Tank Recycling...

[reepher315]

So I did a switch from a 55 to a 90g. When I did this I think I started a cycle somehow. I had some ammonia come up. It was reading at 1.0. I did water changes and still came up. I was advised that I should put some rubble rock in my sump to help take care of it. So I got some small pieces of live rock from the LFS. About 3lbs of it. and one larger rock about 2 lbs. Today when I checked ammonia it was super high. Like 5. /6. . Im freaking out because there are fish in the tank. Would additional LR cause this spike? LFS said it should be fine on a 15 min ride home.

Will ammonia this high kill fish? I intend on doing another water change later tonight.

 

[reepher315]

Any help would be appriciated

 

[Curt Boswelll]

How long was the rock out of the water and did you stir up the sand bed? Was the new rock cured or uncured?

 

[reepher315]

20mins tops on the way home. I did not stir up the sand bed and this is a newer batch of sand. The rock is cured well been in the LFS tank for a few months.

 

[acabgd]

20mins tops on the way home.

No, the question I think was how long was thrrock from one tank to another out of the water, your original rock from the smaller tank.

 

[reepher315]

No longer than a minute I had the tanks 10 feet from eachother when I switched it.

 

[reepher315]

But literally overnight my ammonia is 3 times what it read he day prior. The only change was the LR.

 

[thegrun]

Yes if the rubble rock you added was not completely cycled adding it to your tank would make things worse, not better. I would dose Amquel or one of the other ammonia neutralizing products on the market. How long ago did you upsize and did you cycle the new rock you added to the system before you up sized?

 

[whiteshark]

I would guess one of two things happened.

1. Your ammonia test kit is expired of not reading properly or

2. Something very large died.

How are the fish doing?

 

[reepher315]

Yes if the rubble rock you added was not completely cycled adding it to your tank would make things worse, not better. I would dose Amquel or one of the other ammonia neutralizing products on the market. How long ago did you upsize and did you cycle the new rock you added to the system before you up sized?

The rock rubble was completely cycled and the rocks from my old tank are very cycled very purple ect. I have ammonia lock but have tried to not use chemicals. I may have to try it out...

I would guess one of two things happened.

1. Your ammonia test kit is expired of not reading properly or

2. Something very large died.

How are the fish doing?

All the fish are doing very well. All animals accounted for. Its not past the expiration date on the bottle. May get a new kit just to get away from API.

 

[whiteshark]

If everything looks fine (no dying inverts and no heavy breathing from the fish) I would suspect something has gone wrong with the test kit. It shouldn't take long at 6+ ppm ammonia to start seeing some effects.

I would try a new test kit and see what it reads. I can't imagine getting a spike like that from just moving the rock and adding a bit of rubble.

 

[reepher315]

Thats what Im saying. I was questioning the kit earlier in the week because I couldnt get the ammonia down past 1.0 after a 30% water change. I hope its that simple atleast.

 

[whiteshark]

Thats what Im saying. I was questioning the kit earlier in the week because I couldnt get the ammonia down past 1.0 after a 30% water change. I hope its that simple atleast.

Do keep a very close eye on the livestock though. There is the possibility it is that high, it's just not explainable at the moment. Water changes while you're waiting to get the new kit aren't a bad idea. I just wouldn't go too overboard if everything is looking fine.

 

[reepher315]

I will do a 20% change tonight and hope for the best. Hit up the pet store tomorrow. Thanks for the help! I will update when I get the results.

 

[reepher315]

So it was for sure the test kit reading a very false maxed out positive. I did a water change last night and got new tests and my ammonia is down to .25 or less. I think I got a few gray hairs from this experience... I should have known because if my ammonia was actually that high my fish would have been floating. Thanks for all your guys help.