JackBinimbul
Aquarium Advice Freak
I posted this on my build journal, but figured it would be a good idea to make a dedicated post for it as well.
I have a 10 gallon, bare bottom quarantine tank running with a double sponge filter. One of the sponges I swapped out with a sponge from my established 20 gallon.
About 36 hours ago, I placed 5 bronze cories in QT. They went through floating, then drip acclimation and then were netted into the tank. No fish store water went in with them. As of this morning (about 12 hours after), I've had an alarming ammonia spike, up to .50.
I didn't expect for the sponge to instantly cycle the QT tank, but I expected better than this. I did a 25% WC and it didn't even touch it. Did another 50% WC and it still didn't seem to help.
I ran out and got Imagitarium ammonia remover, which I was really hoping to not have to use as it makes the tests inaccurate. I see that it's also a dechlorinator. Should I use the remover instead of dechlorinator, then? I dosed the tank about half as much as it called for as I had already used dechlorinator and didn't want to do another water change tonight. The ammonia test was no different after, but as I understand it, the tests will continue reading the same amount of ammonia regardless.
I plan on doing at least 50% WC every day and use the remover until I can get the ammonia under control.
Should 5 cories be causing this much of a spike this quickly in a 10 gallon? I've fed them 3 sinking wafers so far, one every 12 hours and they eat it within an hour. I then use a turkey baster to suck up any detritus and waste.
They are otherwise acting fine. Exhibiting schooling behavior, exploring the tank and taking small fish naps. No gulping, no attempting to jump.
I have a 10 gallon, bare bottom quarantine tank running with a double sponge filter. One of the sponges I swapped out with a sponge from my established 20 gallon.
About 36 hours ago, I placed 5 bronze cories in QT. They went through floating, then drip acclimation and then were netted into the tank. No fish store water went in with them. As of this morning (about 12 hours after), I've had an alarming ammonia spike, up to .50.
I didn't expect for the sponge to instantly cycle the QT tank, but I expected better than this. I did a 25% WC and it didn't even touch it. Did another 50% WC and it still didn't seem to help.
I ran out and got Imagitarium ammonia remover, which I was really hoping to not have to use as it makes the tests inaccurate. I see that it's also a dechlorinator. Should I use the remover instead of dechlorinator, then? I dosed the tank about half as much as it called for as I had already used dechlorinator and didn't want to do another water change tonight. The ammonia test was no different after, but as I understand it, the tests will continue reading the same amount of ammonia regardless.
I plan on doing at least 50% WC every day and use the remover until I can get the ammonia under control.
Should 5 cories be causing this much of a spike this quickly in a 10 gallon? I've fed them 3 sinking wafers so far, one every 12 hours and they eat it within an hour. I then use a turkey baster to suck up any detritus and waste.
They are otherwise acting fine. Exhibiting schooling behavior, exploring the tank and taking small fish naps. No gulping, no attempting to jump.