Ammonia always present

Sarjantsmith · 03/09/2014, 11:26 AM

Hi I have had my tank now for 4 months , after one month took some water to lfs for testing , they said everything was fine the tank had cycled, so I stocked some cuc , a month after that first fish and coral went it , I have now had a test kit and been testing for a further 2 months and can't seem to see the ammonia at 0 to me it always personally looks the next one from 0 which I think is 0.2.... All other test are as follows

Ph 8/8.2
Ak 9/10
Trite 0
Trate 10
Phos 0
Sal .25
Temp 26 / 26.6

The test are all done on red sea test kit and the phos is sailfert ... Any advice would be great

Reefer_Addickt · 03/10/2014, 06:59 AM

You didn't mention in your time review, how much water you've changed.

http://www.tropicalfishanswers.com/w...ogen-Cycle.jpg

rmcaum · 03/10/2014, 08:02 AM

Could be the test kit. Take some back to the LFS for testing again. Did you let the tank run fallow for a period of time? Maybe the denitrifying bacteria population shrunk enough so that it doesn't keep up with the bioload now, it should recover pretty quickly as your tank finds a balance. Other causes could be die off from live rock that made it through the initial month, but now doesn't have food or conditions to survive, again creating a bioload that your bio filter can't keep up with until it reaches a balance. Minicyles happen for an extended period of time as the bacteria and the load become stabilized. One of the things that people talk about when referring to a mature tank. Most times when you add any new load to the tank, you will also have a mini cycle as the new ammonia source becomes compensated for by a growing bacteria population.

Sarjantsmith · 03/10/2014, 11:15 AM

I change 25 liters once a week ... I think it could be the kit Fter testing my fresh saltwater mix that was showing the same as the tank ... For some reason the kit isn't as clear as the card should be .... Taking some water to lfs this weekend although the tank seems very happy ..... Strange one really I'm sure it's just a shade variation on the kit

frog.pauley · 03/10/2014, 02:06 PM

I have the same problems with color cards! lolol friggin things! I have been waiting on Ammonia to drop as well...it was zero already but I cant tell the difference! hahaha

flixxx · 03/10/2014, 02:32 PM

In my opinion, if your nitrates are up and nitrites are 0, odds are your ammonia is at 0 and the test strips are the culprit.

Sarjantsmith · 03/10/2014, 03:07 PM

Exactly my thought nitrites 0 constantly
Nitrates 5-15

03/09/2014, 11:26 AM	#1
Sarjantsmith Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 39	Ammonia always present Hi I have had my tank now for 4 months , after one month took some water to lfs for testing , they said everything was fine the tank had cycled, so I stocked some cuc , a month after that first fish and coral went it , I have now had a test kit and been testing for a further 2 months and can't seem to see the ammonia at 0 to me it always personally looks the next one from 0 which I think is 0.2.... All other test are as follows Ph 8/8.2 Ak 9/10 Trite 0 Trate 10 Phos 0 Sal .25 Temp 26 / 26.6 The test are all done on red sea test kit and the phos is sailfert ... Any advice would be great

03/10/2014, 08:02 AM	#3
rmcaum Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Lexington Posts: 128	Could be the test kit. Take some back to the LFS for testing again. Did you let the tank run fallow for a period of time? Maybe the denitrifying bacteria population shrunk enough so that it doesn't keep up with the bioload now, it should recover pretty quickly as your tank finds a balance. Other causes could be die off from live rock that made it through the initial month, but now doesn't have food or conditions to survive, again creating a bioload that your bio filter can't keep up with until it reaches a balance. Minicyles happen for an extended period of time as the bacteria and the load become stabilized. One of the things that people talk about when referring to a mature tank. Most times when you add any new load to the tank, you will also have a mini cycle as the new ammonia source becomes compensated for by a growing bacteria population. __________________ -Bob Current Tank Info: standard 29 gallon, 65 gallon

03/10/2014, 02:32 PM	#6
flixxx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 261	In my opinion, if your nitrates are up and nitrites are 0, odds are your ammonia is at 0 and the test strips are the culprit. __________________ . Current Tank Info: 45 Gallon Miracle cube, 15 gallon sump, 1 ecotech mp40, Ecotech radion xr30w, rlss r6-i skimmer, eheim 3000 return pump, blueline 250 watt water heater

03/10/2014, 06:59 AM	#2
Reefer_Addickt Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Oakland Posts: 779	You didn't mention in your time review, how much water you've changed. http://www.tropicalfishanswers.com/w...ogen-Cycle.jpg

03/10/2014, 11:15 AM	#4
Sarjantsmith Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 39	I change 25 liters once a week ... I think it could be the kit Fter testing my fresh saltwater mix that was showing the same as the tank ... For some reason the kit isn't as clear as the card should be .... Taking some water to lfs this weekend although the tank seems very happy ..... Strange one really I'm sure it's just a shade variation on the kit

03/10/2014, 02:06 PM	#5
frog.pauley Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: west virginia Posts: 555	I have the same problems with color cards! lolol friggin things! I have been waiting on Ammonia to drop as well...it was zero already but I cant tell the difference! hahaha

03/10/2014, 03:07 PM	#7
Sarjantsmith Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 39	Exactly my thought nitrites 0 constantly Nitrates 5-15