Adding ammonia during live rock cycling

[TonyHanke]

Hello, I wanted to ask what method of adding ammonia to a new tank that would have around 10% live rock, use caribsea oceandirect sand, and have SOME established filter media? Could I dose pure ammonium chloride and to how high concentration? Or is it enough to introduce a pair of clowns? The tank would be 30-40g.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Live rock, as in wet from the ocean or an active system at your fish store or another tank, or dry rock labeled "live" like CaribSea LifeRock?

If it is actually wet live rock, then maybe dosing a bit of ammonia to close to 2ppm using whatever source you wish will work. Test to see that it drops toward zero in 24 hours and you're good for fish.

 

[TonyHanke]

Live rock, as in wet from the ocean or an active system at your fish store or another tank, or dry rock labeled "live" like CaribSea LifeRock?

If it is actually wet live rock, then maybe dosing a bit of ammonia to close to 2ppm using whatever source you wish will work. Test to see that it drops toward zero in 24 hours and you're good for fish.

I forgot to say, I mean actual indonesian dry rock cured by my lfs, transported to my tank in a bucket (15-30 minute drive)

 

[BeanAnimal]

I forgot to say, I mean actual indonesian dry rock cured by my lfs, transported to my tank in a bucket (15-30 minute drive)

I would wait 24 hours, and likely just add a fish.

If you want to be cautious, wait 24 hours, test that ammonia is near zero, dose it up to 2ppm and then in 24 hours if it is back down toward zero, add fish.

If you get some other result, let us know.

 

[TonyHanke]

I forgot to say, I mean actual indonesian dry rock cured by my lfs, transported to my tank in a bucket (15-30 minute drive)

I would wait 24 hours, and likely just add a fish.

If you want to be cautious, wait 24 hours, test that ammonia is near zero, dose it up to 2ppm and then in 24 hours if it is back down toward zero, add fish.

If you get some other result, let us know.

And would that ammonia concentration hurt sponges, corraline and microcrustaceans from the live rock?

 

[BeanAnimal]

And would that ammonia concentration hurt sponges, corraline and microcrustaceans from the live rock?

Some sponges and small crustaceans can be sensitive.

Since your rock is already cured, I’d lean toward the first option.

Wait 24 hours and ensure ammonia (sanity check) is close to zero (below 1.0 for sure) and add a fish. If you still want to test by raising ammonia, 1 ppm will show you the same thing with less exposure.

Without getting into details, at those low levels of total ammonia and normal pH, the actual toxic free ammonia is a fraction of the total and not likely toxic to even the sensitive hitchhikers.

 

[Privateye]

There are many ways to approach this. Dosing ammonium chloride is one of them.

You could also add fish, feed them, and watch for ammonia and nitrite spikes (which may or may not need intervention).

You could add fish food without adding fish (that's where the nitrogen comes from).

You could pee in the tank (often not the best because it's imprecise, and can contain chemicals or their metabolites).

I've seen people toss frozen shrimp in too. IME this is typically overkill. It's imprecise and can add a lot of ammonia.