KPA Live Rock Cycling

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

How long should I wait before trying to add something that will help detoxify?

There is no such product. Add bottled bacteria if you don't think the existing biofilter is sufficient.

 

[pinocchio]

Does using Prime just temporarily detoxify? Or should I see improvement long term?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Does using Prime just temporarily detoxify? Or should I see improvement long term?

DO NOT USE PRIME!! It does nothing to ammonia

 

[Tired]

Seachem - Prime

www.seachem.com

This stuff? People use this all the time to bind ammonia and render it harmless.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Seachem - Prime

www.seachem.com

This stuff? People use this all the time to bind ammonia and render it harmless.

Nope.
Snake oil.
Thread 'Confirming - Prime does not seem to lower ammonia - Seachem Alert' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...t-seem-to-lower-ammonia-seachem-alert.886779/

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Here's 29 more pages...
Thread 'Does Prime actually "Detoxify" free ammonia, NH3?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/does-prime-actually-detoxify-free-ammonia-nh3.849985/

 

[pinocchio]

Yea a quick read through some posts seem to agree that Prime doesn’t actually work. I’m fine continuing to do water changes, just want to make sure I’m not hurting my live rock with that level of ammonia.


What beneficial bacteria could I add to help? Or should I just wait it out?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

The best Prime can do is remove chlorine from tap water. But if your water plant uses chloramines, the removal of chlorine will leave the ammonia still present (chlorine + ammonia = chloramine)

 

[Tired]

Nope.
Snake oil.
Thread 'Confirming - Prime does not seem to lower ammonia - Seachem Alert' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...t-seem-to-lower-ammonia-seachem-alert.886779/

It doesn't have to lower ammonia, it just has to convert it into something that doesn't harm livestock. Not surprised it still shows up on test kits. I'm certainly willing to listen here, but if it does actually nothing, why does anyone reputable recommend it?

Beneficial bacteria won't do anything- the rock's full of bacteria already.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

it just has to convert it into something that doesn't harm livestock.

And it's been proven time and time again that it DOES NOT.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I'm certainly willing to listen here, but if it does actually nothing, why does anyone reputable recommend it?

Read the 29+ pages I posted...

 

[Tired]

I'm skimming now, but starting from the newer pages, it looks like discussion about testing methods rather than any conclusive "this did not stop the ammonia from harming the fish" test results.

 

[GatorGreg]

There’s absolutely no need to over complicate this. Just relax and let your tank do its thing. There is no need to do anything just let the tank sit. Make sure your ATO, heater, skimmer, etc are all dialed in. Plan out your maintenance schedule. Things like that to kill the time. When your nitrates shoot up high THEN do your water changes and you’re rolling. There’s absolutely no need to add anything and absolutely no need to test your bio filter by spiking ammonia to 2ppm either once’s your cycle is complete. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you to do that.

 

[Tired]

There’s absolutely no need to over complicate this. Just relax and let your tank do its thing. There is no need to do anything just let the tank sit. Make sure your ATO, heater, skimmer, etc are all dialed in. Plan out your maintenance schedule. Things like that to kill the time. When your nitrates shoot up high THEN do your water changes and you’re rolling. There’s absolutely no need to add anything and absolutely no need to test your bio filter by spiking ammonia to 2ppm either once’s your cycle is complete. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you to do that.

I'd argue that trying to keep ammonia down is a good idea with live rock, to spare the organisms on it the stress and potential harm. No need to add anything, absolutely, but there is a potential need to remove something.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I'm skimming now, but starting from the newer pages, it looks like discussion about testing methods rather than any conclusive "this did not stop the ammonia from harming the fish" test results.

How do you determine if, or how much, a fish was harmed by being exposed to high ammonia levels?

This is my last post on the topic here as the OP has already moved on

 

[Tired]

How do you determine if, or how much, a fish was harmed by being exposed to high ammonia levels?

Surely someone, somewhere, has tested this product in some way.

Are there /any/ ammonia detoxifiers that work, then? I know there's a few others running around, Amquel and the like.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Surely someone, somewhere, has tested this product in some way.

Are there /any/ ammonia detoxifiers that work, then? I know there's a few others running around, Amquel and the like.

Again, I'm not going to regurgitate what others have already posted in the links.

Several of our resident scientists DID test it and it failed.

 

[GatorGreg]

I'd argue that trying to keep ammonia down is a good idea with live rock, to spare the organisms on it the stress and potential harm. No need to add anything, absolutely, but there is a potential need to remove something.

Fair. Agreed

but I wouldn’t stress or be pouring stuff in for sure

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

@pinocchio , if you want, you can take each piece of rock out and scrub off any dead algae/blast off any detritus (in old tank water) to try to reduce the organics that may be causing the continued decay/ammonia. This, in conjunction with a large-ish water change might help get things on track.

Also be sure to remove any dead critters ASAP...

I'm curious as to why you're not registering nitrates yet though... with the ammonia levels you mentioned, it seems like you'd also be reading some relatively high nitrates by now.

 

[stoney7713]

Sponges, especially the sponges. Take a rock out and smell it, especially the sponges. They smell terrible when they die.

I removed several, some people will remove them as soon as they get the rocks. There's a chance they will make it but a lot of them die.