lower ammonia

[ElitePirate]

Hi friends

My tank is not a new setup. It's 7month old. Never had any big issues. I have 3 fishes right now, a good CUC and few corals.

From the day 1 I'm trying very hard to lower my nitrate and ammonia level. But unfortunately I'm failing every single time.

Let me tell you about my tank setup. It's a 15glln all in one tank. The LFS told me don't need to cycle the usual way (it's actually my fault - I believed them coz I'm new to this saltwater aquarium and stuff). They told me they have this ready to use water. I can bring it home setup my tank live rock etc and add my fish / corals within few hours. They also gave me live bacteria to add. That's how I setup my tank 7months ago. I have several live rocks , coral bone stones etc so that bacteria can grow. I'm doing 50% water change every 2 weeks.

But until now my Ammonia is still 0.25mg/l.

I have no idea how to reduce it now. I know I did a mistake by taking a shortcut rather than properly cycling the water long before. But do you think that's what affecting me now? How can I get rid of the ammonia? I'm not feeding excessively. Should I do water change daily for like 1-2 weeks? Pls give me some ideas and thanks in advance for your guidance.

#reefsquad

 

[Dr. Reef]

How are you testing ammonia? What kit?
Any casualties in the tank?

 

[ElitePirate]

Hi @Dr. Reef
I'm using a test kit brand called Colombo. Just one casualty - my yellow goby died today (I had him for like 6months)

 

[Dr. Reef]

If fish are alive for 6 months I doubt ammonia is 0.25 must be bad kit or like API kits maybe just a noise or false reading

 

[Big G]

Hi friends

My tank is not a new setup. It's 7month old. Never had any big issues. I have 3 fishes right now, a good CUC and few corals.

From the day 1 I'm trying very hard to lower my nitrate and ammonia level. But unfortunately I'm failing every single time.

Let me tell you about my tank setup. It's a 15glln all in one tank. The LFS told me don't need to cycle the usual way (it's actually my fault - I believed them coz I'm new to this saltwater aquarium and stuff). They told me they have this ready to use water. I can bring it home setup my tank live rock etc and add my fish / corals within few hours. They also gave me live bacteria to add. That's how I setup my tank 7months ago. I have several live rocks , coral bone stones etc so that bacteria can grow. I'm doing 50% water change every 2 weeks.

But until now my Ammonia is still 0.25mg/l.

I have no idea how to reduce it now. I know I did a mistake by taking a shortcut rather than properly cycling the water long before. But do you think that's what affecting me now? How can I get rid of the ammonia? I'm not feeding excessively. Should I do water change daily for like 1-2 weeks? Pls give me some ideas and thanks in advance for your guidance.

#reefsquad

Consider trying 25% water change every week. That a pretty small tank and could benefit from more frequent but smaller water changes to offset the ammonia being created from the fish and feeding, etc.
Is your tank bare bottom or do you have a sand bottom? If sand bottom have you been vacuuming the sand a bit to help reduce debris?

I use one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Python-Pro-C...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=E0V0SFXFP7D95E5ABW2P

 

[dansreef]

I would have to believe that your test kit is not registering correctly. What are your nitrite & nitrate levels?

I would expect that after 7 months of running...that while not perfect...the way you started your tank should have built enough denitrifying bacteria in the rock and substrate to handle the ammonia. I could be wrong... I also agree with the above... I doubt your fish would have lasted this long with that level of ammonia.

Agree.... more frequent water changes are needed with such a small tank and 3 fish and other corals and inverts. Smaller tanks are tough as the only good way for nutrient export is water changes.

If you have a different LFS...nearby, I would take a water sample to them and let them know you are cycling your tank.... small lie.... and ask them to test your Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels. See what comes back.

 

[ElitePirate]

If fish are alive for 6 months I doubt ammonia is 0.25 must be bad kit or like API kits maybe just a noise or false reading

Thanks Dr reef I'll get a new test kit tomorrow.

Consider trying 25% water change every week. That a pretty small tank and could benefit from more frequent but smaller water changes to offset the ammonia being created from the fish and feeding, etc.
Is your tank bare bottom or do you have a sand bottom? If sand bottom have you been vacuuming the sand a bit to help reduce debris?

I use one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Python-Pro-C...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=E0V0SFXFP7D95E5ABW2P

I have a 1 inch sand bed. Normally I don't clean them. I have like 6 snails and thought they will take care of that.

I would have to believe that your test kit is not registering correctly. What are your nitrite & nitrate levels?

I would expect that after 7 months of running...that while not perfect...the way you started your tank should have built enough denitrifying bacteria in the rock and substrate to handle the ammonia. I could be wrong... I also agree with the above... I doubt your fish would have lasted this long with that level of ammonia.

