New tank - ammonia spike!?!

Crocpete · Nov 21, 2018

So my tank is one month old, cycled with the help of dr Tims and all appeared great. I have a little algae, some Cyano & GHA but I got a few snails and a hermit about a week ago and they are doing their thing. Yesterday I put in a cleaner shrimp after acclimating him and he looked great. I put a tiny piece of raw shrimp into tank for him and he went after it and gobbled it down. I also noticed that a tiny piece he dropped was covered with pods that are all over my tank. I tested the water a few hours ago and my SG was 1.024, nitrates were 0-2ppm but I had ammonia readings of 2! I did the test again and it was the same! Not sure what to do, is this normal? The shrimp, snails & hermit seem good. I have never added food before, only Dr Tims ammonia solution & bacteria. I tested water before and after the CUC and shrimp and all good.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 21, 2018

Is it an api test ?

Vahanyos · Nov 21, 2018

You said it was cycled with the help of Dr. Tim's... however, did you experience the typical signs of a cycle beginning and ending? Did you get a high increase in nitrates, diatom bloom, etc.... ?

lapin · Nov 21, 2018

So to add to the 50 questions:
So when was the last time you tested for ammonia before adding the shrimp and what was the reading?
So I seriously doubt a small piece of shrimp would cause an ammonia spike that large in 24 hours.
So your tank is not a ultra mini thing is it?

cromag27 · Nov 21, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
Is it an api test ?

this. i only trust the seachem ammonia badge as it tests for free ammonia which is much more reliable.

low levels of ammonia aren’t necessarily toxic, but it’s also not good. so just because your livesrock is alive, that doesn’t mean you don’t have ammonia.

i would get a seachem badge to verify.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 21, 2018

cromag27 said:
this. i only trust the seachem ammonia badge as it tests for free ammonia which is much more reliable.

low levels of ammonia aren’t necessarily toxic, but it’s also not good. so just because your livesrock is alive, that doesn’t mean you don’t have ammonia.

i would get a seachem badge to verify.

Yup. It’s cheap too.

Crocpete · Nov 21, 2018

Thank you for quick responses! Yes, I got the nitrates spike, then everything zeroed out after that. I waited a few days and added more ammonia & it was gone within 24 hours. My ammonia levels have been zero for 2 weeks, nitrates have been steady around 2ppm for at least a week. I have diatoms, GHA and some Cyano. I tested water before the shrimp went in, ammonia was zero & nitrates were around 2. Oh, and yes it is an API test and the tank is a 20 long

cromag27 · Nov 21, 2018

Crocpete said:
Thank you for quick responses! Yes, I got the nitrates spike, then everything zeroed out after that. I waited a few days and added more ammonia & it was gone within 24 hours. My ammonia levels have been zero for 2 weeks, nitrates have been steady around 2ppm for at least a week. I have diatoms, GHA and some Cyano. I tested water before the shrimp went in, ammonia was zero & nitrates were around 2. Oh, and yes it is an API test and the tank is a 20 long

bad api.

Unskilled Reefer · Nov 22, 2018

Crocpete said:
Thank you for quick responses! Yes, I got the nitrates spike, then everything zeroed out after that. I waited a few days and added more ammonia & it was gone within 24 hours. My ammonia levels have been zero for 2 weeks, nitrates have been steady around 2ppm for at least a week. I have diatoms, GHA and some Cyano. I tested water before the shrimp went in, ammonia was zero & nitrates were around 2. Oh, and yes it is an API test and the tank is a 20 long

My two cents... To me this sounds like your tank never actually went through the cycle completely. Nitrites should be zero not steady at 2. Ammonia spike would then be do to not having enough bacteria to convert it.

lapin · Nov 22, 2018

This is not the first post where levels have been measured with API and they seem out of wack. Before doing anything like pulling your own hairs out I would opt for better testing kits if you can afford them.
Did your ammonia drop today on the API test?