Ammonia

[Jarak200]

After just over a year all of  a sudden i keep getting ammonia spikes .

Took out all the rocks incase of old food particles cleaned all the sand many times. 

Added Zeolite to filter and cleaned everything.  Been using ammo lock but after nearly 3 months I can't seem to get it to drop .

I have most of my Clean up crew ok but only one clownfish left . Any advice out there.

PLEASE HELP.

[TerraIncognita]

5 minutes ago, Jarak200 said:

After just over a year all of  a sudden i keep getting ammonia spikes .

Took out all the rocks incase of old food particles cleaned all the sand many times. 

Added Zeolite to filter and cleaned everything.  Been using ammo lock but after nearly 3 months I can't seem to get it to drop .

I have most of my Clean up crew ok but only one clownfish left . Any advice out there.

PLEASE HELP.

Wow, my friend this is just horrible.

 

We need a little more information though to help you.

 

I hope I can get you to give this first before too many responses sending you off in 1 million directions. Do this first please for the best help.

 

1. What are your params on

a. Ammonia

b. Nitrites

c. Nitrates

d. Phospates

 

2. Temp?

 

3. How often are you feeding? How much are you feeding?

 

4. How big is your tank? What's your water change schedule?

 

5. Are you using any chemical media?

 

6. What's is your filtration set up exactly?

[j.falk]

Ammo Lock can cause false readings in some test kits.  I never use that stuff.  

 

Does your tank have a foul smell coming from it?  Is the water cloudy?

 

Are you sure your test kit hasn't expired?  How does your livestock look?  Do they look sickly...slow, sluggish?  

 

Your rocks are what have your beneficial bacteria on them...they are a necessity to keep your tank stable.  Cleaning too much of the sand at one time is also not a good idea.  It really sounds like you over-cleaned your tank.

[seabass]

16 hours ago, j.falk said:

Ammo Lock can cause false readings in some test kits.

Most kits.  At least I know that Prime does, and I'd assume that Ammo Lock is the same.

 

I assume you started Ammo Lock due to a death.  If you haven't significantly altered the biofilter, your tank should have adjusted by now.

 

16 hours ago, j.falk said:

Cleaning too much of the sand at one time is also not a good idea.

Yeah, disturbing a previously undisturbed substrate can release a bunch of organics and cause ammonia spikes.  That, and the use of Ammo Lock, could certainly affect most reagent based ammonia test kits.  You might try using a Seachem Ammonia Alert Badge to monitor free ammonia levels until you stop dosing Ammo Lock and can do several large water changes.