low ranges from .0 to .2. You might want to try a different low range test kit just to verify that the kit you have is accurate.

08/10/2006, 11:30 AM	#12
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	Just an update: Since the last time I posted my Ammonia readings went from 0.1 to 0.05 for about a week and for the last 2/3 weeks it has barely registered any Ammonia at all at 0.01 Is this level low enough to start adding cleaners? I just did about 40% water change (first one for this tank) today too. How long should I wait (to get an accurate reading) before I test for Ammonia again?

08/11/2006, 08:18 AM	#13
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	Anyone have an opinion? I'll take a guess even...

08/11/2006, 09:43 AM	#14
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	as long as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are at 0 you should be fine to add a clean up crew

08/11/2006, 10:28 AM	#15
DamnDamsel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York Posts: 176	My feeling about a water change during a cycle is its a bad idea. My understanding of teh cycle is that ammonia is food for the bacteria that converts the ammonia to Nitrite. So if you do a water change you are removing some of the ammonia (food) that the bacteria you are trying to grow need. I think you would have a lower population of teh bacteria you are working for then if you let the ammonia do its thing.

08/11/2006, 12:23 PM	#16
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	My view on water changes during the cycle is different. In general, I think that the amount of ammonia can be fair beyond what's needed to get an initial population of bacteria going. In addition, the ammonia can poison animals in the rock. If you're worried, the filtration can always be tested by adding a bit of fish food later on. The bacterial population might or might not be lower. It's possible that the bacterial population becomes limited by habitant (rock surfaces, etc) rather than food. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/11/2006, 08:15 PM	#17
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	I'm on week 8 of this tank and I'd really Like to add Critters soon but I want to be Safe too. I'd hate to have to start over at this point...