New ammonia problem situation. (loaded question.)

eses · 10-22-2001, 10:05 PM

My system had been in pretty good balance lately, despite being overstocked..but now I have an ammonia problem. System is 29g with 10g sump (7 gal volume) so I am basically working with 20-22 gallons of total volume.

About a month or two ago I added a gravel substrate to my sump, hoping it would increase my biological filtration, and I also created a "nitragone" chamber. A spiral of black airline tubing about 14" tall and 3" in diameter to get rid of nitrates; which it has done well.

My only "real" filter other than the sump is a Whisper 4 over-the-back filter, and about 30# of LR.

The system was balanced for months before, never had ammonia, only had nitrate. I thought maybe I was going into some weird ammonia spike, perhapes something died, but it has been 2 weeks now and it has gone up more, not down .. and I have done water changes every week.

The ammonia tests at .03 ppm.

Should I remove the gravel from the sump? Is an extra gravel-bed going to help at all? It is rather deep, at about 4" ... could this create extra ammonia? I would think if anything it would cause more nitrate than ammonia.

I am also going to add a Fluval 304 canister filter to the system, and probably remove some of the fish; and speaking of the fish, which would create the most ammonia?

5" Lawnmower Blennie
3" Percula Clown
3" Neon Dottyback

None of which are fed directly, or often. I feed around once a week, usually less.

Any thoughts?

organicreefer · 10-23-2001, 09:22 AM

are you sure you test kit is good?when they go bad they tend to give a false reading of low amounts of ammonia.how are the inhabitants?

addicted2fish · 10-23-2001, 09:25 AM

I get a considerable amount of grunge buildup in my sump that I try to siphon out during water changes. If your system is anything like mine, my guess is that after a month there is all kinds of crud down in the gravel and that the bacteria can't keep up with it.

I'm wondering, since you said you had no problem with water chemistry before, why add the gravel bed in the first place? I understand trying the nitrate reactor although I don't know anyone who uses one. And if you're battling nitrate, I wouldn't think a canister filter would be a good idea. Not being critical, just wondering what your thoughts were.

Good luck,
Bill

Rin · 10-24-2001, 10:04 PM

I don't think I can help you with your ammonia problem, but I do have a few questions.

You said that you only feed your livestock once a week and not directly. How do you feed them...and...are they thriving? Do they derive their nutrition from something other than the feedings?

thanks,

eses · 10-25-2001, 09:38 PM

organicreefer; yes the test kit is fine, one was an older one, and the other I used was brand new off the shelf, both saltwater compatable, and I'm sure I'm pretty getting a accurate reading.

addicted2fish; I put the gravel bed in the sump in an attempt to build more of a biological filtration. I was getting alot of the gunk just like you probably due, and was basically looking for an extra way to trap it and hopefully biologically remove it. I think all I did was create a nutrient factory however.

I am not really battling the nitrate as much as the ammonia isn't being converted to nitrate fast enough. My levels stay low, less than 20 ppm and thats only if I let the tank go too long without water changes.

My thoughts on the canister are basically to help remove what is ending up in the bottom of the sump. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to just capture it in the sump and siphon it out. Do you think a canister is a bad idea?

Since I posted I changed some things, gave the lawnmower blennie to someone with a larger tank that could support it, and removed the gravel from the sump .. the amount of gunk that was built up was amazing. I turned the return on the sump off when I did it, and ran the "gunked" water through a canister filter for an hour and cleared it out. My ammonia has dropped considerably since then. (around .01ppm.) So I think that was my problem, it just took writing it out (and thinking it out) to realize I had shot myself in the foot with going overboard on the sump.

Thanks for your comments and help.

10-22-2001, 10:05 PM	#1
eses Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 270	New ammonia problem situation. (loaded question.) My system had been in pretty good balance lately, despite being overstocked..but now I have an ammonia problem. System is 29g with 10g sump (7 gal volume) so I am basically working with 20-22 gallons of total volume. About a month or two ago I added a gravel substrate to my sump, hoping it would increase my biological filtration, and I also created a "nitragone" chamber. A spiral of black airline tubing about 14" tall and 3" in diameter to get rid of nitrates; which it has done well. My only "real" filter other than the sump is a Whisper 4 over-the-back filter, and about 30# of LR. The system was balanced for months before, never had ammonia, only had nitrate. I thought maybe I was going into some weird ammonia spike, perhapes something died, but it has been 2 weeks now and it has gone up more, not down .. and I have done water changes every week. The ammonia tests at .03 ppm. Should I remove the gravel from the sump? Is an extra gravel-bed going to help at all? It is rather deep, at about 4" ... could this create extra ammonia? I would think if anything it would cause more nitrate than ammonia. I am also going to add a Fluval 304 canister filter to the system, and probably remove some of the fish; and speaking of the fish, which would create the most ammonia? 5" Lawnmower Blennie 3" Percula Clown 3" Neon Dottyback None of which are fed directly, or often. I feed around once a week, usually less. Any thoughts?

10-23-2001, 09:25 AM	#3
addicted2fish Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: St. Pete, Florida, USA Posts: 107	I get a considerable amount of grunge buildup in my sump that I try to siphon out during water changes. If your system is anything like mine, my guess is that after a month there is all kinds of crud down in the gravel and that the bacteria can't keep up with it. I'm wondering, since you said you had no problem with water chemistry before, why add the gravel bed in the first place? I understand trying the nitrate reactor although I don't know anyone who uses one. And if you're battling nitrate, I wouldn't think a canister filter would be a good idea. Not being critical, just wondering what your thoughts were. Good luck, Bill __________________ They aren't spoiled - all kids smell that way

10-24-2001, 10:04 PM	#4
Rin Mayor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Leesburg, GA Posts: 774	I don't think I can help you with your ammonia problem, but I do have a few questions. You said that you only feed your livestock once a week and not directly. How do you feed them...and...are they thriving? Do they derive their nutrition from something other than the feedings? thanks, __________________ -Todd

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10-23-2001, 09:22 AM	#2
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	are you sure you test kit is good?when they go bad they tend to give a false reading of low amounts of ammonia.how are the inhabitants?

10-25-2001, 09:38 PM	#5
eses Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 270	organicreefer; yes the test kit is fine, one was an older one, and the other I used was brand new off the shelf, both saltwater compatable, and I'm sure I'm pretty getting a accurate reading. addicted2fish; I put the gravel bed in the sump in an attempt to build more of a biological filtration. I was getting alot of the gunk just like you probably due, and was basically looking for an extra way to trap it and hopefully biologically remove it. I think all I did was create a nutrient factory however. I am not really battling the nitrate as much as the ammonia isn't being converted to nitrate fast enough. My levels stay low, less than 20 ppm and thats only if I let the tank go too long without water changes. My thoughts on the canister are basically to help remove what is ending up in the bottom of the sump. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to just capture it in the sump and siphon it out. Do you think a canister is a bad idea? Since I posted I changed some things, gave the lawnmower blennie to someone with a larger tank that could support it, and removed the gravel from the sump .. the amount of gunk that was built up was amazing. I turned the return on the sump off when I did it, and ran the "gunked" water through a canister filter for an hour and cleared it out. My ammonia has dropped considerably since then. (around .01ppm.) So I think that was my problem, it just took writing it out (and thinking it out) to realize I had shot myself in the foot with going overboard on the sump. Thanks for your comments and help.

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