ammonia problem

[brylee]

im having an ammonia problem in my tank. ive done several water changes, checked for dead critters, and am now at my wits end. i am now beginning to think the ammonia is in my water that i am adding. any suggestions on how to remove please. i am currently using a phosphate sponge and have added ammonia detox with no luck. my water parameters are all in check with the exception of ammonia. thanks

 

[nm reef]

Additional info may be needed to help determine the source of your problem. How long has the system been set up? List of fish/corals/etc. Source of top-off water? Basics on your filtration? The more info you provide about the specifics on your system the easier it may be to help.

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[brylee]

55 gal with cpr backpak 2 skimmer. crabs snails star fish yellow tang some damsels clown live rock. water is from faucet (no choice)

 

[the claw]

How long has your tank been up and running? Test your faucet water for ammonia. I seriously doubt it's positive. If it is, I would first suspect the test kit and find someone else's water to test as a blank. If YOUR water is negative, then that rules out your water and your kit. If it is positive and your other source is negative, that rules out the kit, and says that a snake has died in your well. , or a neighbor has been ..... in your well water.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by brylee
55 gal with cpr backpak 2 skimmer. crabs snails star fish yellow tang some damsels clown live rock. water is from faucet (no choice)
Water changes will not bring ammonia down to 0.0. Tap water is fine. First, are your nitrItes 0.0? If so then continue. the ammonia test that i have is very hard to read at low levels but the nitrite test is very easy to read at low levels. If nitrites are not 0.0 then stop feeding the fish until they are 0.0. Finally, add all the macro algae or marine plants you can get your hands on. Algae with filter the water (including phosphates), complete the nitrogen cycle, provied foor the the tang, and help control other algaes.

 

[broomer5]

brylee
Have you always added the Ammonia Detox to your tapwater prior to using it in the tank ?
When using products like Ammonia Detox, some ammonia test kits will register a false reading when testing the tankwater.
What test kit are you using for ammonia ?
Have you lost any fish or inverts lately ?

 

[dreeves]

Why would you tell someone that tap water is fine? I saw this in another post from you...
Because your tapwater may be ok...doesn't mean it is so everywhere else...
Tap water can and usually does, contain numerous, chemicals, toxic heavy metals, negative and positive ions, cysts, bacteria, and a slew of other things...and each and everyone varies by the well (or other source) which supplies the local water company...
That, in my opinion, is a very irresponsible statement to make in a fish "help me" forum...

 

[sinner's girl]

tap water bad, imo. you can fill your own gallons with water at wal-mart (and other places) for .33 cents per gallon. this water will not have ammonia.
did your tank ever complete it's cycle?
How long has your tank been set up?
is your test kit out of date? take a water sample to lfs and have them test it. if test kits expire they can give false readings.
are your fish/inverts acting stressed?
"yellow tang some damsels clown" how many damsels? just checking to see if you have too many fish.
what fish did you add last, and how many did you add last.
lr, did you add any uncured lr lately?
hth, good luck.

 

[beaslbob]

I have used tap water from various locations while in the air force and after my retirmement. Used in fresh and salt since the late 70's. Tanks are not static systems which retain each and every atom of the water added. They are dynamic filtering systems, hopefully stable and balanced, supporting all types inputs from livestock, substraits and so on. Any tap water fit for human consumption will be fine in fresh or salt tanks. If there is a problem with water conditions in an established tank, you need to look at the tank system, not the initial water for the solution.

 

[broomer5]

Sorry but I respectfully disagree with that statement beaslbob.
The freshwater that some us use for initial saltmix, water changes and top offs may be a critical factor for many of us. Not all tapwater that is fit for human consumption is good for a marine tank. What do you test your tapwater for ? Besides the normal stuff we all test for with our little test kits.
Would you be kind enough to post a current photo of your reef tank, complete with the various inverts and corals that you keep.
Information on your lighting would be helpful as well.
I would really like to see your marine tank, macro algae filtering system and anything else you can share with us.
I'm also curious why you feel that all tapwater is good for a reef tank containing delicate specimens, and how you can support that statement.
Thanks

 

[beaslbob]

