Ammonia problems

[LailaBug]

So I posted about a week ago talking about the problems I was having with a bacteria bloom in my tank, and also about how the ammonia levels were off the charts in my 38G saltwater tank (has live sand, and did have hermit crabs until I set up a smaller tank to get them out of this bad water). I got a good API test kit for ammonia and have been checking it every day, and every day it registers 8+ ppm. I had previously added AmQuel to the tank, but stopped doing that back when I made my first post and once I got the crabs out, decided to just let it do its thing naturally. After 1 week the bacteria bloom is gone, water is clear, but the ammonia is still off the charts, and there is a heavy buildup of hydrogen sulfide (all of the sand is turning grey/black, not just the bottom layer but the top surface as well). I keep checking the nitrites and nitrates to see if ANY of the ammonia is being broken down, but it always come sup as 0ppm. I went to my LFS today and they recommended that I do a 50% water change, so I did. They said that the ammonia that the AmQuel locked, may be showing up on the ammonia test, but may not be getting broken down by the bacteria. He also gave me a bottle of MicroBacter to add after changing the water. After the 50% water change, the ammonia was still reading off the charts (I guess since I do not know what it was before, it sounds like it had to have been over 16ppm if a 50% water change still left it at 8+). I did test the new water before adding it to the tank and it was 0ppm as expected. I guess what I really want to know is, when should I go ahead and do another water change if it stills seems to be locked on the ammonia? Or any other advice that can be offered would be appreciated. The guy at the store told me that he has never heard of a tank locking up on ammonia this bad before...

oh and to add, the only other parameter that is off atm is the pH, which is 7.2. I assumed it is low due to all of the ammonia?

 

[EastBay]

You need to put something in there so the ammonia starts breaking down into nitrite and eventually nitrate. Go to the grocery store and buy (if you can) one shrimp and toss it in there and let the cycling process begin anew.
Or you can try some of that instant cycle stuff. I used it for my freshwater tank to great results, but never tried it with my saltwater tank.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Erm no... don't put shrimp into the tank. The thing about live sand is that it would cycle the tank on its own. Just wait and let nature do it's thing. Btw what is your filtration?

 

[LailaBug]

I have a simple power filter hanging on the tank (Tetra Whisper 40). I can not afford much at the moment but when finances get better I plan to get a sump. I also do not have a protein skimmer.

 

[Otherone]

If you have NO life in the tank no need for costly w/c's - get $15 maxi jet powerhead to get that water movin' and get the trapped gas out. Also get some LR or Baserock or a big arse plastic aquarium boat so the BB has something other than sand to grow on.

 

[FLESHY]

+1 to the above.

An airstone wouldnt hurt either.

 

[LailaBug]

Thanks everybody for your help. I just wanted to update and let you know that when I tested ammonia today it was 0ppm! The nitrites are very high, and nitrates are moderately high so the bacteria is doing its job. Just waiting for those nitrites to get down to zero.

Again, thanks. You guys have helped alot