How much ammonia do you get in your QT?

[Greenmaster]

Hello,
I'm looking for some peoples experience with QT tanks. I was wondering what people have found with ammonia production in their QT tanks over a 24 hour period. Amount of ammonia and volume of water changed every day, for a few days would be a great set of numbers to work with. As well as how many of what kind/size of fish.
Thanks.

 

[Innovator]

I don't get any NH3 readings in any QT's I've ever set up because I perform 50% water changes daily. As for sizing and type of fish, it all depends. I could easily house 2 angelfish at 4", 2 wrasses at 3", and 2 misc. fish separated by a divider quite easily. However, if I was purchasing a large school of chromis, butterflyfish, or clownfish I might want to segregate them separately depending on socializations, aggressiveness, and as always disease expectations.

 

[Greenmaster]

So what you are saying is that there in your experience you have never gotten even 0.25 ppm of ammonia as long as you did 50% water changes?

 

[Innovator]

Mine have always registered as 0, even using a Hach. By performing 50% water changes (I do use a sponge filter) daily I prevent a cycle altogether while allowing bacteria to slowly multiply (doesn't really matter since I use meds).

 

[Greenmaster]

Okay... anyone else? I'm trying to get a baseline of ammonia production of fish (volume).

 

[mr_X]

i don't use them. sorry. but i'll tag along for the info if you all don't mind.

 

[medic747]

Im with mr x!!

 

[WendiDell]

Okay... anyone else? I'm trying to get a baseline of ammonia production of fish (volume).

What do you mean by baseline production? Different fish produce different amounts of ammonia. I wouldn't want my fish to spend more than a few hours in ammonia .25ppm. Ammonia can make your fish sick as can nitrites and higher nitrates. So I guess base line ammonia should be zero. Which is why I test every day.

 

[Innovator]

Noga has a baseline for open systems, but I don't know if it can be applied in some fashion to a closed QT.

 

[Greenmaster]

Anyone got any numbers? I'm trying to do some research here, so any numbers you have would help... Okay I'm looking for ammonia production of fish so that I can do some calculations. Any fish even if they are all different. I'm just looking for some numbers I can work with here...