Ammonia Question

[Domboski]

Hi,

I have been in the hobby for over 10 years. I currently have a mysterious problem with ammonia. I have a .25 ppm reading in my tank no matter what I do. I have recently added an external filter of bio materials only to help get it down and it does not budge. I have had this reading for over a month! The tank (20 g Hex) has been set up for nearly a year. I am tempted to add Kent Marine ammonia Detox but worried that it will damage the biological system. The fish seem fine but my anenomes seem to be uncomfortable. Anyone have suggestions or questions?

I appeciate the input!

 

[wrightme43]

How many fish do you have? If you have alot of fish, they can overload your filtration.
If not, it could be a bad test kit.

 

[Domboski]

I do push the boundries of the number of fish. The tank is backed by heavy filtration. I have two fluvals (404 and 104), Seastorm Bio filter and a protein skimmer. It may be the number of fish. I have read on the internet that less than 1ppm is an exceptable range of ammonia. Is this true? I have always aimed for a zero reading. Also, is anyone familiar with the Ammonia Detox? does it affect the natural cycle?

Thanks for your response! I am wondering if it is a best test kit. I get a sytange reading for Nitrate. I just checked the water to be sure and I noticed my PH is a bit low (8.0) and the Nitrate was unreadable (the color was different than anything on the chart). Weird.

 

[Krish]

Yeah, test kit came to mind first here. I hope you get it sorted out. I've never really heard of ammonia kicking back up after they have dropped off during cycling...

 

[liveforphysics]

The only 2 times I've seen a tank read ammonia. One was a freshwater tank after a large catfish died behind a rock and rotted for a week or so before I noticed. The other was when my dad gravel vac'd his heavily loaded FOLR salt tank.

Have you by chance missed a large rotting fish? Did you by chance gravel vac something?

 

[Domboski]

The tank is small so I can account for each fish. It may be the kit. I changed the lighting I was using to the Ultimate Reef bulb made by Quantum Aquatics and the anenome seems much better. I'll purchase a new test kit today and see if the reading is wrong. I also turkey blasted the tank last night to to get any debris out. I will try adding some additional live rock today too.

Thanks for all of your responses. I would have never thought the test kit could possibly be wrong. I was driving myself crazy!

 

[NaH2O]

I would think the test kit was bad. What are your levels for nitrite and nitrate? Those will tell you if you are in a cycle or not (along with your ammonia value). How many fish do you have, and what size tank? If you add more live rock, make sure that the rock is fully cured, or else it will cause an ammonia spike when added due to some die-off. If you are keeping corals and anemones, then you want to keep on top of high water quality.

 

[Domboski]

The tank in question is a 20 gallon hex. My Nitrite was .1. Nitrate was a color not even on the chart provided. 6 fish. All small damsels pretty much. One fairy wrasse. The tank is under heavy filtration. Always has been. I am going to forget the live rock for now. I still get a .25 ppm reading. Barely though. The color is in between 0 and .25. The tank is alost a year running.

 

[NaH2O]

I've had horrible luck with Red Sea test kits...not sure what brand you are using. I'd get your water re-tested, either by someone else, or get some reliable test kits and check again. The fact that you are registering some nitrites makes me wonder if you have had a small cycle, although you will see some nitrates if this is the case (as your ammonia and nitrites go down, your nitrates may increase). With a higher fish load, the ammonia spike could even come from feeding more than usual. Keep us updated on how things go with the tank.

 

[Domboski]

Thanks NaH20!

I have not purchased a new test kit yet but I did find a Seachem Ammonia Alert product. It has a suction cup and you stick it on the glass inside the aquarium. It warns you as the ammonia level goes up. It has read "safe" since Monday and everyone in the tank seems fine and happy as usual. Do you have experience with this product? I certainly would not rely fully on it but it is very interesting. It has a 15 minute delay response to the rise or fall of ammonia.

 

[wrightme43]

They are pretty cool. I used one when cycling my live rock.
I use seachems ammonia test. Its a bear to ue but its pretty cool. Got the little discs you drop in, plus you can do a reffernce test at the same time.

 

[NaH2O]

I've also used the ammonia alert. I had one on a QT, the nano, and in my display sump. I was very happy with them.

 

[steve-s]

The badge is also great for when ammonia binders (Prime, Ammo lock and the like) are used. It will read past the false ammonia reading where most test kits will not leaving you with a little more reasurance of a correct reading. Kinda frustrationg if your doing multiple water changes and getting nowhere...

Cheers
Steve

 

[Domboski]

Here is the link in case anyone else wants to read about it: http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/AmmoniaAlert.html.