Broom:
One of the many exciting things about this hobby is there are so many standard ways to choose from.
All I am saying is let the tank work for you. For instance, the main source of nitrAtes is the cycle not the water added to the tank. If the tank handles the nitrAte from the bioload then it can handle the nitrAte from the water you add. The other stuff like phosphates does not come directly from the cycle but the concept is the same. Whether on live rock, in a refuguim or the display, algae and plants will balance out and stablize the tank. They will do that regardless of what water is added to the tank. And again if the water is fit for human consumption, it is good enough for a balanced stable tank.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by Kipass4130
if you are topping off your tank daily with tap water... you adding mal-nutrients back into the system at a rate faster than a macro can absorb them... there are plenty of NO3 and PO4 to deal with already without having to worry about adding them needlessly daily or even monthly

that was my point exactly. There are plenty of no3 and po4 from the biological systems in the tank. If the tank can not handle those then you have very serious problems. My 55g tank evaporates 1/2 g per week. the total no3 po4 in my tank in not dependant on whether that 1/2g is tap or ro/di water.

 

[broomer5]

1/2 gallon a WEEK ???
My 75 reef evaporates 1-1/2 to 2 gallons per DAY.
There's no way I would add 2 gallons of tapwater a day to my tank.
I suppose for your 55, adding +/- 26 gallons of tapwater per year works for you.
I add about 26 gallons RO/DI water to my tank within a 2-3 week time period.
What kind of lighting do you have over your tank ?

 

[sinner's girl]

"its like arguing with a stop sign" LMAO!

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by Kipass4130
While his tank may be succesful to him, i dont believe it is the sterotypical goal of most newcomers.... therefore, his methods should be avoided. I would like for him to embrace some of the newer, better concepts in reef keeping as are discussed on this board, but he turns his back on them.
I believe that what turns off most newbies is this 55g:
tanks stand hood $250.00
skimmer 200.00 f
lr 500.00
ls 50.00
lighting 300.00
filter 250.00
ro/DI 150.00
test kits 50.00
total: 1600.00 with no livestock.
maintenence required. watching and emptying skimmer, mixing up 5-10 gals saltwater/week. checking RO/DI unit to insure filters are working. Daily replacment of evaporating water. Checking to make sure the filter/sump/refugium has not flooded the livingroom.
I think this is a little more that whether I use a molly or shrimp. You simply do not need $1600.00 of stuff to establish and maintain a fish only tank. What the newbie sees is $250.00 for tanks and then a constant stream of $200-$300 stuff. And as a result- constant fustration.
So the newbie goes out buys all that stuff adds 3 yellow tangs a week later, and then wonders why they get ich and are dead a week later. Sure I am exxagerating but tone it down a bit and you get the fustration of the new person to this hobby. I just prefer to allow the tank to establish itself.
the Goal of newcommers is to establish a tank which awes visitors to their home. If you want to awe visitors then spend $1000 on the tank and $500 on the rest.

 

[dreeves]

Beaslebob person...
I think the entire message attempting to be conveyed to you in a very polite and courteous manner is when one is on a fish information board, as this is, people come here to gain and share advice, knowledge, pleasures of the hobby and so on...a very intricate part of this forum is for the opportunity of newcomers to the hobby to learn from first hand experienced people, the "standard" or "proper" way of the moment, to get things done...
It is our responsibility to offer advice in a generally accepted and preferred manner...the newcomer will discover all the short cuts and tricks in cutting costs, etc soon enough...but we really need to get them off in a good start...
One could feel very remorsefull if (s)he advised someone to use tap water in their reef tank...and their tap water contained elevated levels of copper or something like that...

 

[beaslbob]

I am glad you agree with what I am doing here.

 

[dreeves]

My statement to you was hardly an agreement in what you are doing here...

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by dreeves
My statement to you was hardly an agreement in what you are doing here...
Sure just as one should feel remorseful when a reef tank crashed after a (RO/DI) water change. By not shareing my expereinces and knowledge, the scope of this board is limited. I did not realize that only approved methods, as determined by whoever, are acceptable. By shareing my experiences, I am agreeing with your original post.

 

[the claw]

I just posted on another thread that the biggest mistake I made as a newcomer was using tap water. I had a new house with a new well from 400 feet below. Some of the best water you could drink. Well guess what I had in my new house. New Copper pipes. I nuked my system with a bunch of copper. Stuff looked really ill. I whipped out my tewst kits and everything looked good. Then on a whim decided to check for copper. Wholly mackeral!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RO/dH2O for the rest of my life. I don't care what you say. I was even running charcoal at the time.