Amonia Spike

findingnemo · Sep 18, 2006

As recomended in this website I got a test kit (Lifeguard All Purpose 6 way test strip) and tested my water yesterday to my surprise I had an amonia spike, it was light green for stress. What could have cause this ? I read It could be to many fishes at the same time and or over feeding. I feed my 2 colwn fish twice a day about 4 little bites each is that too much? I when and bought a liquid (Kordon AmQuel+) to get the amonia levels down I just tested it and its down to "ideal" the bottle dosent say for how many days to keep adding the liquid do u guys know?

DevIouS · Sep 18, 2006

Who recommended Lifeguard test strips???
That was not good advice.
You have to go with a reliable kit as Salifert or Seachem.

Stay away from adding chemicals into your tank to control your water parameters.
Water changes are your best option to reduce ammonia.

How long has the tank been set up?

findingnemo · Sep 18, 2006

3 weeks , My local fish store recommended the strips. Why are they bad?

DevIouS · Sep 18, 2006

Oh....because you stated "As recomended in this website I got a test kit"

No...they are not accurate.

3 weeks! The tank is still cycling & ammonia is natural to happen.
There should not be any live-stock in there...

findingnemo · Sep 18, 2006

Well someone said to get one I went to my local fish store and they sold me the one I got as one of the best out there. Was it bad then to get the levels down with this liquid?

Tonyscoots84 · Sep 18, 2006

see if you could give ur fish to someone to baby sit for u... until ur cycle completes... then u can add livestock slowely....

we told you to get a test kit, we should of been more specific on what u should buy sorry about that...

Do not add any more of that crap.. it will just prelong ur cycle even more... get ur fish out of there and let the tank cycle naturally... that stuff is like a bandaid it will not fix it but just make it go away for a short period of time...

DevIouS · Sep 18, 2006

Most LFS will tell you anything for a sale....

findingnemo · Sep 18, 2006

They told me to start adding fish slowly after two weeks because I bought a liquid called stability. So all of u agree that this was wrong?

So when will the cycle be completed?

DevIouS · Sep 18, 2006

Yes....
That was DEFINITELY wrong.

The cycle is complete after the ammonia spike (the natural way).

Things that happen naturally don't come in a bottle.

findingnemo · Sep 18, 2006

ohhhhh so I interupted the cycle wow.....

findingnemo · Sep 18, 2006

I hate that the fish stores do this to people I went to 2 diferent ones and they said the same thing even knowing the time my tank has been running.

Tonyscoots84 · Sep 18, 2006

findingnemo said:
They told me to start adding fish slowly after two weeks because I bought a liquid called stability. So all of u agree that this was wrong? So when will the cycle be completed?

its the game of the business... there looking to make money.. Thats why the family :grouphug: to help before u do anything drastic like ask a LFS for help :lol2:

i agree it with it being wrong....

as i said have someone baby sit your fishies. let the tank cycle on its own... once there is no fishies let the ammonia rise, then it drops to 0, then nitrites rise and then fall down to 0 and last nitrates should be below 5ppm... while the cycle is happening u can feed the tank some fish food or something to create some waste for the ammonia and trites and trates to eat off of...

good luck

DEEPWATER · Sep 18, 2006

I what recomend you do ,is start posting and asking as many question as you have on the board .There is lots of info ppl can give you without wasting your money with LFS.(selling you **** you dont need)
you found this site ,for any saltwater addict this site is like crack for them,once you start you can never stop,LOL ,,Even you if you think it is a stupid question ,ask it ,we cant bite thru the comp ,lol

we dont you to waste your money ,nor get stuff that might die on you

cycling your tank should take 4 weeks ,we all say wait 5 to 6 to be on the safe side .clean your skimmer and do a small water change .get yourself a good test kit as DVS stated above and keep us post on your parameters in your tank.make sure you ask those question .we rather hear wired question then hearing that somethiing is wrong.

Hope tht help you out ,Srry if i sound rough ,im just tried of hearing LFS selling anything t make a buck

Good luck
Ronen

findingnemo · Sep 18, 2006

I just didnt know how bad it was to take advice from LFS I guess I have to sit down in the computer a little more to talk to you guys.

findingnemo · Sep 18, 2006

I just felt stupid a couple of weeks ago asking u guys so many questions, But I will start my Addiction to the site again jajaja, and trust me I am so mad with my local LFS right now.

ming · Sep 18, 2006

For the test strips, certain brands are more accurate then others. I would say you can probably use the one you have as a general gauge of how your cycling is going. No need to buy a new test kit though because we aren't adding anything anyways until the nitrite goes away. After the ammonia goes away, get a nitrite test kit, and begin testing for nitrite after the ammonia is gone. After the nitrite is fully gone, then your cycle is complete.

And as the others said, stop adding that liquid and if you want, you can do partial water changes, or you can just wait it out.

Since you have fish already in there, I would do water changes to ease the stress the fish is having until you can give the fish to someone else during the cycle

andylee · Sep 18, 2006

OK, I tried to be gentle on the last thread, but here comes the hammer!

Please read the books I recommended for you earlier. Your fishstore has already demonstrated that they're willing to take advantage of you (selling you dead or dying coral as live rock). If you don't slow down and figure out what you are doing, you will waste time and money, the animals (some of which are becoming quite rare in the wild) will die, and you will quit the hobby in frustration.

Andy

Chiefmcfuz · Sep 18, 2006

Nemo, Fill that tank with some uncured live rock and let it sit for a month without any livestock in it, filter it and circulate the water and make sure the temp is right. THen buy a Salifert or a seachem test kit and test your water. Don't add chem's to it at all, just let it sit and cycle. You were advised in the other threads to do this if you remember. We will help you but part of us helping is you listening.

LeslieS · Sep 18, 2006

Nemo, One of the biggest things that I did wrong when setting up my tank was not doing enough research from books, magazines, and the internet.

When you ask questions, it helps to have gained a basic understanding of what is happening in your tank as well as to have read the many different opinions about why it is happening and how to deal with it.

This will help you know what questions to ask as well as better analyze the answers people give.

This will also help you better communicate with the LFS. For example: You need a test kit.
You go online to forums such as MR and Reef Central and ask what kind of kits people use.
You research these kits online.
Go to LFS and ask for kit.
LFS guy gives you a kit and tells you it's the best.
You say then why does is cost 1/4 what the others cost.
He still insists it's the best.
You ask about the other kits. Does he carry them?
Probably not or he would have sold you the most expensive to begin with. ;-)

Also, as Cheif said, you need to listen and not just rush out to buy the quick fix. In a reef tank, there is no quick fix. I had my tank for 2 months before I even added a snail.

As a very wise reefer told me - stop panicking and slow down.

Hope that is helpful
Leslie

Chiefmcfuz · Sep 18, 2006

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