ammonia never get to 0ppm - Page 2

KeepNitReel · 10/21/2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizz71

Close..bacteria eats the ammonia and "poops" nitrite and a different bacteria eats the nitrite and "poops" nitrate but you're on the right track--it makes NO sense that ammonia would drop severely and stop just below the 0.25 mark with no new ammonia added to the system. The bacteria wouldn't just STOP.

Take your water to somebody else you trust and let them run it. I'd be willing to bet they'll tell you that you have 0 ammonia. I have the same test kits and when I had a major fish kill in my tank a few months ago (rouge cucumber) I had ammonia readings for less then a day and by the next day I'm looking at it going..."is it back to 0? It's so hard to say?!" But it was 0. It looks the same now as it did a month ago and I had somebody else test the water.

When you look at the color hold the tube right long the white side of the card so that the card is the background of the tube and then find the brightest, whitest light in your house. Even that photo you have is hard to tell because the marble behind it, it's needs a white backdrop that is right against the tube. And don't wait any longer than the instructions tell you...I believe it's 5 minutes. It will continue to get darker as time progresses.

That's for the technical aspect. I knew what I was saying but didn't know the right way to say it. Spot on chap

duperdave · 10/21/2013, 04:17 PM

I use an ApI test in 6 weeks and never get 0 either.someone sent me a link I can't remember it but it showed different test kits and how different the readings would be verses a lab grade

saltwater808 · 10/21/2013, 07:24 PM

I've been using API test kits for awhile now. And cycled about 5 tanks with them. The only thing you really need to test for once ammonia is present is Nitrite. Once your Nitrite test kit reads baby blue your cycle is done. It takes at least 4 + weeks. If you do changes it will take longer.

Mark9 · 10/21/2013, 08:41 PM

The tank I'm currently cycling had the nitrites shoot through the roof, ammonia went down but stuck at .25 for a week, just today it went to 0.
nitrites still high, but coming down.
In short, give it time.
Did you test with freshly mixed RO/DI water?
That should be 0.

makokak · 10/21/2013, 09:47 PM

Ok guys, Attached here is the water test after 24hrs. big difference from the 12hrs mark.

Is the cycle done?

makokak · 10/21/2013, 09:49 PM

My nitrate is sky high, Do i need to do water change?

Mark9 · 10/22/2013, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makokak

My nitrate is sky high, Do i need to do water change?

yes

Cycle looks done to me, but i'm a noob.

KeepNitReel · 10/22/2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makokak

My nitrate is sky high, Do i need to do water change?

Cycle is done! Again, lol!!!!

Dosing 5ppm of ammonia will result in sky high nitrates. You have established a huge beneficial bacteria colony.

Congratulations

makokak · 10/22/2013, 12:14 PM

whats next here? how to keep those bacteria alive without any livestock?

Fizz71 · 10/22/2013, 01:01 PM

Definitely some serious water changes in your future. You dosed SOOOO much ammonia that it could be YEARS before your tank develops enough anaerobic bacteria to consume it all so by all means...get it out yourself.

And the bacteria will stay alive fine on it's own for a while, what I would recommend is getting a cleanup crew in order and then start ghost feeding your tank. I had rock sitting in a tub for over a year with NO feeding and it was still fine..as long as you start adding livestock SLOWLY to give the bacteria time to repopulate and level out with the new tank load from an added fish.

thatreefguy22 · 10/23/2013, 11:43 AM

I have been under the same condition with my tank, and API test.
first and second week I tested and my ammonia was always stationed at about .25.
no nitrites at all, but some nitrates.

3rd week I added a raw shrimp, kept it in for about 2 days, and tested my water every few hours cause it was a large piece of shrimp. then removed the shrimp early this morning. few hours after removing the carcass, I woke up and my tank was about cleared up from all the murk it left.
I then got curious, and tested ammonia again...this time it was about 1-2ppm. just after a few hours.
then I got even more curious and tested nitrite. Still ZERO.
I'm going to check nitrates.

10/21/2013, 04:17 PM	#27
duperdave Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: fredericksburg, VA Posts: 283	I use an ApI test in 6 weeks and never get 0 either.someone sent me a link I can't remember it but it showed different test kits and how different the readings would be verses a lab grade __________________ 55 gal.dt 20gal.sump.aquaeruousa 135 protien skimmer ,hydor 725 gph return,2-hydor 600 gph , and1 tunze 6045 mechanically adjustable circulating pumps, 65 lb liverock ,2AI hydra lights ,jbj ato Sq

10/22/2013, 01:01 PM	#35
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	Definitely some serious water changes in your future. You dosed SOOOO much ammonia that it could be YEARS before your tank develops enough anaerobic bacteria to consume it all so by all means...get it out yourself. And the bacteria will stay alive fine on it's own for a while, what I would recommend is getting a cleanup crew in order and then start ghost feeding your tank. I had rock sitting in a tub for over a year with NO feeding and it was still fine..as long as you start adding livestock SLOWLY to give the bacteria time to repopulate and level out with the new tank load from an added fish. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

10/21/2013, 07:24 PM	#28
saltwater808 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Lihue, Kauai Posts: 135	I've been using API test kits for awhile now. And cycled about 5 tanks with them. The only thing you really need to test for once ammonia is present is Nitrite. Once your Nitrite test kit reads baby blue your cycle is done. It takes at least 4 + weeks. If you do changes it will take longer.

10/21/2013, 08:41 PM	#29
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	The tank I'm currently cycling had the nitrites shoot through the roof, ammonia went down but stuck at .25 for a week, just today it went to 0. nitrites still high, but coming down. In short, give it time. Did you test with freshly mixed RO/DI water? That should be 0.

10/21/2013, 09:49 PM	#31
makokak Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Cerritos, CA Posts: 85	My nitrate is sky high, Do i need to do water change?

10/22/2013, 12:14 PM	#34
makokak Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Cerritos, CA Posts: 85	whats next here? how to keep those bacteria alive without any livestock?

10/23/2013, 11:43 AM	#36
thatreefguy22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Elmira, NY Posts: 284	I have been under the same condition with my tank, and API test. first and second week I tested and my ammonia was always stationed at about .25. no nitrites at all, but some nitrates. 3rd week I added a raw shrimp, kept it in for about 2 days, and tested my water every few hours cause it was a large piece of shrimp. then removed the shrimp early this morning. few hours after removing the carcass, I woke up and my tank was about cleared up from all the murk it left. I then got curious, and tested ammonia again...this time it was about 1-2ppm. just after a few hours. then I got even more curious and tested nitrite. Still ZERO. I'm going to check nitrates.