Ammonia 1.0 in qt

Lebreton33 · Jun 23, 2019

Hi friends. I’ve got a 46 gallon bowfront qt. It’s been set up for 4 months. Had a red coris in for a month, never any issues with ammonia. Last week 3 larger anthias came in. So I’ve been feeding three times a day. This morning I started prazi and I also dosed kana and metro (my red coris has what appears to be an eye infection. Last two water changes were 20% last Wednesday and I did another 25% yesterday so I could start meds today. Just tested ammonia and I’ve got 1.0. I’ve mever registered any ammonia in the tank prior. Do you think the test is legit? I’ve got a 300 gallon DT. Should I take some water from that tank and do a water change ASAP? If so, how much? I’m just worried if I take too much too soon from the 46 I’ll disrupt the beneficial bacteria (which may be my problem in the first place). Please help, I would hate to lose these fish in the qt! Thanks you in advance - Phil

EmdeReef · Jun 23, 2019

Sorry for the problems. You didn’t by any chance add prime or amquel to the QT?

If not, I would do large water change up to 100% until ammonia is undetectable. Any amount is stressful.

You may want to consider adding some beneficial bacteria like biospira as well after changing water

Lebreton33 · Jun 23, 2019

no Prime or amquel

EmdeReef · Jun 23, 2019

Then water changes followed by adding some beneficial bacteria. Your DT water should be fine assuming no ammonia.

Lebreton33 · Jun 23, 2019

Ok thank you. Did a 15 gallon wc from DT now down to .25. I’ll do another tomorrow.

Pdash · Jun 23, 2019

Changing water is not going to negatively effect beneficial bacteria..... why would it?

Lebreton33 · Jun 24, 2019

As far as beneficial bacteria, it was explained to me that removing too much live water and replacing with salt water could impact the bacterial population. For example, let's say you add a fish to a tank of plain salt (not live water) and you add bacteria too the HOB. The fish would likely perish. Whereas, if you were to add live water instead, the fish may do ok. Just what I was told.

In any case, thank you very much for the quick help. I got the ammonia down yesterday with a 15 gallon wc and today it is stabilized at 0-.25. I was waayy overfeeding I think.

Pdash · Jun 24, 2019

Lebreton33 said:
As far as beneficial bacteria, it was explained to me that removing too much live water and replacing with salt water could impact the bacterial population. For example, let's say you add a fish to a tank of plain salt (not live water) and you add bacteria too the HOB. The fish would likely perish. Whereas, if you were to add live water instead, the fish may do ok. Just what I was told.

In any case, thank you very much for the quick help. I got the ammonia down yesterday with a 15 gallon wc and today it is stabilized at 0-.25. I was waayy overfeeding I think.

Nope "live water" is mostly nonsense, certainly for fish it is, the primary benefits of using your tank water are that its "free", it's proved to be able to keep fish alive, and it keeps your two systems chemistry very similar. The biggest disadvantage is that it increases the risk of cross contamination between DT and QT. Benifical bacterial is found almost entirely on surfaces inside your tank not in the water column.