Unexplainable Very High Ammonia! Help!
- Thread starter lakee911
- Start date
NeilPearson
New member
I assume you tested and found ammonia before you added the Ammo-lock right? (otherwise why would you add it) In that case, there probably is ammonia.
It's hard to say though. What test kit are you using? If the test kit was bad and gave a false reading and you added Ammo-lock, then any other test kits after that may also give a false reading.
But since you are starting to see nitrites, it very well could mean there is ammonia. I wouldn't worry about the nitrites though, they aren't really toxic in salt water. I would just do some water changes (with RO/DI saltwater) and hope for the best.
It's hard to say though. What test kit are you using? If the test kit was bad and gave a false reading and you added Ammo-lock, then any other test kits after that may also give a false reading.
But since you are starting to see nitrites, it very well could mean there is ammonia. I wouldn't worry about the nitrites though, they aren't really toxic in salt water. I would just do some water changes (with RO/DI saltwater) and hope for the best.
stevebydac
New member
My two cents:
Noticing that you have some somewhat sensitive animals in there. If your ammonia readings were that high, I would have expected more fatalities by now. I concur with some of the others, therefore, that you might be getting false ammonia readings.
You preferably need to let the cycle take its course. If you can get the animals out to other tank(s) until the tank stabilizes, do it. If they are all removed, stop the water changes and just let the cycle take place.
Or, do some small water changes (if you are keeping the animals in there) and see if the nitrate number goes down. Stop the Ammo-lock.
Best of luck to you.
Noticing that you have some somewhat sensitive animals in there. If your ammonia readings were that high, I would have expected more fatalities by now. I concur with some of the others, therefore, that you might be getting false ammonia readings.
You preferably need to let the cycle take its course. If you can get the animals out to other tank(s) until the tank stabilizes, do it. If they are all removed, stop the water changes and just let the cycle take place.
Or, do some small water changes (if you are keeping the animals in there) and see if the nitrate number goes down. Stop the Ammo-lock.
Best of luck to you.
lakee911
New member
Thanks for the advice. I found a LFS that has a Mardel test that doesn't detect Ammo-Lock and other false positives. This is good because I was going to go buy the $27 salifert test for Ammonia! I'm gonna see what might be really going on in there.
I'll keep you all posted.
Thx,
Jason
I'll keep you all posted.
Thx,
Jason
lakee911
New member
New test results
Ammonia: 0.5ppm
Nitrate: 40ppm
Nitrite: 1.0ppm
Total Alkalinity: 240
pH: 8.4
Looks like things are getting better. I've got this new test kit they use. Mardel is the brand--Strips you dip. I'm not going to add any other elixors--especially Ammo Lock! I'm gonna wait a bit and maybe do a small water change tomorrow and add the Chaeto. Tap water intro'd those phosphates and I can already see a small ckoudiness on the glass that I imagine is Algae.
Ammonia: 0.5ppm
Nitrate: 40ppm
Nitrite: 1.0ppm
Total Alkalinity: 240
pH: 8.4
Looks like things are getting better. I've got this new test kit they use. Mardel is the brand--Strips you dip. I'm not going to add any other elixors--especially Ammo Lock! I'm gonna wait a bit and maybe do a small water change tomorrow and add the Chaeto. Tap water intro'd those phosphates and I can already see a small ckoudiness on the glass that I imagine is Algae.
stevebydac
New member
This makes more sense, considering that your fish seem relatively healthy. As I said before, if your ammonia readings were a lot worse, you would have more casualties.
Sounds like you are on the right track!
lakee911
New member
Yesterday I did a 10Gal water change and I added some macroalgae and this morning my readings were
Ammonia: between 0 - 0.25
Nitrite: 0.00
Nitrate: 30
pH: 8.1
Looks like its getting better!
I did notice my first casuality (assuming from the bad water conditions), my Emerald Crab was being feasted on by Hermit Crabs.
I often forget about him, but now he is a goner.
Ammonia: between 0 - 0.25
Nitrite: 0.00
Nitrate: 30
pH: 8.1
Looks like its getting better!
I did notice my first casuality (assuming from the bad water conditions), my Emerald Crab was being feasted on by Hermit Crabs.
I often forget about him, but now he is a goner.
