Ammonia Spike

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BobbyC

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Mar 28, 2004
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I recently added a 7lb chunk of live rock to my 55g FOWLR (only about 20# of LR). My last 20% water change was about two weeks ago. My lfs, under former management, told be that the rock was cured. After asking again today I have found it is not cured. My ammonia has been slightly on the rise. Up today to somewhere between 0.25 and 0.50. What do you guys recommend? Take the rock out and cure, do another partial change? Can a 55g tank absorb the die off from small quantities of rock? The fish seem fine but I don't want to be wrong and lose one.

I appreciate your help


BobbyC
 
Do you have fish in your tank? If it was my tank with fish, I would do at least a 20% wc. Your fish will not be able to handle ammonia or nitrite. I would also take the rock out and cure it in a rubbermaid tub or the like. If you have no fish in your tank, I would do a 10% wc and let it cure in the tank.
 
Thanks, I do have three fish.
1) How long does it take the rock to cure?
2) Are the water conditions in the cure tank/tub critical or can they be let go?
3) Is filtration or circulation important during curing?

Thanks Again,
BC
 
Is the ammonia on the rise or going down? If there is stuff still dying, you might want to throw it into a rubbermaid tub with a powerhead until it cures, i.e., when the NH3 goes to 0. Maybe a few weeks. Water changes, and siphoning of debris, will help keep the stuff on the rock alive.

If the ammonia stays below 0.5, you might be able to keep it in the 55. If your kit is measuring total ammonia (NH3 + NH4), there may not be any free ammonia (NH3 = very bad). You will want to do water changes to make sure the ammonia stays low. It's a little riskier.
 
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