Hi everybody

[xman]

Have a 120ltr tank. Just Liverock at the moment. Started the tank waited 5 months then added a lionfish. Had it for 11 months then just died?. Levels never OK always trace of ammonia. Think my tank went in to new tank syndrome. Started tank again still waiting for the levels to drop - been months and months and months still not Ok. Have two powerful heads for circulation. Fuji Liverock the good stuff. Prism skimmer and have added a sand filter 4 months ago. Still ammonia?. Any ideas anyone.

[liquidlogic]

obviously its not been cycled properly. how much LR have you got ?

[Macca]

Very Strange. I will leave this one to someone who can give a good guess as my thoughts dont draw me to any conclusions as ammonia should really disappear after a week or two as long as you are using some sort of live filtration. If there is no livestock and you are not putting anything in what could possibly cause ammonia??

James

[Macca]

Are you sure your test kit is correct?

[xman]

Are you sure your test kit is correct?

AH! Thats what Ive been thinking for a while now. May get a new ammonia test kit.

[xman]

obviously its not been cycled properly. how much LR have you got ?

I have around 40 kgs now. Had 20kgs in at first due to budget then at Christmas put another 20kgs in. All very good Pink Fuji live rock - fully cured - stuff growing on them - from a shops own tank - not posted out over night. Collected myself and put in the tank straight away, within 20 minutes.

[xman]

I have around 40 kgs now. Had 20kgs in at first due to budget then at Christmas put another 20kgs in. All very good Pink Fuji live rock - fully cured - stuff growing on them - from a shops own tank - not posted out over night. Collected myself and put in the tank straight away, within 20 minutes.

PS I am keep calling the Live rock "Fuji" INSTEAD OF FIJI !. This what happen when you a professioanl photographer and have used Fuji Film for 15 years. Sorry!.:confused:

[liquidlogic]

are you getting alot of skimate? also any dead fish / creatures?. how much turn over /flow do you have?

[xman]

are you getting alot of skimate? also any dead fish / creatures?. how much turn over /flow do you have?

Not much stuff coming out the tank in the skimmer (skimate?). Dont have any fish at all have been waiting till the tank sorted. No dead creatures though. There are plenty slugs - even two small star fish which came on the LR I got. Have a few blue hemit crabs also - they have been in months. Also plenty of plant life - creates inside the rocks. My powerheads are 1500ltrs per hour they are placed top and bottom in the tank and give good water movement. The sand filter is on a lower pump just around 900ltrs per hour.

[Tangman]

Hi xman. Have you taken a sample of water to your LFS to test as some Lfs have electronic testers and they are very accurate. After 5 months you should have no readings at all except maybe a small nitrate reading. If your LFS does not do electronic testing, try and buy a Salifert test kit as they are best for marines. HTH. Eric

[liquidlogic]

small star fish . they arnt white small ones are they?? if they are there coral eating baddies :O. add another power head to ur tank. and put ur skimmer on a timer. try that since u have no live stock. let the Live rock cycle

[xman]

small star fish . they arnt white small ones are they?? if they are there coral eating baddies :O. add another power head to ur tank. and put ur skimmer on a timer. try that since u have no live stock. let the Live rock cycle

They are small white ones!..............MMMmmmmmmmm dunno whether to get rid?. My Skimmer is on a timer all the time - Its very noisy so have had the timer on basically most of the day and all night. TA for idea about another powerhead.

[xman]

Hi xman. Have you taken a sample of water to your LFS to test as some Lfs have electronic testers and they are very accurate. After 5 months you should have no readings at all except maybe a small nitrate reading. If your LFS does not do electronic testing, try and buy a Salifert test kit as they are best for marines. HTH. Eric

I have been just using my tester kits. Many places have said get your water tested in the shops. I Have asked many questions in my local fish places but most of them Bore you to death (tell you what they have for half an hour) before you get a reply from them. Going on Holiday soon and was hoping to start getting fish again. But Yes - I will take some water along before I get any fish just to make sure.

[Macca]

but remember there is a lot of little white starfish that are goodies :)

Best put pic online before any quick decisions

James

[thereefshop]

Do use tap water? if so if you have a storage tank for hot water in the loft it may have something dead in it! which is giving you your readings.
i had the same with a customer he was not using ro water and was useing the cold water from the tap! and using the hot to bring temp up but was something in the loft tank causing them to get ammonia readings:(
So please please use ro water:D

[xman]

Do use tap water? if so if you have a storage tank for hot water in the loft it may have something dead in it! which is giving you your readings.
i had the same with a customer he was not using ro water and was useing the cold water from the tap! and using the hot to bring temp up but was something in the loft tank causing them to get ammonia readings:(
So please please use ro water:D

I am using filtered water. Sorted now. It was the test kit all along. Bought a new test kit today and it all clear. I have had the test kit for a year and a half now. Happy camper now will start getting fish one by one after my holidays.

[Macca]

Glad, to hear it! I only use salifert test kits and think they are ace!

James