Agree.... more frequent water changes are needed with such a small tank and 3 fish and other corals and inverts. Smaller tanks are tough as the only good way for nutrient export is water changes.

If you have a different LFS...nearby, I would take a water sample to them and let them know you are cycling your tank.... small lie.... and ask them to test your Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels. See what comes back.

My nitrite level is almost 0. Nitrate level is quite high 50-75

I was using NOPOX for like 3 months and I stopped using that product.

Nitrate is the main reason I started doing 50% water change every 2 weeks..

 

[Big G]

More frequent water changes. Vacuum the sand. ;)
And agree with @Dr. Reef the hobby grade test kits can be unreliable at times. Have had pretty good results with Red Sea and Salifert test kits.

 

[Big G]

I know this might sound odd, but the primary thing we do in this hobby is to manage "water quality." Everything else is secondary: fish, corals, inverts. It's a bit different way of looking at your tank. Seems like most successful reefers become very adept at maintaining water quality as their first priority and perspective of reef keeping. So every time you add a fish or change something in your tank, you think about bioload on the water.

 

[dansreef]

I know this might sound odd, but the primary thing we do in this hobby is to manage "water quality." Everything else is secondary: fish, corals, inverts. It's a bit different way of looking at your tank. Seems like most successful reefers become very adept at maintaining water quality as their first priority and perspective of reef keeping. So every time you add a fish or change something in your tank, you think about bioload on the water.

This is so very well said. It should be a header to this R2R community.

 

[Big G]

This is so very well said. It should be a header to this R2R community.

You are very kind. Thanks, Dan. :)

 

[Skydvr]

No need to lie/fib, most stores will test for free, regardless of where you are in your cycle. Just tell them that you are unsure of your readings and would like some confirmation.

 

[KrisReef]

Do you have any algae, green, hair, or coralline growing in the tank?
Is the water cloudy?
You mentioned you had a fish for 6 months, so the bacteria filter has to have been working for the fish to have survived. A level of 0.25 ammonia would have weakened and killed most fish in a very short time frame.

 

[Lasse]

Most of the tests that test both NH3 and NH4 show false readings. My experiences is that most of them show around 0.2 - 0.3 and the real figure is 0. If your No2 (nitrite) level is around zero - it is enough prove to say that your NH3/NH4 test is wrong - and it is not sure that your new test will show the right value either. IMO - this test should not be in use because they create more problems than they solve. NO2 (nitrite) test´s normally works well but if your NO3 (nitrate) test show 50 - 75 with 50 % WC every second week and you have 3 fish - that test does probably not work either. IMO - you do not have any problems but your test create a vision that you have.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ElitePirate]

Thank you everyone for supporting and for those detailed reply.

More frequent water changes. Vacuum the sand. ;)
And agree with @Dr. Reef the hobby grade test kits can be unreliable at times. Have had pretty good results with Red Sea and Salifert test kits.

No need to lie/fib, most stores will test for free, regardless of where you are in your cycle. Just tell them that you are unsure of your readings and would like some confirmation.

Yea I agree, I think I'll just go to another store, test my water and buy a new test kit.

Do you have any algae, green, hair, or coralline growing in the tank?
Is the water cloudy?
You mentioned you had a fish for 6 months, so the bacteria filter has to have been working for the fish to have survived. A level of 0.25 ammonia would have weakened and killed most fish in a very short time frame.

I do have bit of algea but only very little. Not hairy one all. My water is not cloudy. It's crystal clear.. and I also believe that I do have good bacteria if not my tank wouldn't have survived for this long.

Most of the tests that test both NH3 and NH4 show false readings. My experiences is that most of them show around 0.2 - 0.3 and the real figure is 0. If your No2 (nitrite) level is around zero - it is enough prove to say that your NH3/NH4 test is wrong - and it is not sure that your new test will show the right value either. IMO - this test should not be in use because they create more problems than they solve. NO2 (nitrite) test´s normally works well but if your NO3 (nitrate) test show 50 - 75 with 50 % WC every second week and you have 3 fish - that test does probably not work either. IMO - you do not have any problems but your test create a vision that you have.

Sincerely Lasse

Thank you @Lasse appreciate your input :) yea my nitrite level is almost 0. im gonna do some further tests, buy few other test kits etc.

 

[ElitePirate]

just wanted to give you a quick update guys. its my dang test kit. today i bought a new salifert ammonia test kit and guess what? my ammonia level is zero LOL

all this while i was panicking for no reason :/

 

[Arthurfarris]

Increasing the aeration of the water inside your fish tank might help spread the ammonia out of the water and evaporate into thin air. You can use an aeration pump bit in doing this process; please leave the fish tank uncovered for the ammonia gasses to evaporate quickly and travel outside the fish tank. Eventually, you can use chemicals to control other factors such as the pH level and adding neutralizing drops.