I bit the Bullet!! ICH!!

[LiquidCache]

I would ditch the API ammonia test kit. Then you'll actually be able to tell if you have any.

 

[ichthyman]

A simple answer. Yes, overfeeding can cause an ammonia spike. Products like Selcon are extremely rich foods. If more organics go into a system than what the innate bacteria can immediately deal with a “backlog” in the nitrogen cycle will occur. Most hobby test kits have trouble displaying low levels of ammonia in saltwater while higher, more lethal, levels are more accurately read. IMO, API’s liquid NH3/NH4+ test is good enough in determining whether the chemical is present or not. Finer resolution can be obtained with the use of more expensive tests. IMO, the best kits to read the various forms of Nitrogen (NH3/NH4+, NO2-, NO3-) we care about are produced by LaMotte. Any amount of detectable Ammonia or Nitrite on hobbyist test kit is reason for concern and, if confirmed, immediate action should be taken.

 

[asmodyus]

A simple answer. Yes, overfeeding can cause an ammonia spike. Products like Selcon are extremely rich foods. If more organics go into a system than what the innate bacteria can immediately deal with a "œbacklog" in the nitrogen cycle will occur. Most hobby test kits have trouble displaying low levels of ammonia in saltwater while higher, more lethal, levels are more accurately read. IMO, API's liquid NH3/NH4+ test is good enough in determining whether the chemical is present or not. Finer resolution can be obtained with the use of more expensive tests. IMO, the best kits to read the various forms of Nitrogen (NH3/NH4+, NO2-, NO3-) we care about are produced by LaMotte. Any amount of detectable Ammonia or Nitrite on hobbyist test kit is reason for concern and, if confirmed, immediate action should be taken.

Thank you I have been feeding them 3 times a day to my normal 1 to 2 times a day but I did add 2 more fish. But my nitrate level is 0 but the like i said there color on the api test kit so there is some trace of ammonia I will go get a better test kit in the future. Right now I am doing a 30 gallon water change on my 120 and put a little prime yesterday after I registered the ammonia in there hopefully that will help with the small trace of ammonia.

 

[ichthyman]

Prime will cause a false positive on kits using Nessler's reagent which API does. You'll need to use a salicylate based kit.

 

[asmodyus]

Okay will do. Also is it normal for all my leathers to be shedding all of a sudden?