You know that moment: things don't look right

[jbdreefs]

Yep, yesterday, I walked in from work and upon initially looking at my tank, things didn't look right. Polyp extension wasn't as good, nem looked a little small, etc. I break out my test kits and go to town.

I am having an ammonia spike for some reason, and I think it is due to beginning a dosing regimen of NOPOX. While I did read up on carbon dosing and various threads on NOPOX specifically, I missed the ones about overdosing and needing to be precise with the dosage.

I have a 20 gallon tank, which I guessed yields me 17 gallons of water. My nitrates were at about 15 ppm and at a rate of 3 ml per 25 gallons, I knew my dose needed to be more than 2 ml but less than 3. So I used the supplied measuring cup, and away we went. As long as I was between the mark for 2 and 3, I thought I was close enough.

In hind sight... I probably have closer to 14 gallons of water or so, net, and now I have read the threads about paying close attention to the dosage.

I read this, written by one of the Red Sea guys:

Environmental factors, in particular the availability and type of organic carbon compounds, the C/N ratio, the availability of specific co-factors and the oxidation/reduction state of the aquatic environment, dictate to a large extent the occurrence of each dissimilatory group and the primary reduction pathway.
For example; an unbalanced C/N ratio will prevent full denitrification and will increase DNRA activity which leads to the accumulation of ammonia and nitrite. After the initial maturation cycle most hobbyist do not test for NH4+ and NO2- and therefore while dosing carbon sources they may observe a reduction in NO3- but will not notice any accumulation of ammonia or nitrite. Even when the C/N ratio is optimal for denitrification there are other obligatory factors that regulate the full denitrification of nitrate to free nitrogen.

I can't help but to think I am experiencing the DNRA activity...

Outside of the 1-2 ppm reading I am getting from two different ammonia tests, things don't look that bad. I have attached pictures of a few frags. Still have polyp extension, but it is not as good as normal.

Outside of aggressive water changes and MB7, I am not sure what else to do. I could add prime but the thought of adding another chemical to the tank is worrisome. Should I stop the NOPOX until things settle down? I have already decreased my NOPOX dosage by about half.

Any words of wisdom would be great.

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My bubble coral is usually twice this size...

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[camellia]

+1 on water change
It don't look bad, honestly I think you will be ok.

It can never hurt to run your skimmer high/wet skim and as much flow/air in the water as possible.
Point your power head to top if possible, add air stones...

Keep doing 20% daily water changes until things look normal.

I wouldn't continue the NOPOX until after corals look normal.

 

[jbdreefs]

Thanks!

I read both of your tips last night (elsewhere) and have done both already.

Things were going so well, I hope this doesn't become a set back.

I also tried to do a head count. I only have two small fish. I counted all 6 of my snails. I have hermits but didn't count them. The hermits are very good at scavenging and usually flock to the goods when available. None of that is going on, so I am fairly confident that nothing died.

Another water change soon, and then we will test again in the morning.

 

[jbdreefs]

Well, still having this issue...

I took my skimmer down for a cleaning: I couldn't believe how gunked up it was. I am wondering if the gunk could have been the problem.

I didn't get the skimmer 100% clean, maybe 90% because of hard to reach areas. I figure it was enough to make a difference, hopefully.

 

[jbdreefs]

How often do you clean your skimmer?

 

[camellia]

I give it a vinager bath every 6 months, take the pump apart and clean it like new.

The cup and neck I clean weekly.

Was it still skimming? Meaning were you still getting accumulation in the cup?

 

[jbdreefs]

Yes.

No real change in ammonia as of this morning... I can tell things are starting to take a toll on the corals.

I will test again this afternoon.

 

[jennm]

If you have ammonia, get some Seachem Prime, post haste, and add it to neutralize that ammonia.

Corals don't look, 'bad' in the pix, but you know your tank better than we do, if it's not 'right', it's not right. Prime will be a band-aid until the beneficial bacteria pick up the slack and get the toxins in check again.

Jenn

 

[russ-iv]

prime stalls the ammonia no2 cycle from my experience.

i carbon dosed vodka and biopellets for 6 months and noticed "weird" things going on. yeah it killed nitrate but it was not a solution i liked.

just my experience.

 

[jennm]

Perhaps, but ammonia burns your inhabitants. I'd rather see the cycle take a little longer, with the ammonia and nitrite rendered less toxic, than leave my creatures vulnerable to the effects of the free ammonia.

It's a band-aid but that's the practical application in this instance, IMO.

Jenn

 

[jbdreefs]

JennM;1038150 wrote: Perhaps, but ammonia burns your inhabitants. I'd rather see the cycle take a little longer, with the ammonia and nitrite rendered less toxic, than leave my creatures vulnerable to the effects of the free ammonia.

It's a band-aid but that's the practical application in this instance, IMO.

Jenn

Agreed... Thanks Jenn. I have been dosing prime.