Ammonia spike question

[homer1475]

So after reading quite a bit about ammonia spikes here and there, I got to thinking, my tank will be fallow for 72 days(ich outbreak). With no fish producing waste, just my CUC and many corals, when I put my fish back in the tank, will it spike? I do feed my corals, but other then excess food, there is no more huge bioload like when the fish were in there.

Just want to know what to expect when I put my fish back in. I know some of the bacteria will die off with nothing for them to do, just not sure if I should expect an ammonia spike or not?

 

[pyithar]

you could add the fish back in only a couple at a time instead of adding them all at once. it's like giving the bacteria some time to populate.

 

[rt67ghy]

I would add the hardiest/smallest fish you have, feed it and watch it for a couple of days. If it seems fine then add the next smallest and so on.

 

[tennesseebob]

I agree, you probably want to build the filter capacity back up gradually.

 

[thegrun]

Bacteria will show very little decline over a 72 day period, tests have shown them to last over a year without feeding. If you are concerned, add a pinch of dry flake fish food every other day. Reintroducing two or three fish at a time waiting a week between introductions is the safest but I do not think it is necessary.