Ammonia Level not dropping to zero

[Hara]

that is my biggest complaint with salifert...the color charts are too vague. (you should see the [acronym:a4e98a80e3="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:a4e98a80e3] kit!)

maybe having a [acronym:a4e98a80e3="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:a4e98a80e3] do a test and compare results would help. Either way, you are on the right track now and hopefully will not experience more fish loss.

[philthefish]

3 weeks on....time for another update.....

I have been testing my water nearly every day for ammonia since my original post. For two weeks, the ammonia level varied between 0.25 and 0.5 (has hit 0.5 twice), then about 5 days ago I did a test which showed ammonia to be zero (at last!). Nitrites were 0.1 on that day. I tested again two days later and level was back up to 0.25....I tested yesterday and it was up to 0.5 again! I have not altered anything in the tank, Picasso trigger is still in there as my [acronym:f8392a89c4="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:f8392a89c4] refused to take him from me as my water was not perfect....he said it might do more harm to the fish than letting it stay in water it's been used to (not sure if I agree with that or not). Fish looks healthy enough and is eating the small amount I give him once a day.

Anyone else had similar experiences to this? Why did ammonia zero and then creep back up (with no additional bio-load)?

[acronym:f8392a89c4="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:f8392a89c4]

[philthefish]

Got home yesterday after stopping at the [acronym:81ce5c7666="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:81ce5c7666] to pick up some StressZyme. Added the normal maintenance dose......24 hours later Ammonia and Nitrites have both zeroed (hopefully this time for good!)....Not sure if the stresszyme had a major effect or whether it was just coincidence...........I'll keep an eye on the levels for another week before adding more fish.

[melosu58]

Something is causing this . Ammonia just doesn`t go up by itself. Stresszyme is a band aid. Find the problem . Is your tank going through a mini cycle or over feeding or dead fish somewhere. I `ve never had a trigger but aren`t they messy eaters. Don`t band aid the problem

[philthefish]

Something is causing this . Ammonia just doesn`t go up by itself. Stresszyme is a band aid. Find the problem . Is your tank going through a mini cycle or over feeding or dead fish somewhere. I `ve never had a trigger but aren`t they messy eaters. Don`t band aid the problem

To be honest, I use Stresszyme with most of my water changes, so it's not a case of me trying to find a quick cure to the problem.

I certainly haven't been overfeeding, I've been feeding a v. small piece of either shrimp or mussel once a day while the tank's been like this. I make sure the fish eats all of it, so no messy foodstuffs everywhere. Definitely no dead fish in there, and the last live rock I added was already fully cured (out of my closing down [acronym:9f4c5b4607="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:9f4c5b4607] display tanks).

I personally think that the tank never fully cycled originally and has just been through (a hopefully now complete!) mini cycle.

Anyone agree/disagree?

[melosu58]

That is a possibility

[philthefish]

At last....zero readings everyday for about 10 days!!

I also got lucky again and picked up a CPR Bakpak 2R on Ebay for £35......the only HOT skimmers easy to get hold of in the UK are either Seaclone or Prizms. The Bakpak has pulled as much gunk out in a day as the Seaclone did in a week!!!

Just need to invest in another couple of PHs for the tank for more flow, and another 20lb of live rock over the next month or so.

Oh and I've also switched to [acronym:4a7cf2b4a2="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:4a7cf2b4a2] water

[lando]

Good for you. Your story is not uncommon with new tanks and anxious aquarists. As you know, your tank did not ever really cycle completely before you increased it's bioload. This cause a very prolonged cycle as your tank could never really catch up. I am glad things are looking up but have a word of caution...WAIT!
Now that your [acronym:74d36ccac6="Ammonia"]NH3[/acronym:74d36ccac6] and [acronym:74d36ccac6="Nitrite"]NO2[/acronym:74d36ccac6] are at zero, give it more time. More time without chemicals and additives to see how it reacts. Hopefully your tank has finally cycled and adding more livestock now could send you spiraling right back down again.