Ammonia spike after adding fish. Resolved.

FireViper · 03/04/2019, 10:44 AM

We're still relatively new to the hobby and added several fish to our 55 gallon tank on Friday. Did a test on Saturday, and noted that the ammonia had spiked to a little above .25 ppm and nitrates had risen as well. Apparently the nitrate spike isn't all that unusual, but the ammonia spike is not typically normal.

So we did a 15% water change and tested again on Sunday. Nitrates dropped significantly, but no change on the ammonia. I was puzzled, at least until I looked at the color card--it was the freshwater color chart.

What a noob! Checking the salt water card, ammonia was zero, and had been on Saturday as well. Spike resolved: dopey operator error. Pays to pay attention!

mcgyvr · 03/04/2019, 11:10 AM

Some kits like API are also notorious for falsely reporting a bit of ammonia..

Once a tank is cycled and on its way there is no need IMO to measure ammonia or nitrites anymore.. Just a waste of time/money.

03/04/2019, 10:44 AM	#1
FireViper Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 120	Ammonia spike after adding fish. Resolved. We're still relatively new to the hobby and added several fish to our 55 gallon tank on Friday. Did a test on Saturday, and noted that the ammonia had spiked to a little above .25 ppm and nitrates had risen as well. Apparently the nitrate spike isn't all that unusual, but the ammonia spike is not typically normal. So we did a 15% water change and tested again on Sunday. Nitrates dropped significantly, but no change on the ammonia. I was puzzled, at least until I looked at the color card--it was the freshwater color chart. What a noob! Checking the salt water card, ammonia was zero, and had been on Saturday as well. Spike resolved: dopey operator error. Pays to pay attention!

03/04/2019, 11:10 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Some kits like API are also notorious for falsely reporting a bit of ammonia.. Once a tank is cycled and on its way there is no need IMO to measure ammonia or nitrites anymore.. Just a waste of time/money. __________________ Who me?