Huge ammonia spike! Please Help!!!!

[kmeans]

Hi everyone!

So I am not new to reef keeping but I am new to cycling a tank. My first tank I got as a well-established tank and I kept all the water and rock. Unfortunately it crashed after I put lights in that I thought were a great deal. The only survivors were my watchman goby and his buddy the pistol shrimp. They survived 1.5 years in a slam marine land 5 gal tank. I was finally able to buy a new tank and I chose the coralife biocube 29. I thought the cycle was over. Ammonia was down, nitrates were on the rise and the detritus was starting to go away, so I got my CUC. Since then I have not been able to keep the ammonia down. It has crazy spikes up to 8. I have been doing 5 gal water changes every other day and nothing has worked but the water is crystal clear. I am really stressing out. I would love to be able to attend the bob more frag swap but I can't put corals in my tank with this level of ammonia. Here are my parameters:

PH 8.4
Phosphate 0
Calcium 460
Carbonate Hardness 12
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 1
Ammonia 8

I have a 3 inch sand bed and about 40 lbs of rock (15 came from an established tank)
I have stock lighting but I just ordered an LED set from Steve's LEDs (soooo excited these will be better then my previous tank!)
I have the InTank media basket with filter floss, Seachem Purigen, and Chemi-Pure Elite . I have the fuge on order

Is it possible that the testers I have are bad? I have had them for about three years.

I would appreciate all the advice I can get, I have done everything within my knowledge.

Thanks!!!

 

[ReefGeeker]

Kits do expire, how long did you let it cycle for?

 

[kmeans]

It has been just over 6 weeks

 

[pandora32]

I would get a new test kit.

 

[ReefGeeker]

Perhaps you could take it to reefkeepers supply in arlington and he could test the water for you?

 

[kmeans]

Perhaps you could take it to reefkeepers supply in arlington and he could test the water for you?

That's a great idea! Thanks. I will also be purchasing a new kit.

 

[kmeans]

I took my water to Reef Keepers. He did not have an ammonia test but based on the questions he asked me he is very sure that I have no ammonia. I will still be purchasing a new test kit though!

 

[#1Reefkeepr]

The best thing to do is to record your parameters and try and do a 8g water change every week then progress to every other week, other than every other day because what u are doing is putting your system in a continuouse mini cycle. Please follow these steps to hopefully insure that your livestock stay alive!!
First test parameters/ record date/water perameters
If ammonia is still high let your system go through this cycle faze (only fresh buffered water "Ro/Di top off") the "Nitrifieing" bacteria will turn the Amonia into Nitrite.
Test again if ammonia isn't present leave your system alone (no water changes just Ro/Di top off) test for nitrite If there is 0ppm reading for nitrite test for nitrates if you have a 5.0ppm of nitrate Then it is ok to do a 20-25% water change this should get your system to become equalibrium!!!
this process may take a week or two but it will work please let me kno how it's goin and I will be there all the way if needed any help!!! GOOD LUCK!!!
Ohhh ya feed your fish only twice a week through this Mini cycle!!! Because honestly if that were me I would take the livestock out and let the tank do its thing till it is at equalibrium!!!

 

[#1Reefkeepr]

Please don't rely on any LFS (local fish store) only if you trust them and they own and successfully kept a reef system!! Just Saying because when I first started 3-4 years (my own reef) ago my LFS were not honest with me and I lost a good amount of my livestock!!! Hope that it doesn't happen to u!!! Good Luck again!!!

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I took my water to Reef Keepers. He did not have an ammonia test but based on the questions he asked me he is very sure that I have no ammonia. . .

WOW! That is one store I will have to avoid.

 

[kmeans]

The best thing to do is to record your parameters and try and do a 8g water change every week then progress to every other week, other than every other day because what u are doing is putting your system in a continuouse mini cycle. Please follow these steps to hopefully insure that your livestock stay alive!!
First test parameters/ record date/water perameters
If ammonia is still high let your system go through this cycle faze (only fresh buffered water "Ro/Di top off") the "Nitrifieing" bacteria will turn the Amonia into Nitrite.
Test again if ammonia isn't present leave your system alone (no water changes just Ro/Di top off) test for nitrite If there is 0ppm reading for nitrite test for nitrates if you have a 5.0ppm of nitrate Then it is ok to do a 20-25% water change this should get your system to become equalibrium!!!
this process may take a week or two but it will work please let me kno how it's goin and I will be there all the way if needed any help!!! GOOD LUCK!!!
Ohhh ya feed your fish only twice a week through this Mini cycle!!! Because honestly if that were me I would take the livestock out and let the tank do its thing till it is at equalibrium!!!

Thanks for the advice. I ordered a new testing kit and everything looks good. I am still doing tests though once a week. If things start to go south I will do a small water change.

 

[#1Reefkeepr]

Thanks for the advice. I ordered a new testing kit and everything looks good. I am still doing tests though once a week. If things start to go south I will do a small water change.

Of course just keep us updated on the perameters an good luck again!!

 

[lsufiregal]

Why would an lfs not have an ammonia test?! They have to test their own water! Yikes. That is a scary thought. Good luck!!