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AnAcOnDaMaN · #1 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 10:28 PM

I wanted to know if anyone can suggest a type of saltwater plant that can aid in keeping the ammonia lvls down. We started a salt water tank in school which has WC fish from the North Atlantic. We took measurements of the lvls today and the Nitrate lvl was 0 and we had a high lvl of ammonia. The water temperature is 65* F. The PH lvl was around 8. If anyone has some helpful tips and sees that something is wrong please help.
Thanks.

natas · #2 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 10:37 PM

First of all is this a reef tank or a fish only tank?

Second, did you guys let the tank cycle before you threw any fish in?

Third, a good start would be any micro algae like calerpa (sp?). Thats what I use. My 100 gallon tank is connected to a sump, the sump then connects to my refigium which has the calerpa in it for natural filteration. It actually works alot better then the bio-balls and all that other stuff that cost hundreds of dollars.

Wild caught fish are a hit or miss. I would suggest raising the temps to around 67-69F and make sure the fish have plenty of hide spots.

Anyway its really hard to help ya on this with no knowledge of the tank at all. Good luck, and if your really worried about the ammonia levels I would do a 25-30% water change and cut down on feeding. Extra food sitting around will cause amonia spikes. IF you prefer to feed the fish alot, then get some cleanup critters to take care of the extra.

AnAcOnDaMaN · #3 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 10:50 PM

We have fish and and some plants from the North Atalantic. Some of the plants we have in there are sea-weed, some sea grass, and a odd looking plant that has bladders, which we believed would have bacteria that would take care of the Ammonia.

Most of the fihs we have in the tank are i think called killies(sp?). We have plenty of Hermit crabs, snails, shrimp (that enjoy hiding in the bladder plant), a pipe fish, an adult sea robin and a baby sea robin.

natas · #4 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 11:00 PM

Did you cycle the tank before adding the fish? That right there could be the issue. If not you need better filteration, I would suggest a protein skimmer if you do not have one already

AnAcOnDaMaN · #5 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 11:03 PM

I don't think the tank was cycled before the fish were put in. I think the person who put it together took the salt water from the area in which he caught the fish and brought buckets of it into school. But i will take the filteration idea into consideration.
Also will try to take some pictures.
Thanks for your help Shane.

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