Ammonia from live sand only?

[Tango451]

Tank is running with only live sand and nsw yet there is an ammonia reading and it is not going down (nothing has been added). Two of the bags of the live sand was bad (had a horrible smell) but was not put in the tank, the rest had no smell.

Is this normal to have an ammonia reading from only live sand? It was nature's ocean live sand if that helps at all

 

[thegrun]

It is one of the reasons most of us advise against "live" sand as it often has more dead than live organics plus it costs more and if you are going to rinse it it has to be rinsed in saltwater.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Well look on the bright side, you won't have to add an ammonia source to start your cycle.

 

[snorvich]

It is one of the reasons most of us advise against "live" sand as it often has more dead than live organics plus it costs more and if you are going to rinse it it has to be rinsed in saltwater.

I agree.

 

[gone fishin]

And I agree as well.