How dangerous is .25 ppm ammonia?

[fishfisher]

I've got a new 6" miniatus grouper in my 29 gal qt tank. The tank has some bacteria in it from my dt, but not quite enough to handle the grouper. After a day and a half my ammonia is at .25 ppm. My pH is at about 8.1-8.2 I can only get about 8 gallons of new RO water for changes per day. I have few questions-
Is this ammonia level dangerous for a grouper?
How quickly will the ammonia go up (could it be past .5 ppm by tomorrow morning?
Will the bacteria (probably enough to handle a med sized fish) in the filter multiply fast enough to get the ammonia down soon?
Thank you for any info you can give.

 

[fishfisher]

P.S. The test kit that I used reads for NH3/NH4+ (Ammonia/ammonium). I'm not sure if this is free ammonia or total ammonia. Anyone know?

 

[hammerhed7]

maybe try a water change, and a bacterial additive such as cycle. As far as the grouper goes, they are a tough bunch, I doubt you will have problems, but try to bring the level down to be safe.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by FishFisher
The tank has some bacteria in it from my dt,
How did you transfer the bacteria?
Do you have a skimmer you can put on the QT?
Run carbon and that will help with the ammonia a little.
Do 8 gallon water changes every day, more if you can.

 

[fishfisher]

Thanks Bang guy and Hammerhed. I don't have a skimmer to put in. I transfered the bacteria with a whisper 30 filter that ran in my 100 gal dt for a week.
I doubt that I can bring the ammonia down, but maybe I can keep it level for a while. Back to my first question- If the ammonia stays at .25 ppm for a couple days will the grouper be ok?

 

[hatessushi]

It's hard to say wether the grouper will survive or not. Ammonia is toxic and will kill fish. You need to get the ammonia down as quickly as possible. Try a 40-50% water change.

 

[1journeyman]

Water changes everyday seem to be called for.
What size tank is the Grouper destined for?

 

[fishfisher]

He will end up in a 100 gallon tank with lots of rockwork.
Should I change an extra 8 gallons of water each day using well water? This is my only other water changing option, which would be performed on top of 8 gallon changes with RO water. Two years ago I filled a tank with this same well water and my fish did fine.

 

[bang guy]

For a fish only tank the well water won't have many negatives. Even fewer problems for a QT.

 

[hammerhed7]

water changes are the best remedy, you could add some prime or other product to try to detoxify the ammonia, but that is only a band aid, not a cure.

 

[geridoc]

I had the same problem with a harlequin tusk - ammonia and nitrites rose, and the fish was in distress. I used Amquel-plus exactly as indicated on the bottle, and the distress disappeared quickly and the fish did fine. I am not a fan of additives, but this stuff certainly seemed to do what it said it would.

 

[fishfisher]

Thanks everybody for your help. Unfortunately he just got popeye.

Probably from the ammonia and some temp and pH fluctuations that I had. I just posted in the disease forum. I think that I should get him out of my qt tank and into my 100 gal FO tank, which is also in hypo. The water paramaters are very good there, so maybe he will be better off.