Why isn't my tank showing ammonia

[pincrusher73]

Ok my tank has been running for 2 weeks and I added 6 pounds of live rock from LFS to seed the 45-50 pnds of dry rock and I have yet to see any ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. I also have dosed Microbacter 7 to help seed as well. Any ideas on what might be going on.

 

[jcampbell]

Don't rush it! The ammonia spike will come! Probably because you only put in 6 pound of live rock! Give it another 1-2 weeks!

 

[gnashty]

Did you introduce any ammonia to the system? Fully cured live rock shouldnt have any ammonia present. Does the dry rock have any decay or anything that would cause an ammonia spike?

 

[jeffh]

How much organic matter was on the dry rock? If the dry rock was pretty clean and the liverock you bought had been cycled...you might have already missed the ammonia spike. Even with that said, I'd still give it plenty of time.

 

[pincrusher73]

The dry rock I got from marcrocks was pretty clean. There wasn't a lot of decay on it, plus I went ahead and washed it to try to get as much crud off of it that was there. The live rock I bought was from Creation Reef, it was their purple rock and I'm pretty sure it was fully cured. I was just worried that I might have done something wrong in order not to be seeing any of the nitrogen cycle.

 

[gnashty]

I beleive that purple rock is a Dr Bones deco type rock and im pretty sure the purple is not coraline algae so I would introduce a little ammonia to the mix to make sure. Im not saying it isnt cured but I wouldnt take any chances...

 

[pincrusher73]

I've been using some Martel test strips and also a API Master kit.

Edit: So how would I do that throw in a little bit of Mysis?

 

[rbredding]

my ammonia spike lasted 1 day.... I used 100% cured live rock (110#) and Seachem Meridian sand.. (in a 90 gal aquarium) and I threw several dead or decaying shrimp in there to start it up..

sometimes they just don't spike much (if the rock you've got is mature rock, the "good bacteria" will multiply VERY fast in a new system..)

but I also let the system sit for 6 weeks before I even thought about adding any livestock..

 

[gnashty]

pincrusher73;618463 wrote: I've been using some Martel test strips and also a API Master kit.

Edit: So how would I do that throw in a little bit of Mysis?

use raw shrimp, same stuff you would eat....or your could use pure ammonia from the hardware store.

 

[pincrusher73]

Should I be running my protein skimmer?

 

[rbredding]

there shouldn't be any protein to skim at this point...


(I did, but most people dont)

 

[gnashty]

pincrusher73;618484 wrote: Should I be running my protein skimmer?

I wouldnt...save the energy

 

[pincrusher73]

So not even when I add the raw shrimp?

 

[rbredding]

most people dont' crank the skimmer up until a week before they add livestock

 

[pincrusher73]

Awesome thanks everyone for the advice I'm going to add the shrimp this afternoon so I will keep ya'll updated on the progress! Thanks!!!!!

 

[brianjfinn]

Amici;618460 wrote: What are you using to test it?

This should have been the first question asked. I've never understood why more people don't ask this, but Charlie is usually on top of it. There are a fair number of threads where people will claim to have good water quality, yet everything keeps dying and they can't figure out why. Turns out, their test kits were lying to them.

pincrusher73;618463 wrote: I've been using some Martel test strips and also a API Master kit.

I would bet if you had better kits you might see something. I've never seen an accurate test strip, and API has very mixed reviews. Personally, I don't trust them as a paper weight. I've had API kits in the past, and Nitrate always showed up 0 and ammonia always showed up at the highest possible levels.

You really ought to invest in some good test kits. I know they're more expensive, but what's the point of buying cheap test kits if they're inaccurate? At least the money spent on better test kits wouldn't be wasted.

I like Salifert, others use Elos and Seachem. Of the three, I think Seachem is the cheapest, then Salifert, then Elos.

Just my experience.

 

[tqpolo]

I ran my skimmer bc it adds oxygen that would help the bacteria reproduction.

 

[pincrusher73]

Just a update after adding a couple pieces of shrimp I checked my ammonia lever and its at .25 on my test kit scale so the cycle has began! Thanks for all the advice. Will keep everyone updated.

 

[darcurr]

tqpolo;618547 wrote: I ran my skimmer bc it adds oxygen that would help the bacteria reproduction.

not all bacteria are aerobic.