Stalled cycle following snail death

[Tahoe61]

Another question on this while we are here. Should I do another water change to dilute the amonia a bit and raise the ph as sitting between 7.8-8 or just leave it be for a few days and see how things go?

Just leave it be, don't even test. The ammonia level is likely inaccurate. It's Thursday here in AZ. I imagine by next week you can add the clown pair.
Remember businesses must make sales to stay in business, even the quaint local fish store.

 

[lsween89]

Next piece of advice:don’t use AI to learn reefing.

A bit of food will not hurt, and if in fact you are stalled due to a heterotrophic bloom, a bit of food may get things moving.

That said, hermits are not going to die in a day. That they are still alive tells me free ammonia is not likely as high as the test indicates.

Is there any visible algae in the tank? They will eat that as well.

Not really! Some biofilm and some dark brown inside holes in rockwork etc that glows purple under blue lights but no obvious algae. Under the sand we have a line of grey where the sand meets the glass all the way round.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Your hermits will be fine. You can feed a wafer or two if they directly eat them, but don't just toss food in every day.

Stop fiddling with the tank -- it will settle in. No more snails or inverts until there is natural food for them. The dark brown may be diatoms or green brown algea. Soon enough there will be a lot more. Again, don't panic and try to "fix it". No chemicals, no bottle of magic, no phyto, no carbon dosing, no algaecide. You have to let the natural processes take over. Most of this hobby is about waiting for nature. The more you try to force it with magic in a bottle, the more magic in a bottle you need to cleanup the mess.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for all the advice! After my LFS had told me to use them for the bacterial bloom I then checked on google (I know I know terrible idea to trust AI!) and it recommended adding the other stuff and I just panicked as had never seen my amonia that high! I will leave it be now!

I would just add to what others have said that total ammonia at 0.5 ppm, even if real, is not “high”. Companies have conditioned reefers to be afraid of ammonia and use products to lower it, but in reality many of us dose ammonia, and it takes well over 10 ppm to kill a marine fish.

 

[lsween89]

I have now been able to see all 3 of my snails active. My hermits seem find and my bumblebee hermit crab actually changed shells this morning so I’m thinking all is actually ok in the tank. I’m just going to follow everyone’s advice here an just do nothing! Holding out hope on getting my clownfish on Monday and maybe a mushroom coral if I’m brave.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Skip the coral for now. One thing at a time.

 

[ScottJ]

Hi! Thanks. I was under the impression I should avoid feeding while the amonia is high but I should still add some of my algae wafers then for the inverts?

Sorry not to get back to you till now, it's been a hectic!

You have gotten really good advice from really smart people. I can't add anything else other than patience, research, and observation are your best tools. You will do great!

 

[lsween89]

I’m still stuck in cycle hell! Amonia went up but I’m has come down although still sitting at 0.2 my nitrites are between 1-2! And nitrates between 10-20. We’ve not touched it or put any more bacteria or anything into it. I’ve been reading still not to change the water than the fact the nitrates are finally rising and the amonia coming back down from nearer 1 to 0.2 is good but I’m concerned for my CUC in there with the nitrites!
I now have diatoms on the rocks which I’ve just been leaving in peace as well. We had initially hoped for fish on Monday but pushed it back to this Saturday but now looks like we still won’t be there.
I know patience is key but I’m just frustrated that we seemed to be cycled and everything was stable then one snail died and now we are just stuck in limbo!
Should I add any of the Nite-Out II or anything tonight or still just do nothing?

 

[Tahoe61]

Stay the course.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m still stuck in cycle hell! Amonia went up but I’m has come down although still sitting at 0.2 my nitrites are between 1-2! And nitrates between 10-20. We’ve not touched it or put any more bacteria or anything into it. I’ve been reading still not to change the water than the fact the nitrates are finally rising and the amonia coming back down from nearer 1 to 0.2 is good but I’m concerned for my CUC in there with the nitrites!
I now have diatoms on the rocks which I’ve just been leaving in peace as well. We had initially hoped for fish on Monday but pushed it back to this Saturday but now looks like we still won’t be there.
I know patience is key but I’m just frustrated that we seemed to be cycled and everything was stable then one snail died and now we are just stuck in limbo!
Should I add any of the Nite-Out II or anything tonight or still just do nothing?

You are cycled if ammonia has declined. Nitrite is unimportant and the nitrate is a false reading if you have significant nitrite.

