Help! Going through 2nd cycle???

[swchic02]

Hey everyone! I need some help, I think I've really messed things up.

My new tank went through a cycle, or so I thought. Ammonia went up, then Nitrite, then both at 0 ppm and Nitrate at 5-10 ppm. I added 2 small ocellaris clowns (about an inch each) and 4 crabs for cleanup. That was about a week ago. I've been testing the water everyday and slowly the ammonia has been creeping up. Nitrite is still 0 ppm and nitrate still 5-10 ppm. My lfs said I should start dosing with Ammo-lock to neutralize the ammonia and Seachem stability to add more beneficial bacteria. This morning, the ammonia read 1 ppm! Have I totally screwed up my tank? My fish seem happy. They move around and eat fine. I haven't done any water changes yet but am planning on doing one when I get home this evening. Will that help get the ammonia under control? Do you think my bio filter is hosed? Or did I not have one to begin with? I've got an Eheim 2217 running and can see brown specs of bacteria, diatoms maybe, on the filter media, I've also got about 50# of base rock that bacteria should be living on.

Thanks for any advice you have!

 

[austinsdad]

How high did the ammonia get during the cycle? Do 30% water change, and make some more water right away.

 

[swchic02]

I don't have my log with me, but I think ammonia got to about 5ppm before it came down. Should I stop dosing with the ammo-lock? I'm starting to wonder if maybe that's giving me false ammonia readings. I was going to do a 10-15% pwc tonight and another 10-15% tomorrow. Is that ok?

 

[Henry405]

Did you add the CUC and the clowns at once? I was told to add the CUC and wait 2-3 weeks before adding fish. You might have added too at once and the bacteria can't handle it yet.

 

[WillyG]

I just had a phantom spike of ammonia due to my having used the test tube for other tests which caused a false reading - I suggest you get a new kit and check again as soon as humanly possible. Else I have to agree with the comment above which suggests the bacteria may not have been able to keep up.

 

[swchic02]

Well, I got 2 new ammonia tests, an API one that does total and and a Seachem one that just does free. The total level is still a little elevated, about .5 ppm and the free reads under .25 ppm. I haven't put ammo lock in since 4/7, which seems to have helped the readings. I also did 2 15% pwc over the weekend so that probably helped drop it also. Fish still seem ok, eating fine and swimming around.

Thanks for the help everyone!