What survived?

[Charlie]

I was away for a few days while 30lbs of uncured lalo lr was curing in a separate 10gal tank. I checked the ammonia level this morning and found it to be AT or ABOVE the maximum reading of my test kit. 8O

I did a 100% SW change immediately. I'm assuming that any hitchikers on the rock probably perished. How about "good" bacteria? Will anything survive?

 

[Devilishturtles]

Normal for all the die off. Some things may make it and some may not. I say you are fine. Just wait until it cures (produces no ammonia) and you're done.

 

[lando]

Your bacteria will need to be re-cononized. Simply cycle the rock using the die-off and high NH3 to feed it.

 

[mdjxt39]

Hey Charlie I got my LR the same time you did and got the same stuff from Drs. Foster smith. They recommend completely changing the water in your curing vestible 2 times a week. When your ammonia and other levels are at 0 your rock is ready for the display tank.

I just did my first water change and rock cleaning last night, and when I tested for ammonia it was also off the charts...if that makes anything better lol.

 

[Charlie]

mdjxt39,

They should probably advise their customers to check ammonia levels at least every other day and to do water changes accordingly. I had done a 75% PC 4 days prior and was shocked by the ammonia level.

I am on top of it now. I did a 100% PC in the morning and in the evening pulled all of the rock out for a scubbing and replaced the SW again. I must say, it smells a lot better.

 

[nycpassat]

Give it some time and perform a few more water changes in the next couple of weeks. Your a step in the right direction.

 

[Charlie]

Water parameters leveled off pretty quickly after the 3rd rock scrubbing and several 100% PWC's. Four days ago I put all of the rock into my display tank along with the 70lbs of lrthat was already there.

No fish, just inverts at the moment. I have checked the water parameters every day and ammonia, nitrites, & nitrates remain at a constitent ZERO. No hitchikers of any kind have been noticed. We'll see what this stuff looks like in a few months. Crabs, snails and shrimp love it already.