Test Results

[Schottman]

Hello, I just ran tests on my 20 gallon tank it has about 25 lbs of live rock. 15 lbs is new as of The 29th of June. I had a friend in portland give me a few frags. none of them appear to be doing well. So I ran tests these are the results.

Ammonia .5
Nitrite .2
PH 8.0
Alkalinity- normal
Nitrate between 5-10

These test results are with a red sea fish farm test kit. Are these abnormally high....totally unacceptable. and most important will they kill fish or corals.

The frags I got are.....

Green star polyps - not opening

Red Sea Zenia - bunched up

toadstool frag 2" no nobies sticking out.

2 hairy green mushrooms looking ok.

I am just wondering if I should be ok or if I need to find a home for these frags while i get the tank balanced out.

There are currently no fish in the tank!

Tank has been up 2 months

 

[cdeakle]

I had a friend in portland give me a few frags. none of them appear to be doing well. So I ran tests these are the results.

Your water parameters arent acceptable and actually toxic in some regards. From your results it appears to me that your tank hasn't fully cycled and at this point should not have corals of any kind or any other inhabitants at this point.

I fear that if you don't remove the corals untill your tank is ready for them or do some serious water changes immediatley you will possibly/probably loose your corals. If you can't find a home there are some AWESOME members on here and I'm sure there are even a few that would coral-sit for you.

Your water tested should look something like this:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
ph: 8.1 - 8.3

Your nitrate levels are acceptable but 0 would be preffered.
You say your alk is normal, please provide the exact reading. For corals you also should have a calcium level around 400+ and you should be testing that paramter as well. Also what is your salinity reading??

 

[NaH2O]

Schottman - I agree that ammonia and nitrite readings should be zero before any inhabitants are added. Were the readings 0 prior to the addition of extra live rock? This is possibly why you are getting readings provided they were already zero. Die off can occur in rock when it is removed from a tank....the longer the rock is out of water, then the more die off of things like sponges occurs....even if the rock is cured. Was the new rock already cured? I would try and find someone to watch the corals for you in the meantime....the coral's behavior is a good indication. You can try some water changes and see if that helps while you find a coral sitter. Let us know what your specific gravity is (toss in temperature for good measure). As cdeakle pointed out, testing for calcium is also something that you will want to do - I wouldn't worry so much about it until your tank is fully cycled. Do you have any snails or hermits that are affected by the ammonia spike? I'm in the process of cycling my tank, as well. It is interesting that my pH is about the same as yours (I follow by a pH probe).....grrrr - I want my ammonia and nitrites to go away!! patience patience patience (sorry - I'm sharing my issues, too)

 

[Schottman]

Big T is getting the corals tomorrow. I have some RO water from Coral Beaty so I will be doing a 30-40% water change tonight. I also 3walked away with some new lights and other items. Thanks for your response. The nitrite and amonia have been zero the few past weeks before i added the live rock!! I also got a new pump for my cpr backpack so I will be able to put that in motion tonight.

 

[NaH2O]

Thanks Big T!! Keep monitoring your levels - with the previous cured live rock you had in the tank, you should see your ammonia & nitrite come down soon. Keep us updated!

 

[big t]

Hey it is my pleasure to help a guy out. See ya in the morning Dave

 

[Schottman]

Just did a 5 gallon water change and placed my CPR BAKPAK online........now I have an air buble problem.....who knows whats next!!!!

 

[cdeakle]

Bakpaks are notorious for releasing bubbles back into the tank. Not harmful in my opinion just more of an annoyance. You can purchase a bubble box to fx that though:

http://amekaaquatics.com/Merchant2/...oduct_Code=SECONDS_BBX&Category_Code=_SECONDS

BigT you are da man broh!

 

[Schottman]

bubbles have monored out.....coral fras are at Big T's so here goes cycling round 2 Thanks everyone for the help!!!