[FishieNut]

I started my 100 gal reef on Monday. I put the LR in on Monday, the LS in on Tuesday, along with some Fiji mud in the fuge.

Water parameters today are as follows: Ca 400, dKH 2.8, OPR 240, NO2 .5, NO3 25, pH 8.4 NH4 is off the scale, which goes to 7, which is Green. My test comes out Turquioise (sp)-- anyway, more on the blue side. It's been that way for a couple of days. Is it okay for the Amonia to be that high? Everything else seems to be in sync.

Thanks.

[leebca]

It's a bit peculiar.

I wonder if the LR was properly cured and ready for your aquarium? You didn't give much detailed info on the LR (where you got it? how it came/delivered? what kind of LR was it sold as? etc.)

The sequence of events seem a bit strange to me. I build new aquariums from the bottom up. First would be the mud. Then comes LS substrate. Then comes the LR.

I wonder if some of the mud in the refugium 'got away' and is adding to the ammonia spike?

So it seems:
LR not doing its job;
LS not doing its job;
Questionable mud quality;
Decay is far ahead of the ability of the LR & LS bacteria to process it; or
a combo of the above.

[bongobrian]

I'd have to agree with Lee, that there is some kind of die-off or decay happening either from your LR or LS/mud, but it's actually a GOOD thing.

It is normal to have high levels of ammonia at this stage of your tank setup and it will only help to speed up the growth of good de-nitrifying bacteria. Many people put organic material in thier tanks on purpose to have it decay and help speed up this cycle. Keep in mind that it usually takes a month for a tank to fully cycle biologically. Don't sweat it dude, it's normal. Just be patient, and don't add any livestock just yet. Keep checking your water and the ammonia levels should drop on their own. The ammonia will drop to 0, but keep an eye on your nitrates.

Just curious, what kind of filtration are you using? you'll want to get your nitrates down below 20ppm.

[FishieNut]

I've got a Coralife 220 skimmer, with a 100 micron filter sock. I"m getting plent of dark greenish-brown skimmate -- although it's settled down now and it's a smaller amount. I've got a wavcebox giving me 4000 gph soft flow and 1000 gph approx return from the sump.
I had about 80 lbs LR in a tub for about a month and a half, with a heater and power head. I purchased 30 lbs of Tonga Branch from OceanPro -- I picked it up, but it came out of a box -- just got in from their supplier. It's supposed to be cured, but who knows. I scrubbed it and dipped it before putting it in the tank.

I also put 50 lbs of "dead" sand -- formerly live sand that I washed and dried in the sun to kill anything on it. And 50 lbs of Live Sand I got from the same OceanPro - which was just received. I even had to waid a half hour for the delivery guy.

That's my story. I'm going to test now, see what comes up -- or hopefully down.