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Thread: High Ammonia level during tank cycling after 2 weeks

  1. #1
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    High Ammonia level during tank cycling after 2 weeks

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    Hi folks,

    I have started a 2 ft planted tank 2 weeks ago, using the lava rock ( those packed in clear plastic at aquarium shops) as the base substrate and H.E.L.P advanced soil . The tank is currently 2 weeks old with plants only... and I have been testing the ammonia level with API test kit. It seems like ammonia doesn't go down despite regular water change{ + dosing of bacteria}. I suspect maybe the cheapo lava rocks are leeching ammonia into the water column. Have any of you similar experience before using the cheap lava rocks?

    Should I continue to let it cycle for another few weeks or should I replace those lava rocks substrate with something more decent. Just worried that the ammonia leech will be never ending. Thanks.

  2. #2
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    Re: High Ammonia level during tank cycling after 2 weeks

    The ammonia is mainly from the soil, it's part of the main characteristics of active soil substrates, they release ammonia and nutrients initially to kick start and boost plant growth during the tank's startup stage. The lava rocks should be inert and should not be leaching ammonia (unless it's some special type that's specifically listed as containing additional fertilizer content).

    2 weeks is usually still too early for the beneficial bacteria to establish a large enough colony to process all the released ammonia (especially in a brand new tank), it'll usually take around 6-8 weeks for a tank to be fully cycled (sometimes longer and sometimes shorter), so just have to wait.

    The plants in the tank should be rapidly taking up ammonia and nutrients during this initial period of time anyways, so the more plants you add (preferably fast growing types) the quicker they will use up the ammonia.

    The way it works is you should take the opportunity to focus on growing plants and cultivating the scape for the first few weeks, then once the scape and plants are established, and the tank is cycled and stable, then you add in the fishes and shrimps.

    More frequent and larger water changes can also help to remove the excess ammonia being released too, though it would be better if you utilize it to grow more plants instead, less wastage of all those valuable and useful nutrients.
    Last edited by Urban Aquaria; 27th Jun 2014 at 22:35.
    :: Urban Aquaria ::
    www.urbanaquaria.com

  3. #3
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    Re: High Ammonia level during tank cycling after 2 weeks

    That's a lot of great info and good advice. Thank you UA.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #4
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    Re: High Ammonia level during tank cycling after 2 weeks

    Hi Urban Aquaria, thanks for your detailed explanation. I have actually tried to soak some lava rocks in a cup of water and the water tested to contain undetected traces of ammonia ( API test kit). So yes the ammonia is coming from the soil as what you have mentioned. Anyway here's a picture of my tank 2 weeks old.... very high ammonia .... hope it goes down fast so that i can introduce some shrimps.IMAG0246[1].jpg

  5. #5
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    Re: High Ammonia level during tank cycling after 2 weeks

    Thats a good layout, will look nice once the plants fill in.
    :: Urban Aquaria ::
    www.urbanaquaria.com

  6. #6
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    Re: High Ammonia level during tank cycling after 2 weeks

    Nice setup.

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