Ammonia!!

[videohub]

I am really not knowing what to do with the ammonia problem. It is always running between .5 and 1?? I've lost all my fish but this hardy damsel I have and 2 shrimp. I lost my elegant coral
Anyone wanna buy a fish aquarium?? Not yet...but please help me. I would like to get some fish some day if the ammonia ever goes down! I just bought a ro system and waiting for hubby to get it hooked up. Will this help?? Ammonia has been up for at least 2 weeks. We did have that stringy brown algae and I wanna thank all who told me to reduce lighting, because it is now gone.
Let me know...thanks.

 

[timsedwards]

Hi there,
OK,errr, where to start....can you post the rest of your parameters as well please? What filtration systems you are using, how often you do water changes and have you checked for anyting dead in there and properly removed it?
Hope this helps, hang in there,
Tim.

 

[kreach]

And how long has your tank been set up?

 

[videohub]

I've had my tank up since the middle of April this year. Lost over $400 worth of fish because of ammonia spikes. I have a 10 gallon sump filtration running through carbon filter and bioballs. I have a power skimmer on the back of the tank along with one of those double type (you get at wallyworld). I have a "Q" flow system and and extra powerhead (all mostly running towards top and middle of tank). I've made 2 water changes since the beginning. Waiting on hubby to put in RO system before running another. Top off 1-2 gallons everyday. Lots of lights.
Another question I need answered..When and IF I ever get the Ammonia right...Can i put a clean up crew in? I don't know why I don't have any crabs in right now...but someone told me not to so I haven't. All help appreciated. Nothing dead...did notice my one feather duster bit the dust..but removed it promptly.
Sue

 

[fishkid1000]

Actually coral is not hardy. They are hard to keep. What lights do you have specifacally?

 

[serpentine5]

videohub,
Just like what SquishyFish said, I think you did not let your tank cycle properly and then over loaded it. My LFS did a custom job for a new club, they had three custom tall tanks around the bar area. The club demanded that the LFS stock the tanks two weeks after they were set up for the grand opening. Every fish in the three tanks dies within days, and they invested a lot of money in just the livestock. They could not comprehend, or just did not care that the tanks were in their infancy, and could not support any life other than its own. From the advice I was given and what I read here in these posts, you should wait a minimum of three months from the point of setting up the tank, to when you first start introducing fish. I introduced a clean up crew and some other inverts in my second month, shortly after the cycle had completed, and am just now adding fish and coral. It has been seven months for my tank.
Good luck to you.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by videohub
I am really not knowing what to do with the ammonia problem. It is always running between .5 and 1?? I've lost all my fish but this hardy damsel I have and 2 shrimp. I lost my elegant coral
Anyone wanna buy a fish aquarium?? Not yet...but please help me. I would like to get some fish some day if the ammonia ever goes down! I just bought a ro system and waiting for hubby to get it hooked up. Will this help?? Ammonia has been up for at least 2 weeks. We did have that stringy brown algae and I wanna thank all who told me to reduce lighting, because it is now gone.
Let me know...thanks.
observation brown algae feed off phosphates. It may have died off simply because it ran out of phosphates. That is a good sign.
my recommendations:
1) stop feeding the fish until ammmonia goes down and nitraites have risen and are starting down.
2) add macro algae (caulpera) to system (at the sump?).
3) stop water changes but continue replacing water that evaporates.
That should get the cycle completed.