Move forward, and stop stressing over cycling. :)

 

[lsween89]

I’m still stuck in cycle hell! Amonia went up but I’m has come down although still sitting at 0.2 my nitrites are between 1-2! And nitrates between 10-20. We’ve not touched it or put any more bacteria or anything into it. I’ve been reading still not to change the water than the fact the nitrates are finally rising and the amonia coming back down from nearer 1 to 0.2 is good but I’m concerned for my CUC in there with the nitrites!
I now have diatoms on the rocks which I’ve just been leaving in peace as well. We had initially hoped for fish on Monday but pushed it back to this Saturday but now looks like we still won’t be there.
I know patience is key but I’m just frustrated that we seemed to be cycled and everything was stable then one snail died and now we are just stuck in limbo!
Should I add any of the Nite-Out II or anything tonight or still just do nothing?

You are cycled if ammonia has declined. Nitrite is unimportant and the nitrate is a false reading if you have significant nitrite.

Move forward, and stop stressing over cycling. :)

So I can possibly add some clownfish this weekend after all!? Don’t give me false hope

 

[KrisReef]

I’m still stuck in cycle hell! Amonia went up but I’m has come down although still sitting at 0.2 my nitrites are between 1-2! And nitrates between 10-20. We’ve not touched it or put any more bacteria or anything into it. I’ve been reading still not to change the water than the fact the nitrates are finally rising and the amonia coming back down from nearer 1 to 0.2 is good but I’m concerned for my CUC in there with the nitrites!
I now have diatoms on the rocks which I’ve just been leaving in peace as well. We had initially hoped for fish on Monday but pushed it back to this Saturday but now looks like we still won’t be there.
I know patience is key but I’m just frustrated that we seemed to be cycled and everything was stable then one snail died and now we are just stuck in limbo!
Should I add any of the Nite-Out II or anything tonight or still just do nothing?

I'm thinking that your bacteria must have gotten into a traffic jam on the way to the wake for the snail that died. This is probably why your cycle is stalled, combined with the error in your test kits?

Randy posted last week that ammonia isn't toxic to fishes until 10ppm in marine tanks, you are measuring fractions of this amount? GO to the wake with the bacteria and relax and pray that you will remain calm, do not add any more magic reef drops, tabs, carbons, or cookies to fix problems that don't actually exist.

Post an image of your tank so we can see how the water and inverts look after this taxing week of hand wringing?

 

[lsween89]

I’m still stuck in cycle hell! Amonia went up but I’m has come down although still sitting at 0.2 my nitrites are between 1-2! And nitrates between 10-20. We’ve not touched it or put any more bacteria or anything into it. I’ve been reading still not to change the water than the fact the nitrates are finally rising and the amonia coming back down from nearer 1 to 0.2 is good but I’m concerned for my CUC in there with the nitrites!
I now have diatoms on the rocks which I’ve just been leaving in peace as well. We had initially hoped for fish on Monday but pushed it back to this Saturday but now looks like we still won’t be there.
I know patience is key but I’m just frustrated that we seemed to be cycled and everything was stable then one snail died and now we are just stuck in limbo!
Should I add any of the Nite-Out II or anything tonight or still just do nothing?

I'm thinking that your bacteria must have gotten into a traffic jam on the way to the wake for the snail that died. This is probably why your cycle is stalled, combined with the error in your test kits?

Randy posted last week that ammonia isn't toxic to fishes until 10ppm in marine tanks, you are measuring fractions of this amount? GO to the wake with the bacteria and relax and pray that you will remain calm, do not add any more magic reef drops, tabs, carbons, or cookies to fix problems that don't actually exist.

Post an image of your tank so we can see how the water and inverts look after this taxing week of hand wringing?

Will do in the morning in the white light! 2 hermits up and about active. One molting. Cerith and nassarius snail have been active when out of sand and turban snail sleeping for a bit then appearing on various bits of glass or rock so everyone..seems fine!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So I can possibly add some clownfish this weekend after all!? Don’t give me false hope

Yes, if ammonia was elevated and then dropped you are good to go.

 

[lsween89]

View attachment 20260228_211454_0ECB4DB9-F237-4CD5-8E07-EDC3FFF8C23D.mov


Just wanted to say a big thank you for everyone’s help. Clownfish went in today and immediately started eating all the copepods we had flying around. Mushroom coral also doing well and trochus snail munching on those diatoms and algae! Going to stop panicking about numbers and enjoy how well everything seems to be doing!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Glad to hear it is going well!