hospital/quarantine tank amonia

[yellowtang2]

got a very high amonia reading today in hosp tank. is 10 gallon (first tank - now have 40 reef), was told it was ok to keep biowheel in there (but yesterday someone told me no so I took it out - I kept it in bag with tank water just in case I needed it), and changed filter (bad idea I think - too much at once). 1 fish (been treated 5 days with spectrogram, then 50% water change, now on day 2 of another round of spectrogram because still no change). could the spectrogram be causing the amonia or is it because I took out biowheel, changed filter (it was dirty!) or did 50% change? The tank has been up and running for about 8 months prior to becoming the quar/hosp tank.

HELP I don't want to lose the fish that I am treating to high amonia!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

If you're treating with antibiotic, you've killed your nitrifying bacteria anyway (remember, antibiotics are only specific as to gram positive/negative).

WATER CHANGES, daily or more often if necessary. If you're medicating (don't understand why if the fish is only being quarantined) then be sure to add the correct dosage of medicine to the CHANGE water.

 

[yellowtang2]

THANKS
It isn't quarantine right now (although I used it that way prior to the need to medicate a sick fish) ... I removed a yellow tang that was diagnosed with Lateral Erosion ... also respirating (the disease guy came over and thought with the respirating could be bacterial infection also - so treating with spectrogram).
I have never used the tank as a hospital tank so I am TOTALLY confused about how to operate it (other than medicating as perscribed). What is confusing is the "cycling" if there is any and what to do about the amonia (you are saying water changes will help?) If you just put water in there and a fish with no good bacteria (although I left 50% in there) then there is nothing to remove bad stuff - so what do you do. Do I keep the biowheele in there? Do I keep the filter that is part of the biowheel set up. I did just change it - did that create the amonia problem? (I would think I need it to remove things like excess food and particles?)
MORE HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[yellowtang2]

You should add an ammonia remover in the filter if you start up the tank only when needed since it is not cycled - Ammo Chips are excellent for this in an inside box filter. Antibiotics will usually destroy the good bacteria in a cycled tank and cause more problems with ammonia.

researching the internet found this statement ... is this info intended for fresh water or salt.

ANY replies would be helpful! AMONIA IS SO HIGH RIGHT NOW I NEED TO DO SOMETHING

 

[Anonymous]

You MUST perform water changes. Ammonia removers, to the best of my knowledge are NOT effective in salt water. I would also expect that anything like zeolite would be ineffective due to the saturation of medication. You MUST do water changes at this time to control ammonia.

I strongly suggest getting a dedicated trash can (33gal or so) and line it with clean, new black plastic bags and mixing new water in there ASAP. Or, better yet, if you have access to and can afford to buy real seawater, use THAT instead. It will need to be heated, or you'll further stress the fish.

 

[yellowtang2]

no access to real seawater. how much (%) water change should I do NOW and then daily how much. Amonia test is DARK green (appears to be above .8 even though I just now changed 2 gallons - is a 10 gallon tank - YIKES!) The fish seems fine (but I feel bad - we were only told to do 50% change after 1 week of med). We have had a reef tank for almost a year and are religious about water quality maintenance (testing, changes, supplements, etc) but have never needed a hosp tank.

MORE INFO PLEASE as you have been extemely helpful!

 

[yellowtang2]

oh, yes the tank is heated.

what about the biowheel (should I take that off - does it matter??) and the filter??

thanks again