Ammonia spike

[Drud0616]

Hey guys. I started a reef tank about 2 months ago. Completed my cycle around 1 month ago (with the help of bio-spira). First I added some CUCs and then steadily added two clowns, one yellow tang, two Corals. My water parameters have been relatively normal aside from a steadily elevates nitrate level of approx 30ppm. Things were going fairly well in the tank, however I made the mistake of purchasing 2 camel shrimp which we're making short work of my coral. Unfortunately, I was forced I breaks tank down (removing my rock and placing it into a container) so I could get those suckers out. Happy to say they are no longer a problem, but now I'm facing an even worse one. My ammonia level is steadily increasing (today it is at about 2ppm). pH 8.2 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate 0-5. Basically, I think I am experiencing "die-off" from the tank breakdown and now my tank is re-cycling. To complicate my situation I received an order of 7 coral which I purchased prior to breaking down my tank. Just wondering what advice you guys can give me regarding this issue.
Should I keep my live stock in my tank and monitor my ammonia levels, hoping they will drop?
Should I get a quarantine tank and do water changes until my display tank finishes it's cycle?
Should I use use an ammonia chelation to bind the free ammonia in the tank?

Here's some info on my tank
55. Gallon hex tank
40lbs rock
RO/DI water with instant ocean mix

Live stock:
FISH TANK:

CUCs:
6 blue leg hermit crabs
8 nassarius snails
1 turbo snail
1 Scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
1 Brittle Starfish
1 emerald crab
1 Red starfish

Fish:
2 pecula clown
1 yellow tang

Coral:
1 polyp
1 Kenya tree
Hammer Coral
Star Polyp Green
Paly
Candy Cane
Frogspawn
Torch Coral
Brain Coral

Thanx!!

 

[Dan90]

You added two clowns and a tang in a 55 gallon tank within a month of completing your cycle. You need to slow down. Once you have cycled the tank it needs time to adjust to new changes. Your tank does not have enough bacterial to keep up with the new bio load you introduced. A rule of thumb is add one fish per month. That being said tangs and clowns are higher bio load producers. Just my two cents. I am not sure where you go from here. Unless you live near someone with an established tank that can house your fish I think you will have to ride it out and hope for the best. Good luck

 

[m0nkie]

if your ammonia is still high, add daily dose of PRIME to make the ammonia less harmful to your fish. do water change!

if possible, get a quarantine tank and put the fish inside. daily water change for QT. at least put the yellow tang inside. or let a LFS/friend take care of that tang for now. Ride out the ammonia in the DT. reduce feeding.

your tank is not cycled long enough, even with dosing bacteria. You may have supplemented the initial bacteria, but they haven't reproduced enough to support 3 fish.

1-2 month cycle
1 month of CUC
then add first fish.

the new corals should be ok to add. they won't produce any bioload.