Ammonia/Nitrite Spike in QT - Advice Please

[villi]

My QT was cycled with the sponge from the sump and a couple of pieces of live rock, but to treat ick with hypo, I removed the LR and added a HOB filter, and I believe my QT became "uncycled" because it could not handle the bioload of all my fish without the LR.
Now, the ammonia first spiked to between 0.3 and 0.4 and has remained about that level. A few days ago, nitrites followed and is between 1.0 and 2.0 (the test kit does not have any way to narrow it down in that range). Nitrate is around 10 and pH is around 8. All four using Instant Ocean tests. I have been doing 25% water changes almost every day (skipped one day to see if it would help bacteria catch up...no change). Added bacteria from a bottle and Prime.
Is there anything else I can do, besides keeping up with the water changes? I followed the instructions with Prime, but it does not say how often to use it - any advice there? At what levels of ammonia and nitrite should I be worried the fish could suffer permanent damage?

 

[beth]

Use Ammo-Lock, or similar product. Keep pH at 7.9, no higher than 8.0. Remember to make pH changes very gradually.
If you have some rubble rock from your display tank, you can use this, otherwise, throw in a couple cups of live sand from your display.
Ammonia is toxic, so it is not going to do your fish much good.

 

[villi]

Is SeaChem Prime a suitable substitute for Ammo-Lock, or should I pick some up tomorrow?

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by villi
http:///forum/post/2937807
Is SeaChem Prime a suitable substitute for Ammo-Lock, or should I pick some up tomorrow?
No, Prime is bacteria cultures in a bottle. I prefer Amquel Plus myself. It detoxifies the ammonia. I have used it before and it works well. You will have to keep up with the water changes.

 

[villi]

I'm confused...I thought Amquel+ was similar to Prime (https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=6).
Is AmmoLock pretty much the same thing as Amquel+? Its tough to tell by the description because although the descriptions say the products pretty much do the same thing, they don't say how they do it or the ingredients involved, so I can't compare.
I have been using Prime for a week now, but I can easily pick up some Amquel+...from what I have been reading, it is the conditioner of choice. Is it safe to use one after the other? I just don't know enough about how each product "really" works to make that kind of judgement.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by villi
http:///forum/post/2938243
I'm confused...I thought Amquel+ was similar to Prime (https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=6).
Is AmmoLock pretty much the same thing as Amquel+? Its tough to tell by the description because although the descriptions say the products pretty much do the same thing, they don't say how they do it or the ingredients involved, so I can't compare.
I have been using Prime for a week now, but I can easily pick up some Amquel+...from what I have been reading, it is the conditioner of choice. Is it safe to use one after the other? I just don't know enough about how each product "really" works to make that kind of judgement.
I was actually thinking of another product. My mistake, I am sorry. I cannot think of the name of the product that I was thinking of, but it comes in the refrigerated section at the LFS. Anyway, I have used Amquel plus and have also used ammo lock. I like Amquel plus much better. It will help with the nitrites that are soon to come.

 

[villi]

Thanks Sep. Do you think at the current levels of ammonia 0.3 and nitrite 1.6 the fish are in danger? These levels have been pretty constant the last few days even with water changes. Also, all fish are eating and pretty active.
Should I do a 25-50% water change tonight (I did 15% yesterday morning). I was going to hold out until tomorrow because I just added some of the "bacteria in a bottle" stuff I got from the LFS.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by villi
http:///forum/post/2938259
Thanks Sep. Do you think at the current levels of ammonia 0.3 and nitrite 1.6 the fish are in danger? These levels have been pretty constant the last few days even with water changes. Also, all fish are eating and pretty active.
Should I do a 25-50% water change tonight (I did 15% yesterday morning). I was going to hold out until tomorrow because I just added some of the "bacteria in a bottle" stuff I got from the LFS.
Yes, those levels are dangerous to the fish. The ammonia is burning their gills, even if slightly. The nitrite, while not as toxic, will cause rapid heart rate, increased blood flow, brain damage, even death. I had a nitrite issue when I first set up my tank, a few years ago. It stayed at 1ppm for over a month. It was a bad scene. That is when I used the Amquel plus to help. It brought the nitrite to zero, but you have to keep up on changes and add more each day.
You can do a large water change. Be sure that the SG, temp, and PH match the tank that they are in.