Help w first QT and constant ammonia ?

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#1
Brought home my 2 seahorses.. And wanted to qt to establish feeding on frozen.. Only been 2 days.. It's a 10g w a petco power filter 20, heater and used maybe 5-6 lbs est live rock from my dt and tank water to fill. Problem is.. On first day, after 12 hrs my ammonia is .25.. So did a wc at 50% last night at 7.. And this am tested ammonia at .25 again! Started tank w carbon and prefilter in the filter chamber.. Added Amquel after first test and before wc.. Any advice?
TIA
Jami


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#3
Once yes, and once no.. you think that from one cube it could raise the ammonia that much in 10 gallons?
This tank may just be too small for the 2 big sh ... and they do poop alot .. although been trying to siphon it out when I see it..
Can't keep up w 5 g a day wc to stay at .25.. so am torn between risking their health in that parameter for a week, or risking the other 2 in my DT by adding them early. They are eating GREAT.. but wanted to give it at least a week or 2 to check for signs of illness :(
 
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#6
Brought home my 2 seahorses.. And wanted to qt to establish feeding on frozen.. Only been 2 days.. It's a 10g w a petco power filter 20, heater and used maybe 5-6 lbs est live rock from my dt and tank water to fill. Problem is.. On first day, after 12 hrs my ammonia is .25.. So did a wc at 50% last night at 7.. And this am tested ammonia at .25 again! Started tank w carbon and prefilter in the filter chamber.. Added Amquel after first test and before wc.. Any advice?
TIA
Jami



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it is natural for s.w. to have a little ammonia u can google to confirm :)
 
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#7
also you can purchase micro bacter 7 or dr tims one and only or ATM colony add a little to the tank u should be fine also you can test the water you are making to confirm the ammonia level , but really doesn't have anything to do with the frozen food and or if it is washed
 
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#8
also you can purchase micro bacter 7 or dr tims one and only or ATM colony add a little to the tank u should be fine also you can test the water you are making to confirm the ammonia level , but really doesn't have anything to do with the frozen food and or if it is washed
That was just my guess... Would small tank that doesn't have much of a biological filtration be more susceptible to ammonia in the water column from waste? The bacteria in a bottle is a great idea, although dr tims can be expensive!
 
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#9
That was just my guess... Would small tank that doesn't have much of a biological filtration be more susceptible to ammonia in the water column from waste? The bacteria in a bottle is a great idea, although dr tims can be expensive!
the waste would first need to brake down and decompose and yes a 10 g tank has less water volume/ less ppm so it will degrade faster but if she test her freshly made salt mix and see she will get a reading between 0 and .25 and is normal for salt water do to the chemistry make up
 
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#10
That was just my guess... Would small tank that doesn't have much of a biological filtration be more susceptible to ammonia in the water column from waste? The bacteria in a bottle is a great idea, although dr tims can be expensive!
I think the sea horse is more expensive so defiantly worth the cost compared to buying another sea horse
 

Tangwich

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#12
Hey Jami, I used to have that problem in my old 20g qt...now in my 55g, that hasn't been an issue (knock on wood) so i guess my advice is go bigger if possible.
 
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#13
Thanks guys :) .. I have some Bacter 7 .. was thinking of adding some .. but curious if there are any precautions? Like somekind of spike to watch out for or anything? Seahorses are delicate so gotta ask :0 .. well.. since they are doing fine in .25 ( confirmed) ammonia maybe not as much as I thought! lol
 
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#14
I just added done poly filter to the hob.. Hopefully that helps too


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