Please help..ammonia breakout

[Jayzee]

Hi

I have a 210 gallon tank with 3 large size angels and a trigger.

I decided to clean out all the sand this week and turn it to bare bottom, I notice yesterday my angels were breathing abnormal. So i did a test today and ammonia was detected.

I'm not sure what to do. I have no tanks or space , cycle water to take them out of the tank. They are around 10 inches or more.

I am using ammonia lock right now, only thing I can find in store. What is the next best thing to do?

I have stop feeding.

any advice would be great.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

start water changes.....
Suggest 5~10% everyday, until tank re-cycles....would suggest suggest using Prime (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4057 ) also......

good luck

 

[Jayzee]

Hi

5 to 10 percent each day. Should I add some more rocks or bioballs so they can grow faster?

Seriously what are my chances these fish survive this ammonia breakout?

thank you

 

[kevin2000]

Forget the small water change stuff .. when you have ammonia issues with large expensive fish you want to start some major water changes pronto - ammonia is highly toxic to fish.

Your ammo lock should help mitigate the problem but water changes are what you need.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

no....dont add any bio-balls or rock right now.....
as far as survival, personally, if you got to water changes quick enough, you should have fairly good survival... using the ammo-lock was a smart (albeit temporary) good move....
keep up the water changes to help dilute the ammon and nitrites...you should see a longer mini-cycle, but hopefully your fish will live thru it....
see if you can get some Nitrobacteria also...think they sell it as a dry powder...that should help kick start your Nitrosomma Bacteria to help convert the ammon/nitrites quickly....make sure its for saltwater use and not teh freshwater one......

 

[Jayzee]

thank you for the help.

Hard to get hold of Nitrosomma in these local lFS. Thank you will order some now hopefully it will arrive to help.

I'm also making some Ro water now and planning to do a 20 gallon change but making water is a slow process.

I guess is only the option to keep them alive.

Thanks

 

[kevin2000]

Consider purchasing distilled water or buying some RO water from your LFS. Some supermarkets/wallmarts sell RO in large outdoor vending machines. Not sure how high your ammonia level is but if its high then consider using tap water (treated for chlorine/chloramine) - better than high ammonia level.