Help please need info on Ammonia spike

[XMASTER]

Help I have a big problem with me reef tank and seahorse tank Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ve bin doing water change every 2 weeks this morning I woke up and I looked at my tank it was all cloudy and the fish looked like they were panting for breath when I tested the water the Ammonia spiked to 2.0 in my Reef tank and my Seahorse tank I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know what happened nothing had died in any of the tanks I did a 50% water change on the tanks this morning and that did not seem to help.

 

[pledosophy]

I want to make sure I am understanding this. You have two tanks operating completely indeendently of each other and both had an ammonia spikethat large over night.

 

[XMASTER]

yes the 25 gal seahores tank is in a diffrent room from 180 reef tank the seahorse tank is not as bad as my reef tank.
Ammonia levels

Seahorse tank 25 gal ~ 1.0
Reef tank 180gal ~ 4.0

 

[pledosophy]

Are there any factors that could have affected both tanks?

Very odd to see both tanks spike overnight?

I would think it was just a bad test kit but the water is cloudy and the fish are panting?

I'd point a powerhead at the surface of the water to create more surface aggitation to up the oxygen in the tank.

You could also get an ammonia detoxicfying product such as Amquel for the interm.

I'd do a large WC on both tanks as well. Take some of your water to the LFS and have them test it just to make sure the kit is accurate.

Ammonia that high is lethal.

How long have these tanks been up for?
What are your other levels?

It is possible that they are two independent problems that where just discovered at the same time.

 

[Swanwillow]

has any cleaning products or pesticides, sprays, weed killer, etc been used in and around the house?
close to roadways? pollutants?

 

[XMASTER]

My 75 gal FOWLR is fine I have no problems with that one. Just the reef and the seahorse tanks.