New tank water ?

[hardparts2]

I just recently started my 55g reef and was getting ready to buy live rock so I desided to test my water first this is what I came up with.

Temp 80
sg 1.026
ph 8.3
kh 170 ppm
phosphate 0
calcium 420 ppm
ammonia 3.7

I dont know where the ammonia came from all I have in my tank is 2 heaters,skimmer, 2 powerheads and 90lbs of aragamax sand I used walmart ro water to fill the tank so I tested that water it had 0 ammonia. I did use a powerhead that I had cleaned out and had set for a week or two and a used heater that I cleaned that had been setting for the same amount of time. I had the used powerhead in there a day and the heater 2 days. I now have a ro/di unit 100 gpd should I drain the tank and start over?Or can I add my live rock?
Any input would be great. Oh the tank has been set up about 3 weeks.

Thanks, Bob

 

[steve the plumb]

don't drain the tank.Did you use the sand from another tank or is it brand new.When starting a new system you will get the ammoinia spike.You should add the live rock and let the tank cycle.Leavr it for a while.What quality is the live rock you are buying.Is it cured?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Some artificial salt water has ammonia in it, but not usually that high.

What salt mix?

Maybe the testing is in error.

 

[hardparts2]

It used IO reef crystals. Tonight I tested and this is what I got.

SG 1.027
PH 7.9
ALK 300
KH 150
Calcium 480
Phosphate 0
Ammonia .25
Nitrites .5
Nitrates .20
I was going to order my live rock on wednesday.

Thanks Bob

 

[hardparts2]

Uncured Caribbean is what I am going to buy 60 lbs and it was new sand that I put in.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

And nothing else of any live nature was added to the tank?

 

[hardparts2]

Nope nothing at all , I dont know where the ammonia,nitrites,nitrates came from.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

No sand or rock yet?

Did you use tap water?

 

[steve the plumb]

You are going to have to cure the rock.You can cure it in the tank and make a mess of the water.I would cure it in a seperate bucket or bin.Do you know the steps in curing the rock?I would use R/O water sawell.My friend uses tap water and nothing but.His tank is fine but I have used tap water in the past with not so great results.I have not used tap water since.Rusty old steel pipes don't help either.Did you use warm water to fill the tank?How old is your hot water tank?Was the water kind of brown if using hot water?

 

[hardparts2]

I have 90 lbs of new Carib Sea Aragamax Sand and no rock yet and the tank has been running for 3 weeks. I used walmart RO water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Ro only water (no DI) that stated with chloramine in the tap water will contain ammonia as the result of breaking down the chloramine. Perhaps that was the source. Have you measured the raw RO water?

 

[hardparts2]

I tested the ro water for ammonia and it was 0 didnt test it for chloramine tho. I have used no tap water at all.Thanks very much for helping me.

Thanks Bob

 

[hardparts2]

I think im just going to get my live rock on friday and start it curing in the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The ammonia level may well rise significantly due to the rock anyway, so that seems fine, but I'd try make sure that water change water going forward doesn't have ammonia or chloramine in it.

 

[hardparts2]

I have purchased a 100 gpd 6 stage ro/di unit from now on that is the only water I will use. Thanks for the help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sounds good!

Good luck.