Quick help guys nitrite n ammonia in QT is high ... What should I do?!

merlberg · Mar 25, 2015

Humblefish said:
How many fish are in this 10 gallon QT?

I only have 1 fish in there which is the cowfish.

merlberg · Mar 25, 2015

Vpham said:
I mean barebone as u have no sand bed. I should say bare bttom...lol
Once u treated with copper or other medications, live rocks or sand should not go back to dt...
Prime or amquel will reduce ammonia in few days, after that it will rise again...
What u need is a good and stable biological filter, live rock and small amount of live sand from ur dt would do it. And no water change, cause that will remove bacterias, bring u back to the beginning. ..u don't want that.

Yes I have no sand bed but I did add some live rock after the spike but that's about it. So you are suggesting no more water changes?

The thing is I did not treat my Qt w/ anything. So idk why there is a spike in ammonia and nitrite.

Vpham · Mar 25, 2015

merlberg said:
Yes I have no sand bed but I did add some live rock after the spike but that's about it. So you are suggesting no more water changes?

The thing is I did not treat my Qt w/ anything. So idk why there is a spike in ammonia and nitrite.

When u start seeing nitrate to about5-10ppm, 10-15% water change.
Thinking of waste in water needs bacterias to consume, if there aren't enough bacterias, it ll rotten and there's amonia. I think it's abit more complex, but that's all I can to make sense for u....