Ammonia won’t go away

[treefly]

I purchased a tank off of Facebook marketplace. I was understood it to be a cycled tank. But when purchased I was only given 5 gallons of the water. There for I made all new water. I know my tank is acting a little funny and not opening up like it should. I bought the regular test kits and all my parameters are golden except, my ph is slightly lower than I’d like 7.5-8, and my ammonia is thru the roof. Yesterday I did a 70% water change and added like some fast cycle stuff the store gave me. This morning I check ammonia again and it’s thru the roof still. Need help.

 

[lapin]

If your ammonia was thru the roof the clown would be dead
It’s prob a testing error

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Maybe try another test kit?

 

[treefly]

If your ammonia was thru the roof the clown would be dead
It’s prob a testing error

So when I say thru the roof, I do mean it’s like 6.8 on the test chart, but I took a sample to the saltwater store here in town and he tested it and got the same reading and told me he’s surprised anything in my talk is alive. The rock in the tank I purchased as “life rock” as in it was dry but seeded and purple. I reached out to the person who I purchased the tank from to ask about the cycle. All my fish are eating super normal and have quite the appetite. I do k ow his power head was clogged and not running due to hair algae clogging it. Also the pump and skimmer were clogged. I cleaned all of which. Thankyou for such a fast reply.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You mean you brought a tank from someone else's home to yours and set it up the same way? That would have been a mistake. How long have you had the tank?

The sand would have been stirred up and thats why you have ammonia like that. You should have rinsed the sand very well before use.

Even the rocks, if they were out of water for some time, there would be die off, another cause for the ammonia.

The water surface looks very flat, you should point that powerhead at the surface for agitation and oxygenation.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What bacteria product did you add?

How are you measuring ammonia and what level did you observe?

 

[treefly]

You mean you brought a tank from someone else's home to yours and set it up the same way? That would have been a mistake. How long have you had the tank?

The sand would have been stirred up and thats why you have ammonia like that. You should have rinsed the sand very well before use.

Even the rocks, if they were out of water for some time, there would be die off, another cause for the ammonia.

The water surface looks very flat, you should point that powerhead at the surface for agitation and oxygenation.

I will point the power head differently. I didn’t keep any of his rock, however when I purchased the tank (6 days ago) I did stir up the sand a bit.

 

[treefly]

What bacteria product did you add?

How are you measuring ammonia and what level did you observe?

The level was reading like 6.1 atleast. The store owner gave me some like insta cycle he uses.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I will point the power head differently. I didn’t keep any of his rock, however when I purchased the tank (6 days ago) I did stir up the sand a bit.

Unfortunately you stirred up fish poop and rotting food, thats whats happening..... lesson learned. I am sorry I don't know what to do.

Need more experienced folks on this one.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The level was reading like 6.1 atleast. The store owner gave me some like insta cycle he uses.

Do you know the brand? Not all such product are good choices.

 

[treefly]

Unfortunately you stirred up fish poop and rotting food, thats whats happening..... lesson learned. I am sorry I don't know what to do.

Need more experienced folks on this one.

n

Do you know the brand? Not all such product are good choices.

No, I can call and ask in my lunch break however.

 

[treefly]

I will point the power head differently. I didn’t keep any of his rock, however when I purchased the tank (6 days ago) I did stir up the sand a bit.

Is it possible for me to drain the tank, clean it, put new live sand in it, put all new water made up from the aquarium store, some instacycle and then acclimate my coral and fish back in?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'd get your own test kit and your own bacteria (Such as Fritz) and go from there.

Don't let the LFS convince you to buy Seachem Prime.