Ok.. first .. i'm new.. to the forum and new to saltwater tanks.
I have had several freshwater tanks over the years.. so i understand the basics of cycling them and the process of ammonia--> nitrites --> nitrates.
We have well water.. no funny additives.. just plain old well water.
And we are out in the middle of nowhere.. no farms around.
So I went to set up a 29 gallon tank last week. Used well water since the people at the LFS said it should be fine. Sand as a substrate.
Tested the water's ph and used instant ocean (mixing it in a separate bucket). turned on a powerhead.
Day 1: tank was murky.. ok.. not a problem.. but I used a plate for filling the tank and didn't stir up too much sand
Day 2: .. white out!.. a white powder covering all interior surfaces and suspended in the tank.. so I took in a sample and had it tested .. thinking it was calcium.
the water test came back with the calcium as being fine for a FOWLR tank
PH was fine..
Nitrites at 0
Nitrates at 0
ammonia at 8.
They sold me Kent Ammonia Detox and API Stress Zyme.. and said after I got the ammonia down to 4 to add some live rock.
So I did that... this was on Friday.
After watching the ammonia stay at 4 all weekend .. they told me to use the rest of the bottle of ammonia detox
I did.. the ammonia is at 1.5
There is no bad smell.. and nitrites and nitrates are still at zero.
Any ideas?
And any ideas as to how my well water can have high ammonia but no nitrites and no nitrates?
Is it possible that too high of ammonia can kill off nitrifying bacteria?
I am considering doing a total water change with RO water from the Water Store before adding any more live rock...
Suggestions would be appreciated!
I have had several freshwater tanks over the years.. so i understand the basics of cycling them and the process of ammonia--> nitrites --> nitrates.
We have well water.. no funny additives.. just plain old well water.
And we are out in the middle of nowhere.. no farms around.
So I went to set up a 29 gallon tank last week. Used well water since the people at the LFS said it should be fine. Sand as a substrate.
Tested the water's ph and used instant ocean (mixing it in a separate bucket). turned on a powerhead.
Day 1: tank was murky.. ok.. not a problem.. but I used a plate for filling the tank and didn't stir up too much sand
Day 2: .. white out!.. a white powder covering all interior surfaces and suspended in the tank.. so I took in a sample and had it tested .. thinking it was calcium.
the water test came back with the calcium as being fine for a FOWLR tank
PH was fine..
Nitrites at 0
Nitrates at 0
ammonia at 8.
They sold me Kent Ammonia Detox and API Stress Zyme.. and said after I got the ammonia down to 4 to add some live rock.
So I did that... this was on Friday.
After watching the ammonia stay at 4 all weekend .. they told me to use the rest of the bottle of ammonia detox
I did.. the ammonia is at 1.5
There is no bad smell.. and nitrites and nitrates are still at zero.
Any ideas?
And any ideas as to how my well water can have high ammonia but no nitrites and no nitrates?
Is it possible that too high of ammonia can kill off nitrifying bacteria?
I am considering doing a total water change with RO water from the Water Store before adding any more live rock...
Suggestions would be appreciated!
Sorry I didn't see it was still that high! Are you certain you have a good test kit BTW? It wouldn't hurt to do a 50% change. The higher ammonia shouldn't hurt the bacteria, but it would bother any hitchhiking higher critters you may have coming in on the rock.
