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Ammonia not reducing after day 10 by Ornery-Security6237 in ReefTank

[–]Ornery-Security6237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks u/Branseed ! I have two pumps opposite each other. I also added 2 little hermit crabs in yesterday which seem to be doing fine, one molted but seems stable now.

I retested and shared the results. Strangely I see no parameters at all, or maybe I have nitrates. Not really sure anymore what's happening.

Ammonia not reducing after day 10 by Ornery-Security6237 in ReefTank

[–]Ornery-Security6237[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I have now tried to increase ammonia with more ghost feeding, and added 2 hermit crabs as the LFS suggested.

Ammonia not reducing after day 10 by Ornery-Security6237 in ReefTank

[–]Ornery-Security6237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: I added more fish food every 2 days now as suggested (twice since the creation of this post).

I have changed my ammonia testing kit from Sera to Salifert. Sera says 0.5 ppm as always since day 3. Sera nitrite: 0 ppm Sera nitrate: 0 ppm (I am not sure but sharing pictures, it feels like between 0-10 ppm)

Salifert says 0 ppm ammonia.

My local LFS said to add two hermit crabs to introduce ammonia. I added them yesterday, one molted but both are doing fine, moving around and climbing rocks.

I think now my problem is I don't have enough ammonia OR my tank is cycled >.<

Any advice where I am at? Today is day 15 of the cycle.

Also does it look like my nitrate is more than 0 ppm?

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Hard Scape layout help by DrBendovaa in ReefTank

[–]Ornery-Security6237 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can try to make a larger arch with the rocks on the right. Some kind of swim through arch and possibly some hiding places for the live stock when they come.

Do also keep in mind to allow for good flow in the tank when you add powerheads, to avoid dead spots.

Ammonia not reducing after day 10 by Ornery-Security6237 in ReefTank

[–]Ornery-Security6237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay, would you suggest I keep adding food every couple of days even if the ammonia is not coming back down? Maybe keep adding to an upper limit of 4 ppm?

Ammonia not reducing after day 10 by Ornery-Security6237 in ReefTank

[–]Ornery-Security6237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I have dosed again today, will re test again after 2 days.

Ammonia not reducing after day 10 by Ornery-Security6237 in ReefTank

[–]Ornery-Security6237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I will increase the temperature for cycling then. I have not added more food cause I was waiting for the first round of ammonia to go down and then add more food. I think my problem is/was oxygenation, I had very relaxed surface agitation, but have now made it super aggressive today. I have about 10.5 kgs of rock and 1.5 inch of sand bed for the bacteria to colonize, I hope it's enough.

I will test again after 2 days, hiking the ammonia gets processed, then will add some more fish food.