Whats up with these numbers

[tinkerbelle]

Here is my latest test numbers Whats do I need...... Ive done a 1/3 water change. to try and get them in line....... 55 gallon tank
running a filter and protien skimmer, with lots of live rock. Have Hippo tang, Yellow tang, some green star pollop, and one lether frag coral. Oh and a clean up crew.


0.25 ammonia
8.0 PH
0 nitrate
0 Nitrite
1.021 salinity

Thank!

 

[mg426]

Your SG is a might low. Can you get another opinion on the Ammonia?? What kind of test kit are you using?

 

[tinkerbelle]

I have a test kit by, Aquarium Phamaceuticals.. called Saltwater Master liquid test kit........

 

[awestruck]

You need to get rid of that ammonia ASAP or you will probably lose everything. Ammonia is toxic. I think Amquel removes ammonia. Also, your salinity should be between 1.205 and 1.026. Slowly bring it up though or you'll stress the animals.

 

[frederickk]

Yes the salinity is quite low. I would raise it up to at least 1.025 for those leather.

For the amonia, what are you feeding the tank?

 

[awestruck]

Typed an error, sorry. Salinity should be 1.025 to 1.026.

 

[Paintbug]

the ammonia is probably 0 as well. those test kits are by far not the best. be sure to really clean the test tube and try again. may even want to take a water sample to the LFS and get them to double check it. being you dont have any nitrites, or nitrates i really doubt you have any ammonia either.

i would bump the SG up some as well. slowly of course. maybe .001 per day.

 

[Shagsbeard]

Improving the gas exchage (pointing a powerhead to the surface) might up your pH a bit... 8.3 would be a better number there.

I agree with the "test your test" before you do anything though. No reason to try to fix a problem that doesn't even exist. Run your ammonia test on a control... like RO/DI salt or water from the ocean.

 

[papagimp]

I have a 55g tank, AP brand ammonia test as well. 0.25 is the lowest reading I have ever gotten on my test. There are a crappy test kit to use. If you think there is a possibility that the tank actually has ammonia, get a better test or second opinion. But honestly, it's probably just that test. My 1 year old 55g looks far to good to have any ammonia in it My ph also stays 7.8 consitantly. I know the underlining causes and since it's not something I can really fix, I've just let my livestock adjust to the lower PH. All my fish and corals do just fine regardless, great growth, awesome colors, not too much algae. A little bubble algae here and there, and the occasional green crap on the glass, but no hair algae or anything.

fwiw, I believe the ammonia test by AP is the same weather it's freshwater or saltwater, just different color charts. Test some ro/di water and I bet it'll show 0, and then test some newly mixed saltwater, and I bet it looks to be about 0.25. Something bout the salt in the water effects the color, makes it looks more yellowish than it should. Salifert tests are far more accurate.

 

[tinkerbelle]

Ok so I need a better test kit.....I will bring it to my LFS and have it checked. everything seems to be doing fine in there.... I do get some junk on the glass... but no hair algae no bubble stuff either.
Ill add some salt a bit at a time........ Thanks everyone!

 

[saabore]

You do not want to add salt directly into the tank. I would mix a fresh batch with higher salinity and feed it slowly through your sump.

 

[papagimp]

Be sure the lfs is not using the same test kits, lol, my lfs does.

 

[tinkerbelle]

Will check on that! And always mix the salt first..... but no sump on my tank ..........My next one will have one though! thinking of going bigger later this year.