Cycle in QT: need help ASAP

Hey - I've got some issues with the QT here.

Here is the set up right now... I have a 10G QT with about 10" of fish. I have some crushed coral substrate just to cover reflections (I'll throw it away after) and some hiding spots. There is a HOB filter with a carbon filter and a 3x5inch piece of sponge from the sump of a cycled tank that I placed in the HOB between the water return and the carbon.

I'm running my tank at 1.018 hypo. Temp is 81. Today I did my API tests and found that the ammonia was at 2ppm, nitrite at 2ppm and nitrate at 20ppm!!!!

I did a 30% water change and added another 3x5" piece of sponge from the DT sump.

I'm trying to figure out how to proceed...

I don't want to panic, but should I forget the QT and move them to the DT? They've been in there for a week and "look" fine (feeding well, swimming out and about from hiding spots). It definitely isn't the 4 weeks I was planning on.

Will it help to sacrifice a baseball sized piece of live rock from the DT sump to the QT?

Should I just keep doing 50% or greater water changes?

I'd also like to not have this problem happen in the future... did I vastly underestimate the amount of sponge needed for biological filter purposes in a 10 gallon?

 

No you seriously under-estimated the amount of ammonia 10" of fish produce through waste. 10g would be sufficient qt for one small fish at most and corals only. Not much you can do about it now though. Just keep new saltwater mixed and on hand at all times and test for ammonia daily. Do a big w/c at least once a day.

 

You can use Prime or Amquel to keep the params under control in your tank since it is a QT until its next usage. Definitely sacrifice some LR from the DT in the future.

 

Was going to say the same. Big water change daily. I wouldn't risk moving them yet.

 

Crud. Ok. Is there anything else that I can do? Is there any significant difference if I get another 14 gallon going or will I just have big water changes on TWO QT's then?

 

Regarding sacrificing a baseball (larger?) rock from the sump. Should I do that now?

 

You can and it will transfer microbacter but you will still need to monitor water quality and do waterchanges as needed. It'll be alright as long as you stay on top of things.

 

FTR, your SG is not low enough for hyposalinity treatment.

Here's a helpful article on the subject...

ATJ's Marine Aquarium Site - Reference - Hyposalinity Treatment

 

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the quick feedback. I got the recommended amquel and added it to the tank.

As I understand it will still read as high ammonia on the tests, but the bacteria can still use it.

I also have a 15% water change and a 20% water change today and have a ton more water preparing right now.

Thanks for the article on hypo. I had read (thought I had anyway) 1.016 but clearly that was wrong - either way it was preventative and so I'll leave the salinity because I don't want it to bounce around with all the water changes.

 

A quick follow up. All fish are still alive and eating / swimming. Ammonia reads 0 to .25. Nitrite was 1ppm and did another 20% wc.

Also, and this is a "doh!". I remembered the cc I used on the bottom to keep reflections down was used. I had rinsed it until it ran clear but I assume this was at least part of my spike. It was removed last night.

Thanks for all the quick feedback. I also have a lead on two used biocubes that I might be able to get and separate the fish.