Ammonia help

[petenheather]

first tank parameters prior to water change... nitrate 20ppm, nitrite 0ppm, ph 8.3, salinity 1.026, ammonium 0.25 ppm, we have a remora hang on skimmer for 3 weeks or so and added a emperor 280 since we have no room for a sump, 45lbs lr, live sand, the tank is a 46 gal and is now 5+ mos old, the fish are....1 lawnmower blenny, 1 clown, a coral beauty (that has since disapeared) 1 sebae clown, 1 hermit crab, i cleaner shrimp, 1 sexy shrimp, 5 turbo snails...thats it, we did a 10% wc yesterday and now my ammonium is at 0.50ppm and the nitrate is around 5ppm....I need help lowering it fast, all help is welcome.:eek1:

 

[Swanwillow]

my bet: the angel died, and is causing the spike in ammonia: when was the last time you saw it?

that said... I'd start carefully moving rocks around to find the body.

after the decomposing body is found, the ammonia, trites, and trates will go back to normal

 

[Billybeau1]

Did you test your water change water for ammonia ? Its coming from somewhere.

I've used Amquel Plus in a pinch. Gets rid of ammonia pretty quick.

If your water change water has no ammonia in it I'd do another water change.

 

[petenheather]

I looked everywhere for the body, under rocks, between rocks, everywhere, I think my hermit crab had him for lunch, with that said, I have some amquel +, how much to use, how often???

 

[Billybeau1]

One tsp per ten gallons. Once a day. If you have a skimmer it'll go nuts for awhile. Shut it off. I dont think it'll take more than 2 days.

 

[petenheather]

I just read the bottle and added the recommended dosage, now my question is how long do I have to wait to test agian?

 

[petenheather]

turn my skimmer off.......why will it go nuts

 

[petenheather]

with the skimmer off, wont my trates rise to obsene levels!

 

[Swanwillow]

nope

for a few days, the skimmer will be fine off. the reason it will go nuts is because of the additive: it makes the bubbles more 'sticky' and will make alot more of them: overflowing the skimmer with bubbles, and throwing a TON of microbubbles into the main tank.

 

[petenheather]

ok, I will turn it off..................

 

[Billybeau1]

I wouldnt be surprised if you tested in an hour and the ammonia was gone.

What brand test kit do you have for ammonia ?

 

[petenheather]

salifert for nitrates, ammonia, & calcium, and a saltwater master test kit for for high range ph, nitrite, ammonia,nitrate. and those stupid strips for quick checks...

 

[petenheather]

I have not mastered the salifert way yet..haha

 

[Billybeau1]

The reason I asked is if you look at the directions on the bottle of Amquel Plus it says that it is compatible with all test kits except kits that use nessler reagents. Unfortunatly, Salifert uses nessler. so I would test ammonia with both kits. I'd be curious what you get.

 

[petenheather]

thanks for the input, I will test using both tests, and keep you posted. I really appreciate the help im getting from all you reefers, Our family is going through a very hard stage right now and focusing on my fish is keeping me sane and keeping my mind off other things. once again... thanks

 

[petenheather]

well I tested the ammonia........it is around 0pm-0.25ppm. and the nitrates are around 5ppm (or same as before) I cant figure out how to use the salifert test, so im skipping it for now. should I do another Amquel+ application tomorrow? and how about a water change too???

 

[Billybeau1]

Are you using tap water or RO/DI ?

 

[petenheather]

we are still buying our water from a lfs...I am stil a little weary of making it myself, although I will soon.....very soon,

 

[petenheather]

oh yeah....I NEVER use tap water, not even for topping off

 

[petenheather]

hey dudes!! I never got my answer about doing another w/c or doing another application of amquel...im going a little nuts here...
if im not already haha...who said having 2 kids 1 hubby and 6 adopted fish kids was like having the perfect life/family??...who ever said that should have his head examined...lol