Ammonia and Nitrite

Psionicdragon · 03/21/2012, 08:21 PM

Hello,

I am in a bind atm. I have elevated ammonia and off the chart nitrite in my frag tank. It was completely cycled a week or two ago where nothing was detectable. I added some SPS and invert to the tank and after a few days, I tested my water and noticed the elevated situation.

How toxic are these two parameters to my corals and snails?
Does GAC remove ammonia/nitrite?
What else can I do besides water changes? (been doin it)

Thanks

bertoni · 03/21/2012, 10:19 PM

Ammonia is an issue. The nitrite likely isn't. I would keep up the water changes, and use some Prime or Amquel to bind the ammonia. GAC won't help directly. It might bind toxic chemicals from dying organisms, but that's about it.

What are the levels at this point?

bertoni · 03/21/2012, 10:20 PM

Ammonia is an issue. The nitrite likely isn't. I would keep up the water changes, and use some Prime or Amquel to bind the ammonia. GAC won't help directly. It might bind toxic chemicals from dying organisms, but that's about it.

What are the levels at this point?

Psionicdragon · 03/21/2012, 10:33 PM

I used prime and the ammonia is back to zero. How often should I use prime? ammonia was at . 25. Nitrite is from .25-.5.

Right now a few of the SPS seems lighter in color and some have slothing skin =/. I added a canister filter that had colonized bacteria in it to help. I am still not sure why this is happening since everything seem to had zero out a few days ago. I also added some Microbacter 5 and carbon dosing.

bertoni · 03/21/2012, 11:46 PM

I would dose daily until the ammonia stays at zero. I'm not sure why the tank is having problems, but I'd probably check the ammonia kit by testing some RO/DI water. It should read zero. Maybe something large died somewhere in the live rock.

That level of nitrite should be safe. I suspect the problem either is the ammonia or perhaps some toxin released by some organism.

Psionicdragon · 03/22/2012, 12:18 AM

Thanks Bert for the help. This tank has been troublesome since the get go. I am going to get another ammonia kit tomorrow and see whats the deal.

bertoni · 03/22/2012, 08:59 PM

You're welcome! Good luck!

03/21/2012, 08:21 PM	#1
Psionicdragon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 3,727	Ammonia and Nitrite Hello, I am in a bind atm. I have elevated ammonia and off the chart nitrite in my frag tank. It was completely cycled a week or two ago where nothing was detectable. I added some SPS and invert to the tank and after a few days, I tested my water and noticed the elevated situation. How toxic are these two parameters to my corals and snails? Does GAC remove ammonia/nitrite? What else can I do besides water changes? (been doin it) Thanks __________________ Economy sucks bad! Lets pray for the best! in the meantime, liquidation!

03/21/2012, 10:19 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Ammonia is an issue. The nitrite likely isn't. I would keep up the water changes, and use some Prime or Amquel to bind the ammonia. GAC won't help directly. It might bind toxic chemicals from dying organisms, but that's about it. What are the levels at this point? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/21/2012, 10:20 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Ammonia is an issue. The nitrite likely isn't. I would keep up the water changes, and use some Prime or Amquel to bind the ammonia. GAC won't help directly. It might bind toxic chemicals from dying organisms, but that's about it. What are the levels at this point? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/21/2012, 10:33 PM	#4
Psionicdragon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 3,727	I used prime and the ammonia is back to zero. How often should I use prime? ammonia was at . 25. Nitrite is from .25-.5. Right now a few of the SPS seems lighter in color and some have slothing skin =/. I added a canister filter that had colonized bacteria in it to help. I am still not sure why this is happening since everything seem to had zero out a few days ago. I also added some Microbacter 5 and carbon dosing. __________________ Economy sucks bad! Lets pray for the best! in the meantime, liquidation!

03/21/2012, 11:46 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would dose daily until the ammonia stays at zero. I'm not sure why the tank is having problems, but I'd probably check the ammonia kit by testing some RO/DI water. It should read zero. Maybe something large died somewhere in the live rock. That level of nitrite should be safe. I suspect the problem either is the ammonia or perhaps some toxin released by some organism. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/22/2012, 12:18 AM	#6
Psionicdragon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 3,727	Thanks Bert for the help. This tank has been troublesome since the get go. I am going to get another ammonia kit tomorrow and see whats the deal. __________________ Economy sucks bad! Lets pray for the best! in the meantime, liquidation!

03/22/2012, 08:59 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome! Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni