What would cause an ammonia spike?

[jimrawr]

I had a little crisis today my ammonia spiked and everything was stressed out. Flame Angel caught ICH, cleaner hardly moving and very stressed.. I just want to know what could have caused this? I havent fedanymore than I was in the last month, so what could it be? I was feeding twice a day in the morning usually a few flakes and at night half a cube of mysis or formula one. Thats to feed one flame angel and one cleaner shrimp and sometimes a plate coral.

 

[jimrawr]

Is the only thing that can cause an ammonia spike overfeeding or something dying in the tank?

 

[jimrawr]

edited: double posted by accident

 

[Radioheed]

are you using RO/DI water? anything die in the tank? add anything new to the tank like live rock? have you definitely cycled the tank? what are your nitrates and nitrites?

 

[jimrawr]

I was using RO water from LFS. Nothing died that I know of but I a snail could have died somewhere thats not visible I guess. Didnt add anything other than coral, and tank was definantly cycled. Everything was down to zero last time I checked a few days ago. Tank fully cycled back in January

Nitrates and Nitrites are both 0

 

[magdelan]

How deep is your sandbed??? If it is at 2 inches or so...that could cause a problem.

 

[jimrawr]

Yeah it is about 2 inches.. should I add some more sand?

Why would that be a problem I thought DSP was just an option and not really neccessary. How do people with BB do ok?

 

[Shagsbeard]

Always double check your tests before acting on the results. Run a sample of your water down to the LFS and get a second opinion.