need help

[ubasst]

ok i have a 30 gallon sw tank (ok i know its small) i let it cycle for a month i then added 2lbs of live rock 3 blue claw hermits and live sand itook the readings and everything was normalone week later..i added 8 lbs of live rock and today my ammonia is at 0.6 and my nitrite is at 0.2 my ph is still good at 8.3 and my salt is still 1023 what can i do about this also my beautiful fiji rock is getting this white stuff on it and my purple coraline is starting to look funny i have a coralife 2 bulb 65w light fixture --a ehiem 2213 with a surface extractor and 2 airstones with a rena 400 pumps-im very fustrated can someone help me on this thanku..

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to Reefs.org!

Apperently, the rock you bought, perhaps claimed to be "cured", was not in fact completely cured. Try getting some Cycle, and maybe a little Amquel Plus here and there, along with fairly frequent water changes at first--using a bit more than the regular dose of Cycle after each water change, of course--then less so later on, and that should clear up your ammonia problem, especially since you have such little live rock. Dont be like me; buy your live rock online, uncured, by the way, and then wonder why you get ammonia spikes at first! I still wonder why I get ammonia spikes now though....
Also, you need more light, bub, if youre gonna do a reef tank!
Hope that helps!
Be cool. 8)

 

[PeeJ]

Interesting advice you have given....

 

[cdeakle]

Because the rock was not fully cured your going through another cycle beginning with ammonia again.

Just do a few good sized water changes to keep your ammonia in check and you will be back on track in no time.

I try not to use any additives unless absolutely necessary. IMO stick with the water changes....

 

[PeeJ]

Agree with 420...Old school all the way.

 

[Anonymous]

What could possibly be bad about a mega-dose of nitrifying bacteria?! Especially when trying to help a new tank cycle!
The Amquel, though, Id have to agree with you all on that, now after Ive been watching just how the stuff affects the stuff in my tank--both subtly and blatantly--especially the inverts... I guess its really just an emergency/tap water detox trump card...