Question about my Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate test results.

[Devon93274]

I have a 50 gallon with about 55 pounds of live rock and 60 pounds of live sand. I've been running this tank for somewhere around 5 months now. I test every week before 20 percent water changes. My reading are consistent with ammonia at .25 Nitrite is at 0 and Nitrate is at 0. Is it bad that these readings are still at 0?
- I'm using the API master test kit. My tank is running 2 800gph wave makers for current. It also has a standard filter that holds 2 carbon filter pads. The tank is running 2 T8 50/50 actinic bulbs. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Stock-
1 blue damsel
1 hermit crab
6 emerald crabs
1 Coral banded shrimp
4 astraea turbo snails

 

[shifty51008]

The nitrite and nitrate reading of 0 is perfectlly fine but haveing any ammonia in a take that is cycled is a bad thing, i would deff get a diffrent test kit to double check your readings. I would suggest salifert or redsea.

 

[CStrickland]

+1
There seems to be an issue with API ammonia tests. A lot of users report phantom readings of .25. Idk if people see color differently, or its the test or what. If you have an lfs they might do a test for you, it's a common freebie.

 

[Devon93274]

I forgot to mention when I retest after my water changes the Ammonia is at 0 or at least in detectable. I use an Ammonia detox water conditioner.

 

[Goldenshark14]

Ammonia

Ammonia

Make sure to double check that ammonia reading. If you're using API tests, they can sometimes produce unreliable ammonia readings. I suggest the salifert tests.

If you still have some ammonia, then try and get rid of it with a water change. Otherwise, 0 Nitrite and Nitrate is brilliant

 

[shifty51008]

There is deff something wrong if you get 0 ammonia after the water change then soon have ammonia again. You should never see an ammonia reading, or need to use ammonia detox. I would first start with a diff test kit to make sure the ammonia readings are accurate. And the ammonia detox can give a false reading on some kits so stop useing it when useing the new kit just to make sure

 

[sbash]

+1
There seems to be an issue with API ammonia tests. A lot of users report phantom readings of .25. Idk if people see color differently, or its the test or what.

I concur. I use API, and if I can, I get my wife to double check to be sure I am reading the colours properly. Sometimes, I just cannot see the colours properly.