Should I panic?

[AydenLincoln]

My ammonia alert badge and API ammonia test kit are reading 0.25 and less or green/the first level. I transferred the rock, media, and water over to the bin on Sunday. Fish seem fine. Do I panic or do I not do anything? So only 4 days later did that appear. Last night I dosed some Prime just in case. I’ve been feeding every other day but the bin has all my fish plus poops a lot Hewbie with an HOB filter with sponges, a nitrate remover pad, and carbon from their tank. I don’t want to overreact but I don’t want anyone especially not Hewbie to die. Ugh! Tank moves stress me out especially since all my bins are filled with rock and sw from his tank not fresh sw. And I literally transferred all the fish and some rock and media to the bin. So I have no idea why ammonia would be showing up and it actually got higher I believe since dosing Prime last night! The obvious thing that comes to mind is that the tiny 27-gallon tote and HOB filter are not able to handle the bioload of 3 fish free plus poops a lot Hewbie. But I have been feeding lightly/every other day. Ugh I hate tank transfers they are so so so stressful. I really don’t want to kill Hewbie I won’t forgive myself but then again maybe I don’t touch it and just monitor fish behavior. Especially because so far Hewbie seems happy as a clam and just ate his dinner and begged me for food and is active/normally colored. What would you do?

 

[Reefering1]

Not panic

 

[AydenLincoln]

My concern is I don’t do anything and they die or I do something to overcorrect it and it does more harm than good. To some degree my gut and experience is saying don’t touch it at all. And this is one of my many reasons I really only test my water when moving tanks/setting up a new tank.

 

[Reefering1]

Then start getting containers and making water while you observe. If it keeps climbing, do a water change. Don't overreact

 

[SPSReeferMI]

Are you observing the badge with your tank lights on? I ask this because I had one of these badges on a Q-tank without a light. I found that it always appeared green until I backlit the badge.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Are you observing the badge with your tank lights on? I ask this because I had one of these badges on a Q-tank without a light. I found that it always appeared green until I backlit the badge.

Yup! Shining a flashlight on it with the room lights on plus I did the manual test which I know may always show some but it has always worked for me.

 

[fishywishy]

Those ammo alerts things have never worked for me, it might just be inaccurate. do you have a normal ammonia test kit to use? If you do, keep testing the water and if the ammonia doesn’t go down just do a water change, no need to panic.

 

[Fenral]

That level is not dangerous - under normal marine conditions. But keep an eye on it.

And the api test kit is junk…

 

[Idech]

I have used APi for a very long time and I do trust it. You have to know how to read it though.

At 0.25 ppm there is no reason to panic, but I would test everyday and be ready for a water change if need be. Can you add some more live rock ?

 

[JayM]

Never panic. That ammonia level may not be ideal, but it isn’t dangerous. My personal non-expert opinion to lower ammonia would be water changes rather than additives. Additive efficacy is sometimes questionable, and though they are labeled as “safe”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t add stress to some degree.

 

[John Neuzil]

. 25 is the same as 0 with api

 

[Lavey29]

Probably ok but do small water changes daily while you wait to get new tank set up.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Those ammo alerts things have never worked for me, it might just be inaccurate. do you have a normal ammonia test kit to use? If you do, keep testing the water and if the ammonia doesn’t go down just do a water change, no need to panic.

They do for me! I actually love them. Yeah I used an API test kit. Yeah I know not the most accurate for saltwater but in a pinch they work for me and considering they are both showing some I do believe there is ammonia in the water.

 

[MissMolly]

My ammonia alert badge and API ammonia test kit are reading 0.25 and less or green/the first level. I transferred the rock, media, and water over to the bin on Sunday. Fish seem fine. Do I panic or do I not do anything? So only 4 days later did that appear. Last night I dosed some Prime just in case. I’ve been feeding every other day but the bin has all my fish plus poops a lot Hewbie with an HOB filter with sponges, a nitrate remover pad, and carbon from their tank. I don’t want to overreact but I don’t want anyone especially not Hewbie to die. Ugh! Tank moves stress me out especially since all my bins are filled with rock and sw from his tank not fresh sw. And I literally transferred all the fish and some rock and media to the bin. So I have no idea why ammonia would be showing up and it actually got higher I believe since dosing Prime last night! The obvious thing that comes to mind is that the tiny 27-gallon tote and HOB filter are not able to handle the bioload of 3 fish free plus poops a lot Hewbie. But I have been feeding lightly/every other day. Ugh I hate tank transfers they are so so so stressful. I really don’t want to kill Hewbie I won’t forgive myself but then again maybe I don’t touch it and just monitor fish behavior. Especially because so far Hewbie seems happy as a clam and just ate his dinner and begged me for food and is active/normally colored. What would you do?

If you’re using Prime and the correct dose livestock will be fine. Just do water slight water changes, make sure that there’s a lot of surface movement and keep adding prime till it’s stable. You will still be able to read ammonia after prime. It doesn’t remove ammonia it just turns it into non toxic ammonia.

 

[Paul B]

Yes PANIC! Wait..I mean NO, Don't panic. The first thing I would do is throw out that ammonia badge. If you didn't have the thing you would be fine. And don't add any chemicals.

Not even Prime. Your bacteria are doing what they are supposed to do and will process the ammonia, as long as you don't mess with the tank. It's natural.

 

[MissMolly]

Yes PANIC! Wait..I mean NO, Don't panic. The first thing I would do is throw out that ammonia badge. If you didn't have the thing you would be fine. And don't add any chemicals.

Not even Prime. Your bacteria are doing what they are supposed to do and will process the ammonia, as long as you don't mess with the tank. It's natural.

As long as there's livestock in, she should always use Prime (if there's ammonia or nitrite) to keep them safe and comfortable.

 

[EuphyllinOHk]

0.25ppm is "safe" or at least not catastrophic, especially at marine tank pH levels. Monitor your ammonia, and make water changes as needed. Moving your fish would probably cause more stress to the fish than the ammonia levels. Dosing prime excessively can deplete your oxygen. I don't think it's necessary to dose, but if you do, get an airstone going to cover the oxygen levels.

If I would dose anything, in this case, it would be bacteria, either bottled or in the form of additional, trusted live rock. If you have elevated ammonia levels, building up that bio filter is the more permanent solution.

 

[AydenLincoln]

0.25ppm is "safe" or at least not catastrophic, especially at marine tank pH levels. Monitor your ammonia, and make water changes as needed. Moving your fish would probably cause more stress to the fish than the ammonia levels. Dosing prime excessively can deplete your oxygen. I don't think it's necessary to dose, but if you do, get an airstone going to cover the oxygen levels.

If I would dose anything, in this case, it would be bacteria, either bottled or in the form of additional, trusted live rock. If you have elevated ammonia levels, building up that bio filter is the more permanent solution.

I had to order some it’s not something I readily keep on hand.

 

[JayM]

As long as there's livestock in, she should always use Prime (if there's ammonia or nitrite) to keep them safe and comfortable.

No. No she shouldn’t. Prime does not do anything for ammonia. Zip. Nada. Nil. Nothing.

 

[Paul B]

As long as there's livestock in, she should always use Prime

I have mixed feelings about this. Bacteria need ammonia to grow to the proportions we need to process ammonia as fast as the fish produce it. Also, I am not sure prime even does anything for ammonia but I am guessing because I don't have a PhD in Prime or anything else as I am an electrician. But a very good one. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

But I am opposed to just about any chemical we throw into our tanks.