Free Ammonia

[tgriffin]

What would cause this on a tank over a year old? Here is the deal.... I have have had some issues with coral losing colors and also some dead tissue. I checked all my parameters and decided to give prime a try. I did and noticed a positive change. However, after about a week I notice a decline again. So I dosed again with the same results. I contacted Seachem and asked them several questions regarding the product. They said that I might have an issue with "free ammonia". I will be buying a test to test for this. My questions is what would make this happen???

My parameters are

Ca 410
Dkh 10.5
Mag 1300
Phosphates .05 (benchtop photometer)
Nitrates 3-4
PH 8.3
SG 1.024

Thanks for any advice

 

[ripped tide]

Test for the ammonia first. If you indeed do have it, it could be caused from a bacterial die off.

Edit: You'd have to figure out why the bacteria died, and fix it. Use stability to add the good bacteria back to the tank.

 

[stacy22]

Check your salt water for ammonia before</em> doing your next water change. Yes, check it.

 

[kirkplunkett]

Ripped Tide;802158 wrote: You'd have to figure out why the bacteria died, and fix it. Use stability to add the good bacteria back to the tank.

^^^ THIS!

Prime won't rid your tank of Ammonia... It binds the Ammonia. If you use Stability along with Prime, it will help immensely.

After the Ammonia is bound with Prime, it will stay that way for roughly 24 hours. This gives Stability the time it needs to kick-start your biological filter. :thumbs:

 

[jmaneyapanda]

In relation to your original question too, there are two "types" of ammonia. Free ammonia and total ammonia. Total ammonia includes the non toxic ammonium. Im wondering if you have some biochemical event going on that is converting ammonium to ammonia. Any new filtration of chemical actions recently to coincide with this condition?